Management Of Health Programs - Essay Example

The above definition exemplifies the pivotal role a leader plays in any kind of organisation. The burden of responsibility is only multiplied when it comes to the precarious field of Healthcare Management. Apart from closely scrutinising the organisational growth, a Healthcare manager is expected to cater successfully to the needs and expectations of the patients, to be sentient to the advanced medical technologies and to ensure the safety and authenticity of various medical procedures and drugs.

In the demanding health care sector, a health care manager's responsibilities extend beyond mere managerial duties. The biggest challenge faced by health care executives in present day scenario is restricting health care costs. The global health industry is already reeling under high costs, and thus a true leader should be able to devise a cost efficient method to provide enhanced treatment to patients at affordable prices. He must judicially utilise the available resources and also include technology as one of the major tools of development.

The ability to envision and inviegle people into sharing the same vision is one of the vital traits of an efficient leader. According to a survey conducted by the EPIC-MRA (2007) , more than one-third (36%) of the respondents valued an envisioned leader. This attribute is even more significant in the healthcare field where the manager has to make some rather grueling decisions with a human life at stake. This foresight along with a deep knowledge of the limitations of his staff can help a healthcare manager to explore hitherto unknown ideas to solve problems as and when they arise.

Given the unpredictable nature of the field, where emergencies develop by the minute, a healthcare manager should be able to juggle his resources around dexterously to achieve maximum success rate.A positive work environment is essential for tapping the full potential of the employees in any field. With unpredictable hours and stressful subject matter, the healthcare field is particularly demanding. The healthcare manager's role, thus, becomes crucial. He must be successsful in creating a constructive atmosphere, which would in turn increase proficiency and restrict failure causing elements.

A manager must involve, and get involved with the staff and promote a free flow of ideas and thoughts. The manager should also seek feedback on his own performance, while encouraging that of his staff. Assigning challenging responsibilities tailored according to the individual staff members can significantly improve job satisfaction. A leader must recognize the individualistic traits of his staff and give them duties accordingly. A leader must possess strong communicative skills, in almost every field.

Due to the very nature of the job, a manager is required to deal with people on multiple levels. A manager must have the necessary cognitive skills to converse not only with his immediate employees, but also with seniors and clients. In the healthcare field, the manager's job becomes even more challenging since he has to deal with patients and their families too, who can be quite pressing and demanding. Additionally, the manager also has to correspond with the pharmaceutical suppliers, public health agencies,