Healthcare Administrator

Everything you need to know about healthcare administration as a career, from roles and responsibilities, to work environment and roadmap to becoming a Healthcare Administrator.

Who's a Healthcare Administrator?

Have you wondered who oversees the daily administration of hospitals and other healthcare facilities? Who exactly is behind the planning and supervision of these healthcare institutions? It’s healthcare administrators! As a healthcare administrator, you will be an agent of change with a wide-ranging impact on the entire healthcare system. You will be responsible for  managing staff, preparing budgets, communicating between different departments, as well as making sure that the patients are well looked after.

Responsibilities

What will you do?

Planning the operations

If a healthcare practice is going to operate smoothly and efficiently, it needs a plan and efficient organisational structure in place.  Example: You will strategically plan and formulate the duties for each department and keep reviewing them regularly. If you spot that something isn’t working out, you’ll change the plan based on what you’ve experienced.

Looking after the financial side of things

Usually, financial management will account for approximately a quarter of your major responsibilities. You will have to be familiar with the financial aspects of the institution such as reimbursement policies, billing cycles, among other things.

Managing the staff

You will have to manage the people of the institute by hiring, motivating, leading, and retaining them. You can conduct employee engagement programmes, provide workshops for upskilling, or offer incentives to accomplish your purpose.

Adhering to laws, rules, and regulations

A healthcare administrator needs to always be on the lookout and keep a close eye on the legal side of things. For example, you will be required to have up-to-date knowledge of health insurance regulations and other similar policies.

Maintaining a communication channel

You need to be the bridge between boards of trustees, medical staff, departments, and business staff. An example of this would be to provide streamlined channels for employee suggestions and feedback.

Workplace

Where does a Healthcare Administrator work?

Hospitals

Hospitals are complex organisations with multiple departments which are burdened with immense responsibilities. The running of these institutions requires absolute perfection, as you cannot afford any slip-ups, without paying dearly for it.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes are availed by those who require 24x7 medical care and assistance on a long-term basis. Outside a hospital, nursing homes provide patients with the most comprehensive care. Overlooking all of this will be you, the office administrator.

Medical Clinics

Even smaller, private clinics require an administrator who can efficiently run the order of business and make sure that the patients are getting the right care. You could also become the administrator of a speciality clinic.

Education

How do you become a Healthcare Administrator?

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

You should have passed Class XII examinations with at least a 55% aggregate score in the Arts stream.

STEP 2: Graduation

A Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration is a three-year undergraduate Hospital and Health Care Management programme. A candidate who has passed 10+2 with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or any other equivalent qualification can sit for the university entrance exam.

Some of the very reputed universities and colleges conduct entrance examinations for admission to the degree course. Graduates will be prepared to serve as entry-level health information administrators once they have passed the course.

Students can also opt for a BBA in Hospital Management which is a three-year undergraduate program to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Some of the famous institutes offering a BBA in Hospital Management are Symbiosis University (Pune), Christ University (Bangalore), Jain University (Bangalore). The entrance exams for BBA in Hospital Administration are SET, DU JAT, IPU CAT and NAT.

STEP 3: Internship

An internship in public health administration can give you a sense of the way healthcare policies are researched and implemented. You can take advantage of internship opportunities at non-profit health establishments such as the World Health Organization or All India Institute of Medical Sciences. You can learn from mentors who can help you gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to become a public health leader. If you want to work as an intern, you can work in a large hospital, a small private practice or anything in between. As a healthcare specialist, you will learn how to coordinate patient care and back-end processes to optimise the success of the business.

STEP 4: Post Graduation

An M.Sc. in Hospital Administration is a two-year postgraduate course. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in Science can take admission in this course after completion of the program. The majority of colleges take admissions on a merit basis, however, some colleges grant admission based on entrance test scores. Some of the entrance exams include PGIMER, NEET-PG, WBPGNAT, MET, INI CET, TISSNET, etc.

You also have the option to pursue an MBA in Healthcare Management. This two-year course accepts aspirants with a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline and an accumulated score of 50%. CAT and MAT are commonly accepted for admissions.

Alternatively, you can do a Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA), which is a two-year PG course. To be eligible for this course you need a UG degree from any stream. Admissions mostly occur on a merit basis but some institutes may conduct their own test while others might accept tests like CAT/MAT.

STEP 5: Landing a Job

On completion of your post-graduate course, you might find employment opportunities in areas of marketing, IT, human resource development, medical colleges, health insurance or the pharmaceutical industry. You may work as a healthcare manager, hospital administrator, pharmaceutical project manager or health care finance manager.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

You should have passed Class XII examinations with at least a 55% aggregate score in the Commerce stream.

STEP 2: Graduation

A Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration is a three-year undergraduate Hospital and Health Care Management programme. A candidate who has passed 10+2 with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or any other equivalent qualification can sit for the university entrance exam.

Some of the very reputed universities and colleges conduct entrance examinations for admission to the degree course. Graduates will be prepared to serve as entry-level health information administrators once they have passed the course.

Students can also opt for a BBA in Hospital Management which is a three-year undergraduate programme to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Some of the famous institutes offering a BBA in Hospital Management are Symbiosis University (Pune), Christ University (Bangalore), Jain University (Bangalore). The entrance exams for BBA in Hospital Administration are SET, DU JAT, IPU CAT and NAT.

STEP 3: Internship

An internship in public health administration can give you a sense of the way healthcare policies are researched and implemented. You can take advantage of internship opportunities at non-profit health establishments such as the World Health Organization or All India Institute of Medical Sciences. You can learn from mentors who can help you gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to become a public health leader. If you want to work as an intern, you can work in a large hospital, a small private practice or anything in between. As a healthcare specialist, you will learn how to coordinate patient care and back-end processes to optimise the success of the business.

STEP 4: Post Graduation

An M.Sc. in Hospital Administration is a two-year postgraduate course. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in Science can take admission in this course after completion of the program. The majority of colleges take admissions on a merit basis, however, some colleges grant admission based on entrance test scores. Some of the entrance exams include PGIMER, NEET-PG, WBPGNAT, MET, INI CET, TISSNET, etc.

You also have the option to pursue an MBA in Healthcare Management. This two-year course accepts aspirants with a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline and an accumulated score of 50%. CAT and MAT are commonly accepted for admissions.

Alternatively, you can do a Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA), which is a two-year PG course. To be eligible for this course you need a UG degree from any stream. Admissions mostly occur on a merit basis but some institutes may conduct their own tests while others might accept tests like CAT/MAT.

Step 5: Landing a Job

On completion of your post-graduate course, you might find employment opportunities in areas of marketing, IT, human resource development, medical colleges, health insurance or the pharmaceutical industry. You may work as a healthcare manager, hospital administrator, pharmaceutical project manager or health care finance manager.

STEP 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

You should have passed Class XII examinations with at least a 55% aggregate score in the Science stream with Biology preferably as one of the chosen subjects.

STEP 2: Graduation

A Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration is a three-year undergraduate Hospital and Health Care Management programme. A candidate who has passed 10+2 with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or any other equivalent qualification can sit for the university entrance exam.

Some of the very reputed universities and colleges conduct entrance examinations for admission to the degree course. Graduates will be prepared to serve as entry-level health information administrators once they have passed the course.

Students can also opt for a BBA in Hospital Management which is a three-year undergraduate programme to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Some of the famous institutes offering a BBA in Hospital Management are Symbiosis University (Pune), Christ University (Bengaluru), Jain University (Bengaluru). The entrance exams for BBA in Hospital Administration are SET, DU JAT, IPU CAT and NAT.

STEP 3: Internship

An internship in public health administration can give you a sense of the way healthcare policies are researched and implemented. You can take advantage of internship opportunities at non-profit health establishments such as the World Health Organization or All India Institute of Medical Sciences. You can learn from mentors who can help you gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to become a public health leader. If you want to work as an intern, you can work in a large hospital, a small private practice or anything in between. As a healthcare specialist, you will learn how to coordinate patient care and back-end processes to optimise the success of the business.

STEP 4: Post Graduation

An M.Sc. in Hospital Administration is a two-year postgraduate course. Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree in Science can take admission in this course after completion of the program. The majority of colleges take admissions on a merit basis, however, some colleges grant admission based on entrance test scores. Some of the entrance exams include PGIMER, NEET-PG, WBPGNAT, MET, INI CET, TISSNET, etc.

You also have the option to pursue an MBA in Healthcare Management. This two-year course accepts aspirants with a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline and an accumulated score of 50%. CAT and MAT are commonly accepted for admissions.

Alternatively, you can do a Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA), which is a two-year PG course. To be eligible for this course you need a UG degree from any stream. Admissions mostly occur on a merit basis but some institutes may conduct their own tests while others might accept tests like CAT/MAT.

Step 5: Landing a Job

On completion of your post-graduate course, you might find employment opportunities in areas of marketing, IT, human resource development, medical colleges, health insurance or the pharmaceutical industry. You may work as a healthcare manager, hospital administrator, pharmaceutical project manager or health care finance manager.

