Career Goals For Healthcare Administration

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Managers in health care

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation’s 23 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 27, 2021 and Nov 30, 2022.

Review these skills to learn:

• Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
• What training you may need to get these skills
• What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.

• Minimum Education Varies

There are no standard education requirements. They vary with the position, size, and nature of the health service organization. Employers may promote from within the organization or hire applicants who have related post-secondary education or certification.

Health service administrators need both education and experience. Those with a background in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, or accounting may take continuing education courses in health service administration or management. Those with graduate degrees in health management most often start in junior admin positions and get on-the-job experience in not-for-profit organizations.

There are many education options for Albertans interested in this field. For example:

The Job Outlook For This Sector Is Excellent

Healthcare is a growing field. Apart from the many opportunities for employment, healthcare management opens a wide range of possibilities for job location, a benefit not often found in other management fields.

Employment of medical and health services is expected to grow 18 percent from 2018 to 2028, with an estimated 406,100 positions . As healthcare continues to evolve, the need for strong healthcare leadership will continue to rise.

Certified Healthcare Access Manager

CHAM certification is issued by the National Association of Healthcare Access Management . This certification helps demonstrate the expertise of the front line staff and managers in patient access services.

• Have two years of management experience in the healthcare or finance industry.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent plus 90 contact hours earned within the past three years or a four-year degree from an accredited institution in healthcare, business or a related field.
• Gain a signature of one CHAM-certified individual and one supervisor or course instructor/advisor.
• Identify a qualified proctor before signing up for the examination.

Testing:

The CHAM examination consists of 115 multiple choice questions, and candidates have two hours to complete the test. The exam outline include:

• Pre-Arrival : Including patient and family experience admission and transfer services scheduling and pre-registration.
• Arrival : Including patient check-in, admission and registration patient and family experience revenue cycle and information systems.
• Access Management : Including statistical reporting patient experience and management professional development and competency and leadership and management.

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Why Pursue A Career In Health Care Administration

Working as a health care administrator gives you the power to change lives by ensuring the best possible patient experience. A doctor or nurse might only see a dozen patients each day. Through your work as a health care administrator, you have the opportunity to positively affect hundreds if not thousands of people. You can have an impact from behind the scenes, without needing a medical degree or direct patient care experience.

What Is Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration is a booming industry here in the US. There are many ways in which a degree in health care administration can be applied. Entry-level healthcare administration jobs and hospital administrator jobs often lead to leadership positions in hospitals, within health insurance companies, in government organizations, non-profit organizations, and more. Leaders in the healthcare administration industry work hard to promote healthy people in the communities they serve.

In addition to close involvement with healthcare providers and systems to ensure ideal patient care at all times, those in healthcare administrator jobs and hospital administrator jobs proactively promote healthy lifestyle habits that ensure rates of preventable diseases and illnesses are reduced through ad campaigns, TV advertising, billboards, and more. Healthcare management job descriptions often include working with health insurance companies, within hospital systems, and with government agencies to ensure optimal care for all patients. With a career in healthcare administration, there is plenty of opportunity for advancement as new skills are acquired and experience is gained.

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What Does A Health Care Administrator Do

A health care administrator is tasked with overseeing the operations of health care providers. Whether at a doctorâs office, hospital, senior care facility, or outpatient clinic, the health care administrator coordinates the business activities of the facility or department.

Did you know?

Health care administrators donât just work in hospitals. You can also work in a pharmaceutical company, behavioral health clinic, governmental organization, health insurance provider, nonprofit, or consulting firm.

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Unit 4 Assignment: Outlining My Career Goals In Healthcare Administration

It is my career goal to become a physician of hematology and oncology. So I need to set goals in order to do so, and Kaplans Career Center is a great tool to help me in this task. I will be starting of with receiving my bachelors of science in health care administration, and from there I will be taking the MCAT test prep course that Kaplan University has to offer. While taking that class I will be continuing in my career in HR at the hospital that I work, and try to advance more on the clinical administrative side. I will also use the Career Center that Kaplan has to offer which includes things such as: career assessment/exploration, occupational direction, career networking tips, and online career fairs .

Certified Professional In Health Care Risk Management

CPHRM is a public certification issued by the American Society for Health Care Risk Management. It is one of the highest certifications in healthcare risk management and is considered to be a prerequisite for many top jobs in the field.

Please note that you must meet one of the educational requirements in addition to the risk management experience requirement.

Education and Healthcare Experience Requirements:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university plus five years of experience in a healthcare setting or with a provider of services to the healthcare industry.
• Hold an associate degree or equivalent from an accredited college plus seven years of experience in a healthcare setting or with a provider of services to the healthcare industry.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent plus nine years of experience in a healthcare setting or with a provider of services to the healthcare industry.

Risk Management Experience Requirements:

• 3,000 hours or 50% of full-time job duties within the last three years dedicated to healthcare risk management in a healthcare setting or with a provider of services to the healthcare industry.

Testing:

The CPHRM exam consists of 110 questions that determine your knowledge as a competent healthcare risk management professional. There is a two-hour time limit when completing the exam. Core concepts include:

• Clinical/patient safety
• Healthcare operations
• Claims and litigations

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What Is A Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare administrators work behind the scenes to make large-scale decisions for the healthcare facility or institution. They deal directly with policy and budgets to create better patient experiences and ensure the safety of guests and staff.

Healthcare administrators have in-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework in patient care. Their responsibilities are entirely different from the responsibilities of a doctor or physician. While physicians manage patients directly, healthcare administrators oversee the facility itself and usually have a bachelors degree or masters degree in healthcare administration.

Consider An Mha Program

For many candidates, the next step is to earn a master of health administration . Most higher-level positions require a graduate degree, so earning your MHA is vital for career advancement.

When selecting a program, look for a certification from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education . This indicates that the program will adequately prepare you for a future career in the healthcare management industry. CAHME is the only certifying organization in the healthcare management education industry that is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

When you choose a CAHME-accredited MHA program, you know that the program meets rigorous academic standards and provides up-to-date information. Likewise, employers know that graduates from an accredited program are well-prepared for the healthcare administrator role.

Also consider whether you should attend an on-campus program or complete your degree online. There are many benefits to an online masters in healthcare administration program, including flexibility and a wider variety of choices. You are not limited to schools in your geographic area and are free to choose the program with the best curriculum and reputation.

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Your Education Can Take You In Many Directions

If youre hoping for a career that can lead you in any of the many exciting directions management can take when compared with traditional careers, then you have an excellent reason to consider healthcare management. Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration may go on to work in areas like management consulting, pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, health insurance, long-term care, state and federal agencies, and professional societies. In other words, a career in this field is anything but limiting.

Grand Canyon Universitys Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration degree prepares students for entry into the field of healthcare administration. If youd like to learn more about this or the other programs offered by GCUs College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, then visit our website or click the Request More Information button at the top of this page.

• 4 Healthcare Career Paths That Go Beyond Patient Care. . Retrieved from https://www.michiganstateuniversityonline.com/resources/healthcare-management/healthcare-career-paths-that-go-beyond-patient-care/
• Medical and Health Services Managers.. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Management/Medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-6
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. . Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/#tab-6

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Consider Earning Professional Certification

Certification isnt required to be a healthcare administrator, but employers may look for them, depending on the role.

Professional certifications can help prove to employers that you have absorbed knowledge from your degree and can apply it to the profession. You can also pursue specialty certifications that showcase your competence in a specific field.

Here are some common certifications for healthcare administrators:

• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives
• Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional

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Faqs On Why I Want To Be A Healthcare Administrator

Question 1. What makes a good healthcare administrator?

Answer: A good healthcare administrator is someone who is skilled in navigating the complex maze that is healthcare. They are able to read between the lines and be patient and understanding while understanding that things change seemingly overnight. A good healthcare administrator has a positive attitude, and they can find what you need quickly without leaving a trail of red tape. They are like a good detective they look for the clues and follow them for the truth.

Question 2. What does a good healthcare administrator do?

Answer: A good healthcare administrator is someone who has a broad knowledge of their field and they can teach their clients how to navigate the healthcare system. They have great negotiation skills and are able to get the best deal for their client as well as the best care for their patients. A good healthcare administrator will strive to create a positive work environment and maintain efficient systems. They will also try to keep other employees happy by providing them with proper training. Good healthcare administrator manages their time wisely, dedicating enough time to each task so they are not overwhelmed when faced with something new.

Question 3. Why are healthcare administrators important?

Question 4. Is healthcare administration a good career choice?

Dont Be Afraid To Add Unrelated Work Experience

Healthcare management involves a lot of standard business management and administrative courses, and the degree easily qualifies one for a management position in other fields and industries. You shouldnt be concerned with finding yourself occasionally accepting a job outside of the healthcare industry, even if healthcare management is where you ultimately wish to advance. A little diversity in your portfolio will work in your favor, by demonstrating that you have sufficient grasp of related skills to put your abilities to work in areas not directly involved in your core specialty. This suggests a certain resourcefulness on your part.

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My Career Goals in Healthcare Services Administration

My dream as a child was to pursue a career in medicine to help in finding solutions to the current challenges in the healthcare system after a team of doctors was not able to save my childhood friend. Specifically, I wanted to be a Medical Doctor but shifted my attention to Health Service Administration after I recognized that it needed much attention as surgery due to the prevalence of miscommunication and other broad challenges. My primary interest in enrolling to pursue Health Services Administration was to learn specific functions of health sectors and issues that surrounded its system and design. I am convinced that the knowledge will enable me to be diverse in various areas in the healthcare profession and help my community and the entire humanity. Additionally, the program would help me achieve my career goals that I have carefully selected and committed to model me as an old round person in professional and other confines of life.

What Education Does A Healthcare Administrator Need

Healthcare administrators need to have at least a bachelors degree in healthcare management to get a job in a starting position. This type of degree will teach you business and healthcare fundamentals that’ll help you understand daily operations, budgets, strategy, and communication for healthcare positions within medical facilities.

Many employers will require applicants to have an MBA in healthcare management or a master of health leadership to demonstrate that they understand principles of person-focused and culturally relevant care and are adequately prepared for leadership in the healthcare industry. These advanced degrees will go deeper into executive strategy, large-scale management, and leadership principles that are key for administration positions.

Many employers prefer health administration candidates to have experience in a healthcare setting. This type of experience is critical to ensuring you are qualified to take on more leadership responsibilities in an organization. When determining the right healthcare leadership degree for you, consider your desired role.

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Career Goals In Health Care Administration

Christopher has his master’s degree in public health and has worked in the health care sector for four years. He has experience working in both clinical and nonclinical settings and understands the skills and requirements to succeed in both roles.

Related: Top 10 Jobs in Health Care

Are you interested in a career in the healthcare industry, but are not sure which job is best for you, or how to start preparing for it? We have you covered!

Setting career goals can help you further your professional success and job satisfaction. If you work in health care, you may create patient-centered goals or objectives to improve your work environment. Learning about common goals for people in health care administration can help clarify and give you ideas on how to set goals for yourself.

In this article, we define health care administration, share eight career goals for this role and provide tips for setting more achievable goals.

Career Spotlight: Nursing Home Administration

The golden years are likely to last much longer than they did for previous generations, thanks to exciting new medical technology that has assured we can live longer, healthier lives. In the future, there will be a greater demand for home health services, assisted living centers and nursing home care. As a result, more nursing home administrators will be needed to ensure that the population of older adults will be well-cared for in the coming years.

In addition to working to manage the staff, finances and admissions at a nursing home facility, nursing home administrators are also responsible for maintaining a regular maintenance schedule of the building and facilities. Top-notch care for nursing home patients is always a consideration, so hiring and salary become a top priority as well. A nursing home administrator might work for a single facility or could run a system that has several nursing homes and assisted living facilities spread across a large regional area.

In all states, nursing home administrators must be licensed though the requirements vary, most states require the proper education, a certain amount of experience in a healthcare setting, passing an examination and completing a training program that has been approved by the state. In most states, a bachelors degree is required, but those who attain this position typically hold a masters degree.

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Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional

The cHAP certification is issued by the Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals. It is best suited for administrative professionals who work within healthcare organizations. This public certification demonstrates healthcare administrative skills, knowledge and experience and can help differentiate professionals from others in the field.

cHAP Eligibility Requirements :

Those who are interested in taking the cHAP exam must meet certain requirements in education, professional experience and elective activities. Your level of education and healthcare administration experience will determine whether you proceed through the Fast Track Program or the Traditional Program.

The Fast Track Program may better suit experienced administrative professionals to sit for the cHAP exam. Candidates need to:

• Have been an administrative professional in a healthcare setting for seven or more consecutive years
• Hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Have been a member in good standing with AHCAP for at least five years.
• Currently a member in good standing with AHCAP.

Traditional Program candidates can have less than seven years of work experience, but they still need to meet criteria in three categories: education, professional experience and elective activities.

Testing:

This healthcare administration certification must be renewed every three years.