Careers in healthcare administration

Healthcare administrators oversee the running of healthcare facilities. For this reason, the sector is also referred to as healthcare management. Administrative positions suit candidates who want to contribute to the wellbeing of others, but prefer an organizational rather than patient-facing role.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 4 new American jobs are in the healthcare sector. Add to this that all healthcare settings require supervision and organization, and it becomes apparent why administrators are so highly sought-after.

What is healthcare administration?

Healthcare administration involves coordinating the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities to ensure doctors and nurses can do their jobs. The role of a healthcare administrator may include budgeting, policy, staffing, or integrating new technologies. Most positions require decision-making and leadership skills, providing ample opportunity for professional and personal development.

How long does it take to become a healthcare administrator?

The time it takes to start a career in healthcare administration depends on:

1. The level of education required for the job – Some high-level positions require a doctorate, which means 7-9 years of study. But to work as an office manager or aide, for example, it is possible to begin with an associate degree.
2. Accrued experience – Healthcare administration jobs require varying amounts of administrative and medical experience before you are eligible to apply.
3. Desired focus area – If you are targeting a specific role – say, advising government agencies – you may need additional certifications or work experience.

Where do healthcare administrators work?

Healthcare administration professionals can be employed in a range of settings:

Other environments where healthcare administrators work include:

• long-term care facilities
• home healthcare agencies
• hospices
• community health centers
• health science centers
• medical equipment manufacturers
• consulting firms
• government health agencies

Healthcare administration jobs

Administrators can find employment in a range of healthcare sectors. Below are some of the most common.

Government relations

Legislators are constantly developing new policy that affects hospitals, clinics, and patient care. Healthcare administrators act as spokespeople for their facilities, liaising with federal, state, or local agencies.

Administrators are also responsible for understanding current rules and regulations. They pass this knowledge on to medical personnel, workplace safety managers, and other staff.

Finance

Administrators help to ensure a hospital or clinic is adequately financed. They may be involved with hospital billing policies, coordinating loans and grants, or influencing government financial healthcare policy. Focusing on finance in school can provide an overview of the challenges of aspects such as budgeting, billing, and grant-writing.

Nursing administration

The role of a nursing administrator can include coordinating nurses’ schedules, managing pay and budgets, hiring and meeting with nurses, and writing reports. The overarching aim is to ensure nurses get the support they need.

A nursing administrator typically reports to the CEO or head of hospital. To land the role, you need to understand the expertise of nurses and the challenges they face.

Medical staff relations

This sector is designed to protect the rights of all the employees in the institution. Healthcare administrators who work in this area need excellent people skills. The role often involves understanding the needs of staff and transmitting this to those who can help.

Patient care services

Patient care can cover anything from regular checkups and disease prevention, to hospice and palliative support. A patient care services administrator facilitates appointments, monitors insurance claims, ensures quality care teams, and generally helps to provide the best possible experience for the patient.

How to start a career in healthcare administration

Those already in the health sector, such as registered nurses, may transition into nursing management roles – which often requires additional schooling.

Others target healthcare administration as a career after high-school. There are 4-year B.A. and B.S. degrees in healthcare administration, although broader majors, such as public health or business management, are a more popular choice.

Some of the healthcare administration jobs undergraduate degree holders are eligible for include:

Jobs that require a graduate degree in health administration

To become eligible for higher level positions, such as healthcare managers, candidates may need a master’s or doctoral degree. This is especially true for those who want to teach, work with government organizations, or who are seeking executive jobs in healthcare management.

The degree choices at this level include:

• Master’s in health administration (MHA)
• Doctorate in health administration (DHA)
• MBA in healthcare management
• Master of science in nursing (MSN)
• Doctorate in nursing practice (DNP)

While a doctorate can be the quickest route to high-level jobs – CEO of a hospital, for instance – a master’s combined with work experience can offer the same opportunities.

» Read: 5 up-and-coming healthcare jobs you can get with an online degree

Common jobs for advanced degree holders include:

Do I need a healthcare administration license?

Many healthcare administration positions don’t require a license, but there are exceptions, such as nursing home and long-term care administrators.

Licensure and certification regulations vary by state, so you can either ask your school program or current employer about these, or run an internet search.

Generally speaking, certifications and licensure tend to be reserved for higher-level positions.

For example:

• Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPRHM)
• Certified Medical Management (CMM)
• American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM)