How to Start a Career as a Hospital Administrator

Working closely with medical personnel is among an administrator's key responsibilities.

Hospital administrators plan, coordinate and supervise the delivery of medical care. Some hospital administrators are general managers with a wide range of management responsibilities, while others are in charge of managing a specific department in a health care facility. Launching a career as a hospital administrator involves pursuing a specific educational and vocational course.

Things You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Required licenses

Instructions

1. Earn your bachelor's degree. A four-year degree is necessary to gain entry-level employment in records management, human resources and other administrative positions in hospital departments or smaller health care facilities. A bachelor's degree and five years experience in hospital management might help you find employment as a hospital administrator in a small health care facility.

2. Find employment in a hospital setting. You can work as a manager for a hospital department while pursuing your graduate degree. This will help you gain the skills and experience necessary to effectively manage an entire hospital after you earn your master's degree.

3. Earn your master's degree. A majority of hospital administrators have master's degrees in health care administration, health services management or long-term care administration. A graduate degree in business administration or public administration may also qualify you for an entry-level position as a hospital administrator. A health care administration degree typically requires a one-year internship at a health care facility. Typical coursework includes hospital organization, human resources administration, health information systems, accounting and health economics.

4. Investigate obtaining specialization in a specific medical area. You can obtain specialized knowledge in a field such as surgery, diagnosis or epidemiology. A specialization may help your employment chances at larger hospitals.

5. Obtain any necessary licenses. A majority of states require a special license to be a hospital administrator for a skilled nursing or long-term care facility.

Tips & Warnings

• Successful hospital administrators have strong business, management and communication skills. You must be able to negotiate and motivate both personnel and patients.

• Hospital administrators must be flexible and able to quickly adapt to rapid changes in the industry. You will have to keep up with new regulations and technological innovations.

• A hospital administrator often works long hours. Hospitals are open around the clock; thus, hospital administrators can be called to work at any time to deal with problems.

References

• InnerBody: How to Become a Hospital Administrator

Resources

• Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
• Association of University Programs in Health Administration
• Jobs: Hospital Administrator Jobs
• MedHunters: Hospital Administrator Positions