What skills would you need?

Analytical and Data Skills

Analytical and Data Skills

Analytical and data skills involve the ability to evaluate information, interpret data, and draw insights to solve problems or make informed decisions. These skills require critical thinking, logical reasoning, and proficiency in working with data sets, often using tools like Excel, SQL, or statistical software. This skill set helps you break down complex problems, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions. In the workplace, strong analytical and data skills allow you to provide insights that guide strategies, optimise processes, and drive innovation. They are essential for roles involving research, business analysis, marketing, finance, and operations. build this skill
Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail means being careful and noticing small things that others might miss. It involves checking your work carefully for mistakes, following instructions exactly, and making sure everything is done correctly. This skill helps you do accurate work and avoid errors. In jobs, attention to detail is important for tasks like writing reports, managing data, or following safety rules.     build this skill
Communication Skills

Communication Skills

Communication skills are the ability to clearly express ideas, information, and feelings, both verbally and in writing, so others can easily understand. This includes listening effectively, using the right tone, and being aware of non-verbal cues like body language. These skills help you explain your thoughts clearly, build relationships, and work better in teams. Good communication is important in almost every job, from customer service to leadership roles, because it ensures that tasks are understood and done correctly, and it helps prevent misunderstandings. build this skill
Promotion levels

How do you make it to the top ranks?

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Medical Executive Assistant

You will gain experience in this role by finishing the projects assigned to you and managing them from the planning to the execution phase.

Clinical Manager

You will be in charge of the effective running of the institute. Your areas of responsibility will include training and development, supervision, budgeting, and maintaining coordination.

Medical Affairs Manager

As a Medical Affairs Manager, you will be responsible for building a brand strategy. You will also have to develop the medical plans and manage the publications related to the brand.

Health Director

Here, you shall form strategies for the healthcare firm. You need to ensure that all the goals of the institute are attained and targets accomplished.

Healthcare Administrator

As a healthcare administrator, you shall oversee and manage healthcare facilities. It is a crucial position as they look after both the day-to-day running and long-term success of the facility, since they make key strategic decisions, allocate budgets, and coordinate operations.

Scope

Pursuing career locally versus overseas

Healthcare is growing more rapidly in India than almost any other field. The field is developing in terms of how and where care is delivered, service provided, and how that care is financed. To be a part of this field, you can pursue different courses in Healthcare Administration from these colleges. If you decide to pursue any course in the field of Healthcare administration from India, you can expect to spend anywhere between INR 3,000 to INR 25,00,000.

The requirement of professionals from this field is quite high abroad. Therefore, individuals who have a keen interest in hospitality management and service are recommended to pursue the degree. The requirements for an MBA in healthcare administration are a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate marks, a CV/Resume, a high score on the IELTS or TOEFL test and a GRE/GMAT score depending on the university’s requirements. Click here to know more about the latest healthcare administration programs available abroad. If you decide to study abroad, you can expect the course fees for any degree in Healthcare Administration to range between INR 2,14,874 to INR 22,026,838.

Payscale

How much would you get paid?

The salary packages for a healthcare administrator will vary depending on your experience in the field and which healthcare sector you end up choosing.


Specialisations

What are your career options?

Financial Management

Don’t underestimate the financial logistics of the healthcare industry. To function in this position, you will require intensive training in economics and accounting. You will be responsible for making financial decisions such as purchasing equipment or expanding the infrastructure while keeping in mind the ROI (Return on Investment) behind it.

Manpower Systems Analysis

A healthcare institute requires a lot of skilled personnel such as doctors, nurses, researchers, etc. As a manpower systems analyst, you will be in charge of supervising the availability of different personnel and constructing work schedules so that none of the patients under your care lack proper medical coverage. So if you feel that there aren’t enough nurses for the night shift, you will have to either ask the hospital for more members or manoeuvre the current personnel’s shifts to cover for the night.

Hospital Management

As a hospital administrator, the burden of looking after the daily functioning and running of these large organisations falls upon your shoulders. Every department’s administration will also indirectly fall upon you. Suppose the pharmacy department runs into a problem, you will need to find a solution for it.

Hospital Human Resources

The difference between the hospital’s manpower analyst and human resource manager comes down to the recruitment function. Unlike a manpower analyst, you will be in charge of recruitment for the organisation. You would have to be careful in selecting the right employees by judging them on their different attributes such as experience, attitude, education, references, etc.

You’ve only scratched the surface.

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