Healthcare is a business and as such needs administrators that understand both the business aspect and the patient care aspect. Health services managers and administrators are hired to organize, direct, coordinate and supervise healthcare. This is true whether the healthcare system is a one physician office or a multi-campus medical center. The healthcare system is complex with multiple layers of regulations to be observed. At the heart of it all is the patient who deserves the best care possible, and a corresponding bill that is correctly coded and charged. All this needs to happen in a facility that is properly staffed with equipment that is state of the art. There are so many levels of the business that need to be carried out correctly. That is why the healthcare services administrator is so important.
Before pursuing this career option, you might want to research accredited Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) programs with an emphasis in healthcare administration. For example, many online schools now offer degrees in health services administration. There are several different options available. If you are already an administrator and are looking for career advancement, the Executive MBA option may be the perfect answer for you.
Another option is a Master’s of Healthcare Administration (MHA). Both of these degrees are recognized in healthcare administration. Each has its own unique way of handling the challenges of healthcare services administration and both are available online. Getting a degree will lead to more career options in health administration.
- Career Options: Health service administrators can either be generalists or specialists in both the private and public sector. They can serve as managers of an entire facility or head specific clinical departments if they have specialized areas of expertise. As a health administrator or manager, they have to effectively manage the business side, financial resources, and human components in the organization in which they work.
- Possible Employers: It is estimated that there are roughly 100,000 health administrators in the United States occupying positions from middle management all the way to CEOs. Some have only 1-2 personnel reporting to them while others lead hundreds and even thousands of employees in major international organizations. A career in health services administration may involve any of the following: managing and directing healthcare services, planning and organizations, policy formation, managing of fiscal resources, marketing, public relations, human resources, nursing administration, purchasing and managing of equipment and supplies just to name a few.
- Education Options: In smaller institutions people can work their way up the ladder to healthcare administration with a high school diploma. In general however, the minimum entry level is a bachelor’s degree. The accepted standard is an MBA or MHA. Facilities have differing policies, but a master’s degree is becoming a necessity. Different specialty areas have different requirements and different options. Health information administrators can choose from five different master’s degree options. A Doctorate of Health Administration is also available.
- Certification Options: Certifications are dependant upon the area in which the healthcare services administrator specializes. Health information managers are eligible for certification from the American Health Information Management Association. They need to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and pass an exam. They are then certified as a Registered Health Information Administrator.
- Licensing: Like certification, licensing varies from specialty to specialty. For instance nursing home administrators only need a bachelor’s degree but they must also pass a licensing exam. Be sure to check what sort of licensing is needed in your particular area.
- Salary Ranges: Salaries have a huge range from $48,000 to $137,000. The range is lowest for healthcare administrators in extended care facilities and in small healthcare offices. The highest salaries go to those with master’s degrees or above, working in large facilities. Experience makes a big difference too.
- Job Prospects: Health services managers and administrators are expected to be in high demand with job growth predicted to grow by 15% in the next ten years. Some specialized areas may only be available in certain hospitals so relocation may be necessary for the highest paying jobs. Here is a partial list of places that will need Healthcare services administration: hospitals, clinics, physician’s group practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, rehabilitation centers, mental health facilities, Government health including the Centers for Disease Control and the Department of Veterans Affairs, health insurance companies, universities, and consulting firms.
Health services managers and administrators have a daunting task to help keep costs under control in this heavily regulated business. There are enormous challenges ahead with the new healthcare bill just getting underway. Healthcare is going to require serious leadership to negotiate the coming twists and turns, so careers in this field will be in demand. This may be the perfect job for you!