If you thought the only path to a rewarding career in the booming healthcare industry was “clinical” in nature, think again. Because the giant wheels of the healthcare machine need a whole lot more support to keep turning than what doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals provide. Just like any business, healthcare is just that – a business. With the same requirements that keep all businesses running like well-oiled machines. If you’re intrigued by the idea of a future where you play a pivotal role in helping people, but in a more behind the scenes fashion, a career in healthcare administration could be the perfect fit! Before we go any further, let’s define what a career in healthcare administration actually is.
What is Healthcare Administration?
Healthcare administration is a rapidly growing field of professionals tasked with managing and directing healthcare services in various organizations, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. It’s a field that encompasses a wide range of roles and responsibilities, from managing budgets and finances to overseeing patient care and implementing healthcare laws, policies and regulations.
Typical Duties of Healthcare Administrators
As the healthcare industry continues to grow and evolve, healthcare administrators are becoming increasingly important to ensuring the delivery of quality care and improving patient outcomes. These vital, behind the scenes healthcare heroes are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities and ensuring that they run efficiently and effectively. Typical responsibilities of a healthcare administrator might include some or all of the following activities:
- Recruiting, training, and managing staff
- Overseeing and monitoring budgets, finances, patient fees and billing
- Developing work schedules
- Managing facility operations and services
- Ensuring healthcare laws and regulations are adhered to
- Establishing policies and procedures to improve patient care and safety
- Strategic planning for healthcare objectives and goals
- Procurement of medical supplies, materials, and equipment
In addition to all of the above, healthcare administrators also work closely with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to identify areas of need, develop plans for improvement, and implement changes that improve patient outcomes and the overall quality of care.
Education Requirements and Qualifications
Most healthcare administration positions require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, typically in healthcare administration, health services administration, or a related field. Some positions may also require a master’s degree, especially for higher-level roles or in more specialized areas such as hospital administration or healthcare informatics.
In addition to formal education, it’s important to gain practical experience through internships or entry-level positions in a variety of healthcare settings. This hands-on experience can help you develop a strong understanding of the healthcare industry and its unique challenges.
Certifications and Licensure:
While not always required, certifications can greatly enhance your chances of success in healthcare administration. One widely recognized certification is the Certified Healthcare Administrator[i] (CHA) credential offered by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management[ii] (PAHCOM). This certification demonstrates your proficiency in areas such as healthcare management, finance, human resources, and healthcare law and ethics.
Depending on the specific role and organization, you may also need to obtain certain state or federal licenses or registrations. For example, positions in long-term care facilities or healthcare clinics may require administrators to hold a Nursing Home Administrator License or a Health Facility Administrator License.
In addition to formal education and certifications, certain skills and traits are essential to pursuing a successful career in healthcare administration.
Skills and Traits Needed for Success
- Leadership Skills – As a healthcare administrator, you’ll be interacting with, and leading people from all walks of life. This requires excellent leadership skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders, and ensure organizational goals are achieved.
- Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills – Administrators need to analyze data, evaluate performance metrics, and identify potential issues before they become problems.
- Communication Skills – Healthcare administrators need strong communication skills to work with staff, patients, and stakeholders, including excellent listening skills.
- Business and Financial Acumen – Administrators must understand the business and financial aspects of healthcare organizations, including budgets, funding, and cost control.
- Technology Skills – Technology is an important aspect of healthcare administration, and administrators need to have proficiency in using various healthcare software, technology platforms, and electronic health records.
- Ethical and Moral Integrity – Healthcare administrators must be honest, trustworthy, and have high moral and ethical standards to build and maintain relationships of trust with patients, staff, and stakeholders.
- Flexibility and Adaptability – Healthcare is a rapidly evolving industry, and administrators must be flexible and adaptable to changes, able to pivot and shift as necessary to achieve their organizational goals.
- Empathy and Compassion – Every career in healthcare requires empathy and compassion. Healthcare administrators must understand and connect with not just patients and their families, but also with colleagues and staff members in order to be effective.
Career Path and Job Opportunities
If you’re considering a career in healthcare administration, you’ll be happy to know that there are many job opportunities and growth potential in this field. Medical and health services managers typically need a bachelor’s degree and some work experience in an administrative or clinical role.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $101,340 [iii] in May Even better, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 28 percent[iv] from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. About 56,600 openings for medical and health services managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force. This means that there will be ample opportunities for job seekers who possess the right skills and qualifications. As healthcare facilities continue to expand and new technology is developed, there will be an increased demand for qualified healthcare administrators.
Job Search Strategies and Tips
Once you have completed your education and training, it’s time to search for your dream job! The job market can be competitive, so it is important to have a solid strategy in place for your job search.
- Polish Your Resume: Your resume is a potential employers first impression of you, so make sure it is professionally prepared and optimized. with your relevant skills and experience highlighted. Customize your resume to the specific job and company you’re applying to and seek out a professional resume building tool to assist you if necessary. After all, presenting yourself in the best possible light from the beginning is critical.
- Join Online Healthcare Communities: Register your profile for free with popular online career communities such as MyCareers Healthcare Community to network and build relationships with other healthcare professionals, and to explore jobs and resources they may have for members.
- Attend Career Fairs and Conferences: Networking is a powerful tool for any job search. Research and attend career fairs and conferences to meet potential employers and make connections in the healthcare industry.
- Reach Out to Healthcare Recruiters: Recruiters who specialize in healthcare can help you navigate the job market and connect you with job opportunities.
- Leverage Your Professional Network: Let your professional network know you’re searching for job opportunities in healthcare administration. They may be able to refer you to job openings or provide valuable insight into the industry.
- Prepare for Interviews: Research the company and position you are interviewing for and practice answering common interview questions.Make sure you dress professionally and arrive early for your interview.
With these job search strategies and tips in mind, you can set yourself up for success in your healthcare administration career. Remember to stay positive and persistent in your job search and the right opportunity will come along. If you’d like to learn more about careers in healthcare administration, please join our growing community of healthcare professionals for tips, trends, trainings and more.
