Information on Healthcare Administration
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are businesses which rely on good management and administration to keep them running. The field of healthcare administration is growing as the healthcare industry, as a whole, continues to expand and diversify. Administrators with a background in healthcare and solid business management skills should find ample job prospects in this field.
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Role of Healthcare Administration
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Healthcare administrators are responsible for the overall operations of a healthcare facility or provider, such as hospitals, outpatient care centers, long-term or nursing care facilities, home healthcare services or physicians’ offices. They plan, coordinate, direct and oversee the delivery of healthcare services. The specific administrative role depends on the type and size of facility. In smaller facilities, the healthcare administrator might provide some direct patient care while also overseeing day-to-day operations. In larger facilities, one head administrator might oversee the work of several lower-level administrators.
Types of Healthcare Administrators
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Some administrators manage entire facilities or systems while others specialize in certain aspects of healthcare delivery. Referred to as clinical managers, these specialists often (though not always) have focused on training in the area of specialization. For example, health information managers maintain and secure patient records and have specialized training or degree programs in this area.
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Education Requirements
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a graduate degree is the standard educational requirement for a healthcare administrator although some entry-level jobs may be available to individuals with a bachelor’s degree. Many colleges and universities offer master’s degree programs in areas such as health service administration, health information management or public health administration. Some business administration (MBA) programs provide an emphasis on healthcare administration as well.
Licensing and Certification
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Although most healthcare administrators do not need a license to perform their job, those employed by nursing care facilities do. All states require successful completion of a bachelor’s degree, a state-approved training program and a licensing exam to become a nursing care facility administrator. Some states also have requirements for assisted-living facilities. Health information managers might consider pursuing the American Health Information Management Association’s Registered Health Information Administrator certification.
Salary Information
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As of 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median annual salary for healthcare administrators was $81,850. Salaries varied by place of employment. Salaries for administrators at hospitals were $96,660, physicians' offices were $88,650 and nursing care facilities were reported $77,560.
Job Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster than average job growth for the healthcare administration field through 2018 with hospitals continuing to be the largest employer. However, jobs will also grow in the offices of health practitioners and medical group practices. Healthcare management companies, which provide administrative services to healthcare facilities, will also offer significant opportunities for employment.
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