Jobs in Healthcare Administration
The healthcare sector provides over 14 million jobs in the United States. An additional 3 million healthcare jobs will be needed by 2016, including entry-level healthcare administration. Seven of the top 20 fastest growing careers are healthcare related.
Some healthcare fields are growing faster than others. With a rapidly growing population, more extended care and geriatric healthcare administration jobs will be created. Rural jobs in healthcare administration are also flourishing.
Training for Healthcare Administration Jobs
A mixture of healthcare experience and education are required for many jobs in healthcare administration. Before moving into administration, some administrators begin their careers as nurses, technicians or any of the many health-based professions.
It is important to remember, however, that healthcare is a business. Accordingly, graduates with business degrees can often find positions in entry-level administration jobs.
Healthcare administration degrees are ideal for students planning to pursue healthcare administration. Bachelor's degrees are often sufficient for entry-level healthcare administration positions. A master's degree in healthcare administration is preferred for executive roles. Examples of healthcare administration degrees include:
- Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Long Term Care Administration
- Master of Business Administration in Healthcare
- Master of Science in Human Services: Healthcare Administration.
Types of Healthcare Administration Jobs
Healthcare administration jobs are as diverse as the healthcare field itself. Jobs in healthcare administration can be found in:
- hospitals
- medical insurance companies
- private clinics
- research facilities.
Examples of healthcare administration jobs include:
- Business Management: Healthcare
- Clinic Administrator
- Compliance Auditor: Medicare
- Director of Patient Services/Admitting
- Health Information Manager
- Home Healthcare Administrator
- Hospital Administrator
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Secretary
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Nursing Home Administrator
- Risk Manage: Healthcare.
Working Conditions
When people think of healthcare jobs, the high-stress environment of the emergency room often comes to mind. But healthcare administration jobs, like most administrative positions, tend to be office jobs. Healthcare administrators are responsible for:
- budgeting
- hiring new staff
- purchasing new inventory or medical equipment
- setting department goals.
As a result, many healthcare administration jobs don't involve contact with patients.
Finding Jobs in Healthcare Administration
With steady job growth in the field, applicants should have no problem finding entry-level healthcare administration jobs. Competition for such positions, however, can be vigorous.
A history of healthcare work, either volunteer or for pay, will certainly help someone seeking administrative positions in healthcare. This experience, however, needs to be backed by a solid business education from an accredited institution, preferably with a focus on administration in a healthcare setting.
Good communication skills, a willingness to learn and the discipline to stay up-to-date in your chosen field are also characteristics of a successful healthcare administrator.
Healthcare Administration Associations
The following professional associations are good resources for anyone in the healthcare field:
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Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals
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American Academy of Medical Administrators
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American Association of Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems
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American College of Health Care Administrators
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American College of Healthcare Executives
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American College of Healthcare Information Administrators
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American Medical Directors Association
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Healthcare Financial Management Association
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National Association of Health Services Executives.