HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION: EDUCATION

AND EMPLOYMENT

Jack Amory

Health Services Administration

The role of a Hospital Administrator is to ensure that the hospital is running efficiently and effectively. This requires keeping cost, quality, and access all balanced in such a way that meets specific community needs (Princetonreview.com).

These managers coordinate necessary healthcare services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations (O*Net Occupational Profile).

Health Services Administration

Hospital Administrators’ work is often underappreciated as they largely operate behind the scenes to keep the hospital or hospital system they oversee current and competitive.

While most managers work in offices inside hospitals, nursing homes, or group medical practices, many administration roles are now able to be performed at off-site locations due to the ever-increasing adoption of technology (bls.gov).

History of Health Administration

The definition of health administration, and thus the role of a health administrator, has changed drastically over the past century.

In the early 1900’s, healthcare managers were simply hospital staff, such as doctors or nurses, that assumed administration responsibilities (Haddock, 2002).

As the role of hospital staff became more specialized, Cornell offered the first modern two year degree program to ensure that health administrators were properly educated to handle the ever-increasing duties of an administrator (Stevens, 1999).

Hospital Administration Salary

Career Median Pay: $88,580

Salary range: $39,000-110,000

Degree Requirements:

Entry level Bachelor’s

Preferred level Master’s

Job Outlook

Employment Projections: Increase of 23% from 2012 to 2022

Employment Change: 73,300 increase from 2012 to 2022

Estimated over 300,000 in the workforce in health administration today

Graduate School- UNC UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health-

Masters of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

Two year, 60 credit hour program

12 week internship woven into curriculum

In-State Tuition

Graduate School- Rush University Integrated within Rush Medical Center in

Chicago, Illinois

Ranked among the top ten Health Administration programs.

Two year, 80 credit hour program

100% of graduates are employed full-time within 3 months

Application Requirements Applicants must have a baccalaureate

degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

A score falling on the 50th percentile or above is necessary to be deemed eligible to apply.

A minimum of three references from those who can comment on your academic and professional ability.

Work experience is welcomed, but not required.

Job Profile – Carolina’s Medical Center (CMC)

Mission: “To create and operate a comprehensive system to provide healthcare and related services, including education and research opportunities for the benefit of the people we serve.”

More than 60,000 employees

$7.9 billion in revenue in 2012

Why Am I a Good Candidate for the Field?

Leadership Skills: President of Eta Sigma Gamma shows my passion for healthcare and desire to improve the health of those around me.

Interpersonal Skills: Job experience as a Clemson Athletic Services Tutor has taught me how to motivate and lead others.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in excel and computing technology has prepared me for an active, fast-paced field.

Why Am I a Good Candidate for the Field? (Cont)

Communication Skills: Work experience as a CarMax sales associate has taught me how to work and communicate with a wide variety of people and personalities.

Problem-solving skills: Group projects in class and involvement in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement have taught me how to seek out solutions to complex problems

O*NET Profiler Assessment Social (28)- People with high social scores

focus on interpersonal communication to help guide, advise, and teach others.

Investigative (21)- Those with a high investigative score enjoy finding solutions to issues in the workplace.

Enterprising (15)- Enterprising roles involve working with people to get business projects underway. Oftentimes this involves taking calculated risks.

Conclusion

My plan is to attend grad school for my Master’s in Health Administration after Clemson at either UNC or Rush University.

Job outlook is promising, with an additional 73,300 jobs created by 2022

With my diverse skills and academic experience, I hope to secure a career in the hospital administration field.

Sources http://healthadministration.uc.edu/wp-content/themes/ckg-blank/custom/img/hero/

hero_mha.jpg

Haddock, Cynthia “A Brief History of Healthcare Management” http://www.healthmanagementcareers.org/haddock_ch01.pdf

Stevens, R. (1999). "In sickness and in wealth: American hospitals in the twentieth century." Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-1

http://www.rushu.rush.edu/servlet/Satellite?cid=1320160148452&pagename=Rush/RushUnivLevel3Page/Level_3_College_GME_CME_Page

http://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2014/04/hospital-administration470x313-470x313.jpg

http://www.carolinashealthcare.org/cmc

Sources (Cont) http://www.carolinashealthcare.org/documents/CarolinasHCSystem/Annual_Rep

orts/2013-CHS-Annual-Report-Web.pdf

http://sph.unc.edu/programs/?ppk=hpm-mha-o