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Authored by:
- AdventHealth University
The healthcare field is undergoing a period of significant growth as the aging U.S. population creates more demand for care. Healthcare administrators are a vital part of the industry’s effort to expand its workforce and take other steps to prepare for future growth.
Healthcare administrators coordinate with peers in leading personnel and managing the resources required to deliver positive patient outcomes. Through the analysis of data, administrators create plans that serve the medical needs of individuals, groups, and communities. Some administrators oversee preventive initiatives, such as patient education, to promote community wellness. While these professionals assume varying responsibilities depending on the setting, most manage similar tasks within their disciplines.
There are many different healthcare administrator career paths to choose from. Some examples include nursing home administrator, service line administrator, operations director, clinic administrator, and healthcare IT manager.
What Is Healthcare Administration?
Healthcare administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of the facility they work for. They create work schedules for administrative staff, ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, and monitor budgets. Although the exact duties of a healthcare administrator can vary based on the size and type of facility they work for, common daily duties may include the following:
- Respond to inquiries from doctors, nonmedical staff, and patients
- Inform staff and medical staff of changes in policies, procedures, and protocols
- Keep detailed records
- Monitor inventory levels of office and medical supplies
- Oversee the patient care experience
- Monitor budgets
- Prepare budget reports
- Keep detailed records of departmental expenses and suggest ways to cut costs
- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards
Becoming a Healthcare Administrator
Those who want to develop their healthcare administration careers must start by bolstering the specific skills and knowledge they’ll need to be successful. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most medical and health services managers, including healthcare administrators, have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration (BSHA). Coursework within this type of program may include subjects such as medical terminology, healthcare data analytics, insurance, and reimbursement. Prospective healthcare administrators may also get certified to make themselves more competitive job candidates. The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) offers Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE) and Certified Compliance Technician (CCT) certifications.
5 Careers in Healthcare Administration
Students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare administration have a variety of career paths to choose from. Examples include nursing home administrator, service line administrator, operations director, clinic administrator, and healthcare information technology (IT) director.
1. Nursing Home Administrator
Nursing home administrators develop strategies that determine how an organization will achieve its operational and financial objectives. These professionals must have intimate knowledge of the concepts, policies, and procedures that organizations commonly employ within specific medical fields. They direct and coordinate tasks related to the business side of delivering healthcare services, such as developing and implementing change initiatives. Nursing home administrator salaries vary depending on factors such as specialty and location. PayScale reports that the median annual base salary for nursing home administrators is about $93,000 as of 2021.
2. Service Line Administrator
Service line administrators manage functions that pertain to a specific discipline within an organization. Disciplines might include the following:
- Cardiac units
- Oncology
- Orthopedics
- Women’s health
They cultivate the strategies to deliver products and services and manage resources to produce the best possible patient outcomes. Service line administrators also establish operational and fiscal responsibilities to facilitate desired organizational outcomes. These tasks require a detailed understanding of the disciplines that the administrators manage. Many kinds of businesses employ service line coordinators. PayScale reports that the median annual base salary for service line administrators is $110,000 as of 2021.
3. Operations Director
Operations directors manage organizational tasks that lie outside the scope of medical services and treatments. They analyze policies, procedures, and improvement plans as needed, using their experience in the medical field to lead and manage staff members. Operations directors are highly knowledgeable about the supporting roles involved with delivering healthcare services and treatments. According to PayScale, operations directors earn a median annual base salary of about $88,000 as of 2021.
4. Clinic Administrator
Clinic administrator is another popular healthcare administration career path. Clinic administrators perform several important functions, such as developing, monitoring, and maintaining annual budgets for healthcare organizations. They also make sure that each organizational business unit complies with the regulations set forth by agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), as well as laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Clinic administrators work with other executives to encourage ongoing organizational progress by developing, implementing, and monitoring change initiatives. They also coordinate with medical professionals to collect performance data and find opportunities for improvement. According to PayScale, the median annual salary for clinic administrators is about $62,000 as of 2021. However, clinic administrators can earn up to $95,000 a year (plus bonuses, benefits, and other incentives) depending on organization size and location.
5. Healthcare IT Manager
Healthcare IT managers plan and oversee the frameworks used to store and retrieve medical data. They manage the teams that complete tasks necessary to maintain the network, electronic security measures, and software that healthcare provider organizations use. These executives may also determine user security protocols, establishing what information patients and employees can access as well as the devices that can connect with the enterprise network. PayScale reports that the median annual salary for IT managers with electronic health record (EHR) skills is about $83,750 as of 2021.
Learn More About Careers in Healthcare Administration
In the modern healthcare marketplace, healthcare administrators can lead and succeed in a variety of lucrative positions. The rapidly evolving healthcare environment contains myriad career opportunities with continued growth in the future. This growth means demand for new leadership is rising, too. Through AdventHealth University Online’s BSHA, you can learn to steer multifaceted health systems toward a culture of innovation, all in line with your core values. We believe furthering healthcare starts with advancing dedicated leaders like you.
Sources:
American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, 2021 AAHAM Certified Compliance Technician
American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, 2021 AAHAM Certified Revenue Specialist
Betterteam, Healthcare Administrator Job Description
Indeed, Learn About Being a Health Administrator
PayScale, Average Clinic Administrator Salary
PayScale, Average Information Technology (IT) Manager with Electronic Health Records (EHR) Skills Salary
PayScale, Average Nursing Home Administrator Salary
PayScale, Average Operations Director Salary
PayScale, Average Service Line Administrator Salary
U.S. Census Bureau, Older Population and Aging
Workable, Healthcare Administrator Job Description
