A healthcare administrator plays a fundamental role in a hospital, clinic, or nursing home’s productivity and efficiency. They are responsible for scheduling shifts, managing budgets, training employees, staying updated on medical law and policies, and improving quality and standards, to name a few daily tasks.
If you aren’t afraid of a challenge and want to make a difference in many patients’ and colleagues’ lives, you would be wise to learn more about the occupation. Here is what you need to become a healthcare administrator.
Qualifications
If you aren’t afraid to study hard throughout the years and would relish an opportunity to enhance your resume at a respected university, look no further than a healthcare administrator role.
You will first need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as:
- Healthcare Administration
- Health information management
- Public health administration
- Nursing
- Business administration
After graduating, you must turn your attention to completing an online Master of Healthcare Administration program from https://onlinemha.bc.edu/, which offers a flexible schedule to fit alongside your job, family, and personal life. During this time, you will develop a comprehensive knowledge of the health ecosystem, which will help you make smart, informed decisions in a healthcare administration role.
Work Experience
During a degree program, it is imperative to gain work experience in a healthcare setting. For example, you could secure an entry-level administrative job at a hospital, clinic, or another medical setting. If you struggle to secure work experience in healthcare, you could gain essential experience by entering an administration position at a business or insurance company.
A Healthcare Administrator License (State and Facility Dependent)
A healthcare administrator license isn’t always required, but it is essential in some settings or states. For instance, you may need to apply for a healthcare administrator license from the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards to secure an administration role in a nursing home.
To become a nursing home healthcare administrator, you must earn a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in a state-approved, licensed training program. Also, your state may require you to pass an exam or gain work experience to secure a license.
Also, it is important to be aware that some employers may want a healthcare administrator to be a qualified registered nurse or social worker before considering an applicant for an interview. Again, learn about your state’s typical requirements to make a more informed decision, as it could determine the bachelor’s degree program you choose.
Various Hard and Soft Skills
As stated earlier, a healthcare administrator has many daily responsibilities which can shape a facility’s standards, outcomes, and reputation. For example, a healthcare administrator must:
- Communicate with various department managers and healthcare staff
- Establish clear objectives and goals for each department and the facility
- Hire, train, and supervise employees
- Create efficient work schedules for all staff
- Ensure a healthcare facility adheres to state and federal regulations
- Manage finances, such as patient fees and billing
- Represent a department or facility at a governing board or investor meeting
- Organize and maintain accurate records
- Ensure each department can operate with its available funding
With many tasks to complete, people to meet, and standards to reach, a healthcare administrator must possess many exceptional hard and soft skills.
For example, you must be:
- A clear communicator
- Honest and transparent
- Positive and proactive
- A problem solver
- An inspiring leader
- Organized
- Confident with numbers and new technologies
- Compassionate
- Friendly and approachable
If you believe you have the hard and soft skills to flourish in a healthcare administrator role, there is no time like the present to enroll in a degree program and reach your potential.
A Post-Graduate Program or Fellowship (Optional)
Although it isn’t essential at most healthcare organizations, you could enroll in a post-graduate healthcare administrator program or fellowship to expand your training and experience. A program or fellowship takes an average of one to two years to complete, and you will have an opportunity to work at various hospitals, departments, and other healthcare settings. The paid placements could provide more confidence in your role, enhance your skills, and make you a bigger asset to an organization.
Conclusion
Unlike doctors and nurses who are responsible for a specific number of patients each day, a healthcare administrator has a duty of care to every person who enters a facility or department. It is a responsibility all administrators don’t take lightly, which is why you must complete various degree programs to enter the occupation. Yet, you will be rewarded with much job satisfaction, immediate respect from your colleagues, and a fantastic annual salary.
Also, it might be music to your ears to learn that you could enjoy exceptional job security throughout your career. For instance, medical and health service manager jobs are projected to grow by 32% by 2029. As a result, you could walk into a healthcare administration role to start making a difference in a facility and its patients’ lives and medical outcomes.
If you believe you have what it takes to thrive in the field, follow the above steps to kickstart a respected, varied, and rewarding career in the healthcare sector.
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