As the need for medical services increases nationwide, healthcare administration continues to be one of the most rapidly growing employment areas in the medical field. Professionals in this important field ensure that competent employees are hired, that staff are appropriately trained, that resources are used to their best benefit and that all employees implement the goals of the organization through quality job performances. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare administrators also provide oversight of hospital programs and network systems that impact critical, daily operations faced by medical healthcare facilities. In short, healthcare administration is the grease that keeps the medical industry running smoothly.

Who Works in Healthcare Administration?

People who work in healthcare administration often display the:

• Desire and aptitude to care for others in healthcare environments
• Excellence in spoken and written communication
• Diplomacy to work with many diverse types of people among patients, staff, and the general public
• Adaptability to deal with fast-paced, demanding situations
• Ability to strategically and efficiently plan, promote and organize programs and information
• Capability to coordinate inter-departmental or inter-agency programs and resources
• Competency with accounting practices and resource utilization

Healthcare administration professionals often come from medical or business backgrounds, having started their careers as nurses, medical information specialists, or human resource managers. With additional training, usually to obtain a master’s degree, they advance to work in healthcare administrative positions.

What Training does a Healthcare Administrator Need?

Entry level positions in healthcare administration require at least a bachelor’s degree. For upper management positions, most professionals will go on to obtain a master’s in related areas such as: public health, long-term care, health information services or business administration with a specialization in health management.

Potential students for the healthcare administration field should always look for programs that meet the high standards of The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education. Accredited programs will provide the appropriate, approved coursework that CAHME deems necessary for competent degree-holders to possess. Coursework typically includes advanced study of:

• Healthcare technology and terminology
• Health economics, accounting practices and billing procedures
• Database coding and health information systems
• Human resources management and staffing practices
• Resource utilization, strategic planning and hospital organization
• Leadership skills including staff training protocols
• Legal and ethical responsibilities
• Services promotion and corporate communication

What is the Job Outlook for Healthcare Administration Careers?

As health concerns continue to grow in such areas as communicable disease, mental health and long-term care conditions, medical health services are also likely to keep expanding. As a result, jobs in healthcare administration, including those for medical and healthcare managers, will rise faster than average over the next decade. Job stability and pay are also expected to be at or above the national average.

Related Resource: Jobs with Global MBA

Healthcare administration is a vibrant industry for those with the right skill sets and credentials. Job outlook is strong and services will be in demand through at least 2022. Qualified graduates with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in healthcare administration will be able to find work in a variety of dynamic job settings including: medical group practices, hospitals, government agencies, teaching schools and research organizations. For those wishing to make a difference in the lives of others, working in the healthcare administration field is a good choice.