Health Care Consultant Job Description Information

Healthcare consultants are management analysts employed in the healthcare industry. Healthcare organizations hire healthcare consultants to come in and examine the efficiency, profits and structure of the organization. After this examination is completed, the healthcare consultant offers suggestions on methods of improvement. This career requires a bachelor's degree or a master's degree. Certification is also recommended.

 

Healthcare Consultant Job Description

A healthcare organization typically hires a healthcare consultant on a part-time basis, but some employ them on a full-time basis. Large companies hire healthcare consultants on a full-time basis to help them constantly find ways to improve and reorganize their infrastructure. Smaller companies hire them only when they need to enhance a section of their company that is not operating efficiently. Healthcare consultants can work with firms or develop a customer base on their own.

 

Job Duties

First, a healthcare business contacts a healthcare consultant and identifies the problem they wish to have fixed. The healthcare consultant then does some preliminary research and examines the existing data available related to the problem. This can involve analyzing employment numbers, revenue and interviewing various employees and managers. With that information, a healthcare consultant can find methods of saving money or improving work efficiency.

After all their research is completed, healthcare consultants submit a report in writing to the client. Additionally, an oral meeting may occur between the client and the healthcare consultant where the findings are discussed openly between the two. Afterward, a customer can hire the healthcare consultant to stay on for a bit longer to help implement the changes to the organization.

 

Job Requirements

The exact education requirements for a healthcare consultant vary based on the employer. Generally, the minimum amount of education needed is a bachelor's degree. Many employers prefer healthcare consultants with a master's degree, especially in private industries. Students interested in becoming healthcare consultants pick a major like management, marketing, economics, human resources or business. Additionally, choosing a minor or a specialization in healthcare is suggested.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a healthcare consultant must be self-motivated and work with minimal supervision since employers expect them to be experts in improving an organization (www.bls.gov). Possessing effective communication skills is needed to clearly commune improvement ideas with a customer. The ability to handle stress and act responsibility is important, especially when healthcare consultants acquire more experience and are placed in charge of specific projects.

While certification is not a necessary requirement for this career, acquiring a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) designation can demonstrate an additional level of commitment to employers and customers. The Institute of Management Consultants USA, Inc. offers this designation to healthcare consultants who possess good references, have the required amount of education, complete an interview and pass an examination (www.imcusa.org). To maintain this designation, a healthcare consultant re-certifies every three years.

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Health Care Consultant Salary Information

A health-care consultant acts a business adviser to health-care companies, organizations and institutions. He or she assists with strategic planning to make health-care businesses profitable or sustainable over time. The consultant gives advice about employee relations, compensation, patient care, resources and facilities. According to Payscale.com, the average salary of a health-care consultant depends on a number of factors, including how many years of experience the consultant has in the field and the type of employer for which he or she works.

 

Work Experience

• A health-care consultant's salary depends largely upon work experience in the field. In August 2009, health-care consultants with less than one year of experience earned between $48,646 and $65,056, while those with one to four years of work experience averaged between $49,063 and $73,887. The average salary range for five to nine years of experience was between $61,468 and $89,679. From years 10 to 19 in the field, consultants averaged salaries between $66,404 and $109,264. At the 20-year mark, a health-care consultant earned up to $122,350 a year.

Employer Type

• The type of employer a health-care consultant worked for also affected the average salary range in August 2009. The federal government paid consultants the highest salaries at between $72,715 and $135,125, while state and local governments paid between $52,088 and $78,945. Among the lowest-paying employers were colleges and universities, where health-care consultants earned an average of between $30,000 and $72,000.

Industry

• In August 2009, the health-care industry also influenced the salary of health-care consultants. Management-consultant companies were the highest-paying area, with salaries of between $59,540 and $99,425. Health-insurance companies paid between $48,952 to $80,366 and were the lowest-paying employers. Consultants working in the health-care information-science industry averaged between $55,794 and $97,329.

Education

• The education background of health-care consultants also affected average salary ranges in August 2009. The highest-paid consultants held master's degrees in business administration, earning between $63,301 and $111,343, while those with bachelor of science degrees in nursing averaged between $66,188 and $100,072. Consultants who held bachelor's degrees in economics were the lowest-paid at between $49,288 and $71,216.

Benefits

• In August 2009, many health-care consultants received additional benefits that increased their overall compensation packages, including more than two weeks of paid vacation time. Consultants also averaged annual bonuses of between $4,017 and $8,683 as well as an annual commission of between $5,500 and $30,000. Other benefits health-care consultants received included 401k retirement plans, life or disability insurance, education or tuition reimbursements and company laptops or cellphones.

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How to Become a Consultant

Consultants offer skills, knowledge and expertise to other people or businesses. A consultant's job is to solve problems, make recommendations, give advice and provide specialized work, like networking, programming, web developing, technical support, interior decorating, writing or accounting services. Compensation for consultants is by the hour, by the job or by the project. They are not employees of the hiring company.

1. Think about becoming a consultant and figure out if it is a good choice for you. People choose this line of work for a number of reasons such as wanting to start a business, working from home while raising their children, supplementing income with additional work, and retirees wanting to keep busy.
2. Determine if you are a leader, self starter, ambitious, energetic, organized and disciplined enough to become a consultant.
3. Find out as much information as you can about becoming a consultant before making a decision. As a consultant you will be able to make your own hours and take vacation or sick time when you want. You will have the option to choose your clients and accept or refuse assignments.
4. Remember, if you become a consultant you will not have a guaranteed weekly paycheck, benefits, life insurance or health insurance.
5. Make sure you are prepared to become a consultant. Some fields require formal training, license or certificate such as accounting, insurance, real estate, financial planning, fundraising and engineering.
6. Acknowledge that you have considered everything and do want to become a consultant. Create a realistic plan on how to achieve your goal allowing yourself enough time.

Read more: How to Become a Consultant | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2317645_become-consultant.html#ixzz1gWIwjaGI