Hospital Administrator

Description

Healthcare is a more complex business now than ever before – and it’s changing rapidly. Skilled hospital administrators are vital to ensure that medical facilities run efficiently and deliver quality patient care. Depending on its size, a facility may have one or several administrators. Pursuing a career as a hospital administrator can be a rewarding way of helping others; enrolling in an MBA program with a specialization in Healthcare Management can be a way to begin the process.

Job Outlook for Hospital Administrators
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of health services managers, including hospital administrators, will significantly increase in coming years. Jobs in the field are expected to grow by 23% from 2012 through 2022, more than double the average growth rate of 11% for all occupations nationwide. Overall, the healthcare industry will see increasing demand for medical services due, in part, to baby boomers reaching retirement age.

Competition for jobs at the highest management levels is expected to be strong, and candidates with experience, business management skills and advanced degrees may have an advantage.

Job Duties
Hospital administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of a hospital, clinic, managed care organization or public health agency. To coordinate the actions of all departments and ensure they function as one, hospital administrators must hold a wide set of skills and knowledge. As part of their typical duties, these professionals may:

Act as liaisons among governing boards, medical staff and departments heads
Organize, direct, control and coordinate medical and health services in relation to policies set by a governing board of trustees
Recruit, hire and evaluate assistant administrators, nurses and doctors
Plan budgets and set rates for health services
Develop and expand programs for scientific research
Assist in the education of new doctors in teaching hospitals
Develop procedures for quality assurance, patient services, medical treatments, department activities and public relations outreach
Participate in fundraising and community health planning
Administrators need sharp business skills to handle long-term planning, development of operating objectives and budgets, and creation of an overall system for efficient delivery of medical services. These professionals also review financial reports, managed care contracts and major expenditures. They often establish and administer policies, and ensure they are uniformly understood and followed.

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Healthcare industry knowledge is essential for hospital administrators, who must stay up-to-date with new laws and regulations, as well as medical and technological advances. As leaders of their institutions, the actions and policies of hospital administrators can affect the workplace and community. A hospital administrator’s interpersonal skills come into use when supervising and mentoring staff, communicating with the community and interfacing with governing boards.