Health Care Administrator
The variety of health care facilities that exist and the shifting nature of the health field itself make it impossible to define the exact responsibilities of a health care administrator. This site only delves into the major details of the occupation. For example, health services managers are either specialists or generalists. Specialists oversee specific clinical departments and services, while generalists manage an entire facility (either individually or collaboratively). The overall objective of health care administrators, whether they are specialists or generalists, is to plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care to citizens in need.Managers entering the health care field now and in the future should be prepared for significant changes within the industry. The integration of new technology, an evolving regulatory environment, and a heightened focus on preventive care could all impact health care professions in the upcoming years. As mentioned above, the responsibilities of health care administrators vary. The size, nature, and hierarchy of an organization will impact the role of management within it. The duties of a health care administrator can extend into areas such as finance and budgeting, personnel management, computer and information systems, medical records, admissions, and facility operations. Administrators are expected to work long hours, and managers of 24-hour facilities may be called in at any time to deal with on-site issues and problems.
Most entry-level management jobs in health care require at least a bachelor's degree. A generalist position will usually call for a master's degree in health care administration, long-term care administration, health sciences, public health, public administration, or business administration. In 2006, close to 40 percent of all health care administrators in the U.S. worked in hospitals. That same year, the median annual earnings for the occupation reached $73,340. The highest-paying positions were in medical and surgical hospitals. [Figures including job projections, reported median incomes, and salary estimates were revised to reflect data from 2006 on 2/20/08.]