Healthcare Administration

Three Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare Administration

Question 1: What do Healthcare Administration professionals do?
Answer: Healthcare Administration is a profession which utilizes administrative concepts and the fundamental of management to coordinate the resources of health care facilities. Healthcare managers perform all the same functions as managers in any other industry or field.
(1) Healthcare managers plan, organize, direct, control and coordinate the resources of health care organizations.
(2) Healthcare mangers are responsible for working with the Board of Directors to create the best possible working environment for the medical staff, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, and other clinical professionals who directly deliver health care services and for ensuring that care is provided in a cost effective and humane manner.

Question 2: Where do Healthcare Administrators work?
Answer: (1) Approximately 50 % Healthcare Administrators work in hospitals or medical centers.
(2) The remainder are employed by nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, out-patient health facilities, medical supply companies and offices of physicians, dentists and other medical practitioners.
(3) Healthcare administrators can also find employment with health insurance companies, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, Healthcare professional associations, adult day care centers, mental health centers community health centers, drug treatment facilities and government health agencies.

Question 3: What are the salaries of Healthcare Administrators?
Answer: Salaries vary by type and size of facility, job responsibilities, education and professional starting salary.
(1) Entry-level graduates with a baccalaureate degree in Healthcare Administration can expect to earn between $30,000 and $35,000 per year.
(2) Entry-level graduates with a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration can expect to earn an average of $37,000 a year.
(3) Hospital administrators with experience may earn between $45,000 to $200,000 per year and HMO administrators may earn an average of $94,000 per year.