A healthcare administrator is a key but overlooked role in the healthcare system. Because they are not classed among direct-care medical staff, and much of what they do goes on in an office behind the scenes, and an outsider would often see them as a waste of time and money. However, nothing could be further from the truth, and their role in ensuring that quality care is delivered within communities is a vital part of every healthcare system.
Increased demand for healthcare administrators
At the most basic level, healthcare administrators free up medical staff to provide that direct care, and so they will not be tied up with the mountain of paperwork that is part of every modern healthcare system. For this reason, predicted growth in the demand for medical and health service managers is 32% in the next ten years.
Opportunities are available for those who want to progress and study for advanced certification. An example of the degree required can be found at https://onlinemha.bc.edu/ along with more details about the MHA (Master of Healthcare Administration) program they offer.
The role of a healthcare administrator
The healthcare service demands were great even before the events of the last 12 months, amplifying the need for administrators with an advanced certification even further. Those with a more extensive skill base can identify the care needs for the patient and at the same time improve the bottom line of the healthcare provider.
An excellent example of this is that over half of over 65’s in the US have more than one chronic health condition which will need proper management, often with a service provided to them in their own homes. However, these are not the only duties of a healthcare administrator, and they can manage many of the non-clinical resources in a healthcare facility.
Effective management of resources
An MHA qualification can aid with the more effective management of staffing, budgeting, planning, and typical day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility. You could also describe this as ensuring everything is in the right place, at the right time, to deliver quality healthcare as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
This has become more difficult as healthcare facilities have become larger and more complex, and at the same time, the technology involved has become more advanced and expensive. Consequently, financing healthcare has become even more intricate and understanding all of these factors and the implications for both the practice and the patient has made enhanced certification all but essential for career advancement.
To further clarify this, it was mentioned previously that demand for healthcare administrators is on the increase. However, it must also be noted that despite demand outstripping supply, the more desirable roles will typically go to the more qualified applicant.
In practical terms, this means that somebody with an MHA (Master of Healthcare Administration) would expect career advancement to a leadership role or benefit from a salary increase before those with either a Bachelors’s or no degree at all.
