What You Need To Know About Healthcare Administration Careers

Despite peaks and swells in the economy, skilled administrative professionals continue to be sought after by healthcare organizations. According to the US Department of Labor, employment of medical and health services managers is expected to jump 16 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than the average for all occupations. If you're considering a career in healthcare administration, read on for comprehensive must-have answers to five frequently asked questions.

What Skills Do I Need For a Successful Healthcare Administration Career?

Healthcare administration is an attractive career choice because there are so many types of jobs, each requiring slightly different skillset combinations. For example, an administrator with a lot of charisma and vision might do well leading controversial projects that create positive, far-reaching changes. Another administrator with less overt charisma but a penchant for on-the-nail analysis and accurate interpretations might fit into a research-based administrative niche. Consider your own passions and play to your personal strengths from the outset. You'll eventually find your own level within the administrative fields.

One can, however, generalize a bit when it comes to naming skills that tend to be common to most healthcare administrators. Here are the top seven:

1. Sense of responsibility and personal accountability
2. Verbal and written communication skills
3. Desire to be of service to others
4. Organizational skills
5. Analytical skills
6. Leadership
7. Empathy

Do I Really Need a Degree to Become a Healthcare Administrator?

Do you intend to pursue a long-term career in healthcare administration? If so, you will certainly need an educational degree. Administrative roles have become far more complex over the years, so a higher level of formal education is quickly becoming the standard for most healthcare administration careers.

While a bachelor's degree is adequate for some entry-level positions in smaller operations, a master's degree is the norm for executive positions. Accredited bachelor's and master's degree programs in health services administration are available online through many top tier universities.

Many accredited online institutions offer bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in healthcare administration, nursing leadership, health systems management, healthcare informatics, clinical research management and many other related fields. As you progress up the career ladder, you may decide to pursue a PhD or a more specialized master's degree.

What Classes Will I Take During My Healthcare Administration Program?

Expect to take a mix of business and healthcare courses. Depending on the specific degree and institution, the focus may vary widely, so compare several programs to find one that dovetails with your interests. Here is a sampling of classes you might take during a typical healthcare administration program:

What Is a Typical Job Setting For a Healthcare Administrator?

One of the most appealing things about healthcare administration is that there really isn't one typical job setting. As a healthcare administrator, you might work in a hospital or a private clinic. You might oversee an entire health care system or manage an assisted living facility. From home healthcare companies to government agencies to insurance companies to humanitarian organizations, any institution related to healthcare has a need for skilled administrators.

More than one third of all health care administrators work in hospitals. Others work in nursing homes, home health agencies, HMOs, clinics, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric and ambulatory care facilities, and doctors' and dentists' offices.

If the choice of job settings seems overwhelming, just remember that it's not uncommon for recent graduates to work in several healthcare settings before finding their speciality. The average new healthcare administrator will often experience several positions with different institutions. Ideally, each succeeding position should give you another boost up as far as job scope and responsibility. As you progress in your administration career, you will achieve a well-rounded skillset and be prepared to compete for top positions in healthcare administration.

What Will My Job Responsibilities Be?

Health care administrators plan, organize, and coordinate health care delivery. They manage facilities, services, programs, staff, budgets, and relations with other organizations. As a new healthcare administrator, your initial responsibilities will depend on your level of educational degree, your related practical experience, and the healthcare setting in which you work.

Hospitals usually have three levels of health care administrative responsibility. Executive administrators are concerned with planning, policymaking, community outreach, negotiations, and response to federal regulations and standards. Associate or assistant administrators are responsible for budgeting, personnel, inservice education, information management, and coordination of hospital departments. Other administrators specialize in financial management, marketing, systems analysis, planning, and labor relations.

The administrative staffs of nursing homes and home health agencies usually are smaller than those of hospitals. These administrators may have only one or two assistants, sometimes none; however, they apply the same management skills used by the administrators of larger facilities. The administrators of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have the added responsibility of developing medical benefit programs for enrolled members.

Job Outlook For Health Care Administrators

Employment of health care administrators is expected to grow faster than average for many years to come. The population is both growing and aging. As the population grows, the number of people receiving medical care and the number of medical offices will increase giving rise to a growing need for healthcare administration degree holders at all levels.

Start A Career In Health Care Administration

Now that you have a clear idea of the possibilities that a career in healthcare administration has to offer, the next step is to compare various educational programs. Healthcare administration is rapidly expanding, with plenty of new opportunities in diverse healthcare settings. It is an excellent time to make yourself into an attractive job candidate by earning your bachelor's or master's degree.

Explore Healthcare Administration Degree Programs
To get started on your own path to a rewarding healthcare administration career, just request free information from several accredited institutions. As an online healthcare administration student, you'll be able to balance your education with work and family. The sooner you attain your degree, the sooner you'll be able to explore the rich and satisfying world of healthcare administration: Online Health Care Administration Programs

Keiser University

Campus

Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.

Programs:

• Health Services Administration, AA (Online)

Campus Locations:

Fort Lauderdale

University of Phoenix

Campus

As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.

Programs:

• A.A. in Health Care Administration
• Master of Health in Administration/Health Care Education
• BS in Health Administration

Campus Locations:

Online
Phoenix
Sacramento
Sarasota
Fort Collins
San Antonio
Jacksonville
Independence
Pittsburgh
Reston
Mililani
Spring
Clearwater
Clinton Township
Murfreesboro
Tampa
Madison
Fairfield
Plantation
Atlanta
Manassas
Tulsa
Washington
Rogers
Nogales
Macon
Milwaukee
Bossier City
Hurst
Elk Grove
Colorado Springs
Murrieta
Palm Beach Gardens
Springfield
Las Vegas
Westminster
Brookfield
Beale AFB
Albuquerque
Aurora
Kansas City
Meridian
Appleton
Tucson
Fairfax
Baton Rouge
Culver City
Costa Mesa
Killeen
Ontario
Santa Fe
Flint
Marietta
Henderson
Houston
St. Louis
Salida
Livermore
Hollywood
Columbus
Troy
Orlando
Temple Terrace
Renton
Louisville
Columbia
Southfield
Mesa
Gardena
Roseville
Snellville
Miami
Woodland Hills
Harrisburg
San Jose
Ann Arbor
Bellevue
Yuma
Duluth
Westlake
Saint Paul
Austin
Lathrop
Kapolei
Daytona Beach
Chandler
St Louis Park
Arlington
Lone Tree
Irving
Lancaster
San Francisco
Livonia
McDonough
Saint Louis
Pasadena
Overland Park
Nashville
East Lansing
Cordova
West Chester
Clarksville
Savannah
Indianapolis
Birmingham
San Diego
Oakland
El Paso
Fort Lauderdale
Oklahoma City
Los Angeles
Saint George
Grand Rapids
Plainfield
Sugar Land
Rancho Cordova
Dallas
Metairie
Augusta
Maitland
Diamond Bar
Portage
Sandy Springs
Braintree
Beachwood
Charlotte
Salt Lake City
Pleasant Grove
Minneapolis
Santa Teresa
Flowood
Clearfield
Fayetteville
Visalia
Bakersfield
Chattanooga
Greensboro
San Bernardino
Raleigh
Chula Vista
West Des Moines
Westborough
Burlington
Reno
Carolina
Fresno
El Centro
Palm Desert

Baker College Online

Campus

Baker College Online is fully accredited and offers over 40 programs that will help you earn your Certificate, Associate, Bachelor, Master's or Doctorate degree affordably. Learn more now.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Health Services Administration
• Master of Business Administration - Health Care Management

Campus Locations:

Lisle

Walden University

Online

Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.

Programs:

• Ph.D. in Health Services - Course-based - Self-Designed
• Ph.D. in Health Services - Self-Directed - Leadership
• Ph.D. in Health Services - Course-based - Health Care Admin

Independence University

Campus

You can advance your career 24/7 with online education at Independence University, your proven partner with over 30 years of experience in delivering quality distance education right to our students. Our programs are designed to allow you to continue working and earning as you pursue your online degree.

From associate's and bachelor's to master's degrees in health education and business, with Independence University you can achieve greater success through distance learning programs that suit your busy schedule, with experienced, student-oriented staff to assist you throughout your distance education.

Programs:

• BS - Health Services Management
• MS in Health Services - Health Promotion program
• MS - Healthcare Administration

Campus Locations:

Salt Lake City

National American University

Campus

Since its beginnings in 1941, National American University has been a cornerstone of higher education, keeping pace with the ever-changing advancements of technology, while holding onto core values that provide a caring and supportive environment for all students.

Programs:

• Medical Staff Services Management
• Health Care Management
• Electronic Health Record Support Specialist

Campus Locations:

Kansas City
Minneapolis
Sioux Falls
Colorado Springs
Lees Summit
Littleton
Watertown
Rapid City
Albuquerque
Rio Rancho
Burnsville
Saint Paul
Wichita
Tulsa
Hopkins
Saint Charles
Mesquite
Overland Park
Austin
Bellevue

Florida Technical College

Campus

Florida Technical College has structured its Health Care, Technology, and Programming curricula to achieve one thing for its students: success in the real world.

Programs:

• Health Service Admn, Medical Asst and Health Info Tech

Campus Locations:

Orlando

Daymar Institute

Campus

We Change Lives... One Person At A Time®. We offer certificate, associate degree, and bachelor's degree programs for careers in a variety of fields, including medical, criminal justice, computer technology, and business.

Programs:

• Health Care Administration

Campus Locations:

Clarksville

Strayer University

Campus

Get the right foundation for your future with a degree from Strayer University. Evening, weekend and online classes are all available to meet the needs of busy adults.

Programs:

• BBA: Health Services Administration
• Masters: Health Services Administration
• MBA: Health Services Administration

Campus Locations:

Augusta
Greenville
Miami
Raleigh
Tampa
Memphis
Scott Depot
Florence
Feasterville Trevose
Columbia
King Of Prussia
Washington
Springfield
Philadelphia
Warrendale
Pittsburgh
Arlington
Roswell
Sandy
Houston
Milwaukee
Ashburn
Cleveland
Atlanta
Indianapolis
Orlando
Little Rock
Concord
Schaumburg
Austin
Chesapeake
Columbus
Jacksonville
Lawrence Township
Millersville
Douglasville
Irving
Huntersville
Rockville
Birmingham
Lexington
Knoxville
Center Valley
Charlotte
Dallas
Woodbridge
Manassas
Rosedale
Fairborn
Lithonia
Huntsville
Newark
Downers Grove
Morrisville
Metairie
Cincinnati
Glen Allen
Greensboro
Louisville
Owings Mills
Fort Lauderdale
Fredericksburg
Palm Beach Gardens
Newport News
Virginia Beach
Maitland
Suitland
Willingboro
Nashville
Cedar Hill
Hollywood
Plano
Akron
North Charleston
Mason
Piscataway
Midlothian
Pompano beach
Morrow
Alexandria
Savannah

Charter College

Campus

Prepare for a better career and a brighter future with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Bachelors Degree, Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. Our small class sizes and dedicated instructors ensure a personalized education experience. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find the job that's right for you after graduation.

Programs:

• Health Care Administration

Campus Locations:

Vancouver
Oxnard
Bellingham
Anchorage

Carrington College

Campus

Carrington College has helped over 45,000 graduates realize their dream of a career in healthcare. Now it's your turn. Choose from eleven conveniently located campuses.

Programs:

• Health Care Administration
• Medical Office Management

Campus Locations:

Mesa
Boise
Tucson
Phoenix
Albuquerque
Spokane

Keiser University Campus

Campus

Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.

Programs:

• Health Services Administration, BA
• Health Services Administration, AA (Online Only)
• Health Services Administration, AA

Campus Locations:

Fort Myers
Fort Lauderdale
Port Saint Lucie
Sarasota
West Palm Beach
Daytona Beach
Tallahassee
Miami
Tampa
Lakeland
Hollywood
Orlando
Melbourne

Kaplan University - KHE

Campus

Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan University can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science: Health Care Administration
• Associate of Applied Science: Medical Office Management

Campus Locations:

Cedar Falls
Omaha

Albertus Magnus College

Campus

Earn your degree and advance your career with Albertus Magnus College. We offer bachelor's and master's degrees and adult accelerated programs in a wide variety of fields, including science, business, criminal justice, communications, education, and much, much more.

Programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a Concentration in Healthcare Management

Campus Locations:

East Hartford

Berkeley College

Campus

Widely recognized as unique among colleges and universities, Berkeley College offers a proven approach to career education that provides students with a competitive edge and the skills sought by employers.

Programs:

• BS, Health Services Management
• AAS in Health Services Administration
• BBA in Health Services Management

Campus Locations:

Woodbridge
Paramus
Newark
Little Falls
New York
White Plains