When you envision your future, what do you see? Can you imagine yourself working in a healthcare setting as a healthcare administrator? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry is expected to grow 17 percent from 2014 to 2024 due the aging of the baby-boom generation. There has never been a better time to consider a career as a healthcare administrator, and it is important for anyone who is interested in this field to be aware of what healthcare administrators do on a daily basis.

Just like any other manager or administrator, healthcare administrators act as a liaison between their immediate staff and the administrative staff. This is a significant role of healthcare administrators because open communication between these two departments is crucial.

In addition, healthcare administrators can anticipate the responsibility of delivering the expectations, complaints and concerns between immediate and administrative staff. Ultimately, healthcare administrators work to ensure that the operations of the office are up to par.

Many healthcare administrators are responsible for managing their direct staff, in addition to the administrative staff. This entails tasks such as hiring, training and scheduling employees while accommodating to their schedule needs. This position provides a great opportunity to really get to know your employees and form relationships with them.

A staff community that feels like a team, along with management that truly wants each employee to succeed, creates an effective working environment. It is in the best interest of healthcare facilities for administrators to manage their staff well and genuinely.

Just as healthcare administrators are required to manage their staff and evaluate their performance, they also must also be aware of federal, state and local government healthcare laws. Healthcare administrators are responsible for ensuring that their employees abide by all updated laws, which may pertain to the prices and rates of care provided to patients, how to bill government agencies regarding insured patients and even confidentiality laws.

In the end, healthcare administrators must be informed of new laws and changing trends in order to effectively and legally run the organization they work for. This career is packed with responsibilities and hard work, but it also presents many exciting opportunities for those who are passionate about helping others.

The College of Nursing and Health Care Professions at Grand Canyon University has a nearly 35-year tradition of preparing students to fill evolving healthcare roles as highly qualified professionals. To learn about GCU’s nursing programs, visit our website or contact us using the Request More Information button at the top of the page.

References:

• “Medical and Health Services Managers.” Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from: bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm