Healthcare Administration: Education & Job Outlook

Introduction

When you drive through your neighborhood or nearest town, you probably noticed new community hospitals, 24-hour emergency clinics, modern retirement communities and many other healthcare buildings. Inside every one of those building is an administrator who makes sure that facility is running smoothly.

Global wellness is a $4 trillion industry and growing. The Bureau of Labor (BLS) predicts 71,600 new Healthcare Admin jobs by 2028 growing at 18% making it a much faster than average growth market.

A Healthcare Admin typically requires a 4-year degree and many employers require a Master’s for the more senior administrative roles. According to the BLS, the average wage for a Healthcare Admin is $99,730 annually. The main function of Healthcare Admin is to plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services.

Healthcare Administrator Careers

Once you get your degree from an accredited university, what’s next? Your education has prepared you for many different managerial roles in the Healthcare industry at facilities such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies, and long-term care facilities.

Most people associate Healthcare administrators with running a hospital since that it one of the older established institutions. Hospital administrators account for 33% of the Healthcare administrator and management jobs but outside of the hospital there are a variety of careers that may suit you.

Some of those industry segments are:

Nursing Home Administrator

This administrator role is focused on running the clinical and administrative operations of elderly care facilities known as Nursing Homes. The responsibilities include hiring and maintaining staffing, training, and ensuring the medical care is excellent. Administrative duties include overseeing: financials and accounting, facilities, inventory supplies, and marketing.

Health Information Manager

A Health Information Manager (HIM) is mainly responsible for managing the patient records. The privacy and security of this information is an important role in today healthcare industry and the HIM interacts with IT professionals to make sure this data is secure meets state and federal standards. HIM’s make health records and information is correct and complete in case it is used in an investigation or research.

Insurance Underwriter

Typically, a profession that requires a master’s degree, an Insurance Underwriter reviews insurance applications to determine if they should be accepted. They also analyze financial risk of a policy and communicates the analysis to the insurance leadership.

Health Care Program Director

Colleges and Universities employ Program Directors who are responsible for the quality of education in the Health Sciences discipline. They make sure that the course curriculum, faculty and students have the latest materials and techniques in order to provide a quality program.

Home Health Care Administrator

This administrative role supervises nurses and health care workers who provide health care to patients at home. This growing segment of patient care requires administrators who can ensure that staff, funding, and patient needs are met.

Hospice Administrator

Hospice is the caring of terminally ill patients from cancer patients to the aging. This administration role manages the operational functions including the financials, budgets, pricing for services of the business. They work with medical facilities and community groups to address the needs of the terminally ill of their community.

Steps to Becoming a Healthcare Admin

The pay scale for Healthcare administration is higher than average in the healthcare industry and that means a degree is required. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for these administrator roles and the coursework includes communications, math, composition, as well as core healthcare course like medical office management, health records management.

The steps in becoming a Healthcare Administrator:

• Complete a bachelor’s degree program Healthcare Administration
• Consider completing a master’s degree program
• Earn key industry certifications from associations like the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM), the Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals (AHCAP)
• Gain additional experience by attending key conferences and joining industry organizations along with subscribing to medical and healthcare publications

Healthcare Admin Education: Degrees and Programs

Most colleges and universities offer a degree program certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) or the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). See our “Find Schools” link for programs.

A typical school curriculum for a bachelor’s degree is 120 credit hours of school.

Tuition costs will vary at different universities depending on factors such as living in state or out of state, public or private school and how long it takes you to finish. One sample state college estimated taking 15 hours for 2 semesters including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and other miscellaneous fees would be about $23,500 and a non-resident about $38,000 for the same two semesters. On average, private college tuitions will be much higher.

A typical bachelor’s degree 120 credit hour curriculum would look similar to:

Freshman

• English I & II
• Communications
• History I & II
• Life Science
• Social and Behavioral Science
• Math
• Philosophy

Sophomore

• English Literature
• Political Science I & II
• Art
• Economics
• Computer Science
• Healthcare Statistics
• Psychology
• Healthcare Organization

Junior

• Ethics in the Health Professions
• Supervisory Management for Healthcare Managers
• Healthcare Administration History, Culture, and Language
• Principles of Accounting for Healthcare Managers
• Human Resources in Healthcare Management
• Project Management & Professional Development in Healthcare
• Management of Health Information Systems
• Financial Management for Healthcare Managers
• Patient Care Management & Quality Improvement in Health Care Integrated Delivery Systems
• Essentials of Healthcare Law

Senior

• Healthcare Services Marketing
• Health Services Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Employment Law in Healthcare Management
• Public Health Administration
• Healthcare Comprehensive Exam and Review
• Healthcare Administrative Residency

Healthcare Admin Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the median average wage or salary for Healthcare Admin is $99,730 per year and that varies from state to state.

Several factors determine the final salary or wage that a Healthcare Admin will pay including specialization within a field, experience, and geography to name a few. The areas with a higher cost of living tend to pay above average.

The top five top paying states according to the BLS are:

1. District of Columbia
2. New York
3. Massachusetts
4. Delaware
5. Connecticut

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Healthcare Admin Job Growth

The future is very bright for Healthcare Admin job growth. According to BLS, they predict employment to grow 18% from now through 2028. This is a much faster than average growth occupation in the Allied Health industry in terms of jobs. The BLS predicts 71,600 Healthcare Admin jobs will be added between 2018 and 2028.

Job growth for Healthcare Admin professionals is growing as clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities continue to expand with a growing and aging population.

The need for Healthcare Administrators and manager is in every state but some areas have more need and are willing to pay more to start. California, Texas New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts are the top five states with the most jobs according to BLS.

Healthcare Admin Career and Job Duties

The medical profession is growing with hundreds of community hospitals and medical facilities being added every year. Healthcare management resources are in high demand to make sure the operations of Healthcare facilities are running smoothly.

A typical job description for a Healthcare Administration professional is:

Administrative duties:

• Manage daily tasks of healthcare departments, practices, and facilities
• Set goals related to company spend and patient volume
• Communicate monthly and quarterly goals to all employees
• Ensure that all departments are adequately covered at all times
• Communicate with Physicians, Nurses and other health care staff to determine their concerns and needs on an ongoing basis
• Manage budget and overall costs while maintaining consistent patient services
• Attract and retain the top talent in the health care industry
• Direct marketing and advertising efforts
• Ensure compliance with regulatory bodies and requirements

What personality traits are helpful?

Healthcare Admins play a critical role keeping the Healthcare industry running smoothly. The massive Healthcare profession has operations with hundreds of thousands of employees and facilities that require an experienced administrator to manage. Here are some traits that can help you succeed:

• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Be able to inspire and motivate people
• Mature decision making
• Flexible and Adaptable
• Dependable
• Tech Savvy
• Strong ethics and good moral compass
• Business acumen
• Strong management skills

Working in Healthcare Administration

Working in healthcare administration is a rewarding and challenging career that requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. Healthcare administrators, also known as healthcare managers or healthcare executives, are responsible for the overall management and operation of healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. Healthcare administrators are responsible for the planning, purchasing, and operating of healthcare facilities. They also develop programs to raise money for the facility and establish goals.

Healthcare Administration Duties

One of the key responsibilities of healthcare administrators is to ensure that the facility is providing high-quality care to patients. This involves developing and implementing policies and procedures, as well as overseeing the performance of healthcare providers. Healthcare administrators also need to be familiar with state and federal regulations, as well as accreditation standards, in order to ensure that the facility is in compliance.

Another important aspect of healthcare administration is budgeting and financial management. Healthcare administrators need to be able to create and manage budgets, as well as develop and implement cost-saving measures. They also need to be able to analyze financial data in order to make informed decisions about the facility’s operations.

In addition to these responsibilities, healthcare administrators also need to be strong leaders. They need to be able to motivate and manage staff, as well as work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals. Strong communication and negotiation skills are also important, as healthcare administrators often need to work with insurance companies, government agencies, and other organizations in order to provide the best care for patients.

How to Become a Healthcare Administrator

To become a healthcare administrator, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field. However, many positions also require a master’s degree in healthcare administration or a related field. Furthermore, many healthcare administrators also have experience working in healthcare settings, such as hospitals or clinics.

Overall, working in healthcare administration is a challenging and rewarding career that requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. Healthcare administrators play a vital role in ensuring that healthcare facilities are providing high-quality care to patients and that they are financially sound. If you are interested in a career in healthcare administration, consider pursuing a degree in healthcare administration or a related field and gaining relevant experience in the healthcare field.

As a healthcare administrator you will also have the opportunity to work in a diverse range of healthcare settings such as Hospitals, Clinics, Long-term care facilities, Rehabilitation centers, Mental health facilities and many more. With the increasing demand for healthcare services and the growing aging population, the career outlook for healthcare administrators is very positive.

Furthermore, healthcare administration positions are not just limited to hospitals and clinics, many healthcare administrators work in pharmaceutical companies, healthcare consulting firms, insurance companies, government agencies and other healthcare-related organizations. A healthcare administrator is typically responsible for managing the overall functioning of a healthcare facility. They may also be given specific responsibilities such as ensuring that the center is compliant with state regulations or overseeing how certain areas of the facility are regulated.

In conclusion, a career in healthcare administration offers a wide range of opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field while also being financially rewarding. With the right education and experience, you can position yourself for a successful and fulfilling career as a healthcare administrator.

If you love the challenges and are passionate about health and have a desire to manage organizations, the Healthcare Administration role maybe the fulfilling career for you. Click the blue “Find Schools” button to compare colleges and universities that may fit your needs.