There’s no doubt that hospitals are busy places! Stand in front of a hospital elevator or main entrance door and you are sure to see all types of activity. Doctors, surgeons, nurses, cooks, x-ray technicians, maintenance personnel, and pharmacists are just a few of the many professionals who are needed to run an effective hospital. In order for these different specialty groups to function as one unit, they need some glue to help hold them all together. The hospital administrator is that glue. As a result, hospital administrators’ tasks, skills, and qualities are varied and plentiful.
The work life of a hospital administrator is anything but boring. She must keep a watchful eye on the overall functioning of the hospital and be prepared to provide support whenever necessary. Administrators must be able to provide proper management so that each individual work group can successfully accomplish its goals while working in unison with other hospital groups to maintain unity within the hospital. Hospital administrators also must oversee personnel issues that range from hiring qualified applicants to determining whether an employee is eligible for a promotion.
A large portion of the hospital administrator’s responsibility is financial oversight. Although accountants and computers do the daily number crunching activities, it’s the administrator that usually approves expenses and is responsible for making sure the facility does not go bankrupt.
Finally, as part of the personnel, management and financial aspects of the hospital, the administrator must work with the hospital’s Board of Directors and other stakeholders to create and enforce hospital policies. These policies should help employees in all departments work together to facilitate the goal of the hospital while maintaining the protection and safety of the staff and the patients.
The job of a hospital administrator carries a tremendous amount of responsibility and requires excellent leadership qualities, and a candidate’s education and experience must reflect her commitment to her career. Educational qualifications include a four-year college degree and may require a graduate degree in Healthcare Management. Even if the job requirements do not require a graduate degree, most serious applicants must possess an advanced degree to be competitive.
How much do hospital administrators earn? The average hospital administrator salary in the U.S for 2010 is approximately $93,000 per year; this can vary by as much as $12,000 in either direction, depending upon the specific facility where you work or the region of the country in which you live.
So, how do you get started on the hospital administrator career path? Start with a good undergraduate education and work toward a graduate degree. Most colleges and universities offer the appropriate classes and degrees. However, another education venue is also available: online healthcare administration degrees. There are many universities that offer an accredited undergraduate and online Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. These programs usually provide delayed broadcast lectures and computer based training modules that can be completed when the time is convenient for the student. In addition, online universities provide the ability to network without geographical restrictions due to the accessibility of the internet.
Generally, hospital administrators begin their career path by working in various hospital positions. This allows them to acquire gainful experience while continuing to add to their educational background. Online healthcare degree programs often allow the flexibility to maintain a full time job while working toward your degree, whether you’re just beginning work on your Bachelor’s degree or are trying to wrap up a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration.