Healthcare Administration: The Backbone of Quality Care

By: Ava Bermudez

Usually, when a person thinks of a hospital, they automatically think of nurses, doctors, and maybe even surgeons. However, the truth of it is that those nurses, doctors, and surgeons would not be able to work smoothly in the hospital without healthcare administrators quietly guiding them along the way. What is a healthcare administrator? They are vital leaders who ensure healthcare environments run smoothly and provide quality care. Their work directly impacts, and improves patient care and the success of healthcare organizations.

While their job is to manage the nurses and healthcare personnel on their staff, healthcare administrators do more than just boss nurses and doctors around. In reality, they oversee department operations by managing schedules, staff workflow, and resource use, as well as budget and finance management, by monitoring expenses, setting budgets, and approving purchases. Additionally, they regularly ensure adherence to healthcare laws, safety standards, and accreditation requirements within their staff, while also coordinating between clinical staff, executives, vendors, and insurance partners by being a trusted liaison. In order to become a healthcare administrator, a person must, at minimum, have a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Business, or Public Health. A degree of that major qualifies for entry-level and small facility administrative roles. It is however preferred for a healthcare administrator to have a masters degree, preferably in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or Public Health. Additionally, it is optional, but very respectable, for a healthcare administrator to have a doctoral degree. This type of degree is ideal for careers in research, policy, or executive-level leadership.

When being a healthcare administrator, it is important to have the skills set of a nurse, with the purpose of helping your staff when things get hectic, as well as the skills set of a leader. Healthcare administrators must excel in leadership roles, supervising, directing, coordinating with teams and external partners like insurance or pharmaceutical companies. Strong leadership in this type of environment requires a focus on patient care, consensus-building, ethical standards, and the ability to drive transformation and execution. Additionally, critical thinking and problem solving are also skills that are required as an administrator, as they need to address a wide range of challenges, ensuring smooth operations and compliance with regulations. This includes managing resources, supporting staff, and adapting to issues such as policy changes, conflict within the workplace, or staffing shortages. Healthcare administrators also need to have great communication skills, as clear and effective communication is essential for explaining policies, procedures, and regulations to staff. Administrators must convey updates on healthcare laws, organizational protocols, and expectations, fostering clarity and trust amongst their staff. 

There are various types of healthcare administrators, and each type has its own specific responsibilities based on its area of focus. For example, hospital administrators manage the daily operations of a hospital. They coordinate different departments, work closely with doctors and nurses, and make sure the hospital follows all the regulations. Their duties also include handling budgets, and building good relationships with the community to ensure all the patients receive excellent care. On the other hand, Health information managers are responsible for organizing and safeguarding patient health records. They supervise the upkeep of EHRs (electronic health records), make sure all data is accurate and kept private, and set up information systems. They are also key in analyzing data and preparing reports. Additionally, there are also other healthcare administration careers such as Clinical Administrators, Nursing Home Administrators, and Health Service Managers. So, although there is a vast map of healthcare careers one could choose from, they all help facilitate patient care and provide a supportive environment for staff. 

Healthcare administrators bridge the gap between clinical staff and organizational management, facilitating effective communication and collaboration. The work of a healthcare administrator should not be taken lightly, through countless meetings, huddles, and interventions, their work directly impacts the quality of patient care. Although they often do not perform clinical work, healthcare administrators help to save lives and improve patient care every day, while also managing a large staff of nurses and doctors.

Works Cited:

Pacific College. “11 Must-Have Skills in Healthcare Administration.” Pacific College, 27 Oct. 2021, www.pacific-college.edu/blog/healthcare-administration-skills.

Shelley, Sarah. “Exploring the Role of Healthcare Administrators in Modern Healthcare Systems.” Www.ucumberlands.edu, 24 May 2024, www.ucumberlands.edu/blog/exploring-the-role-of-healthcare-administrators.

Western Governors University. “What Is a Healthcare Administrator?” Western Governors University, 2022, www.wgu.edu/career-guide/healthcare/healthcare-admin-career.html.

“What Does a Healthcare Administrator Do? - CareerExplorer.” Www.careerexplorer.com, www.careerexplorer.com/careers/healthcare-administrator/.

“Day in the Life of a Health Care Administrator | Concorde Career Colleges.” Www.concorde.edu, www.concorde.edu/blog/day-life-health-care-administrator.

What Do Healthcare Administrators Do?” GW-UMT, 2024, onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/mha/healthcare-administrators-do/