A hospital administrator oversees and directs the operations of hospital departments as well as affiliated facilities such as substance abuse treatment centers, hospices, and outpatient clinics. He frequently follows the instructions of the hospital’s governing board of trustees, a group that establishes policies and procedures that are generally thought to be in the hospital’s and community’s best interests. His job requires him to communicate with the board, as well as the medical staff and department heads, on a regular basis.
The hospital and auxiliary facility staffs are typically expected to follow the hospital administrator’s procedures, just as he is expected to follow the trustees’ guidelines. The planning, management, and coordination of health and medical services are all covered these principles. When a member of staff has concerns or questions about services or administration, the hospital administrator is frequently the first person contacted for answers.
In addition to staff management, a hospital administrator’s job usually entails acting as a liaison between the administrative staff, patients, and their families. The hospital administrator is frequently called upon to resolve questions about the quality of care, billing procedures, or insurance issues. In cases involving a long-term issue, he may be required to seek advice and assistance from the trustees.
The ability to look at situations objectively and come to sound conclusions on one’s own is usually an important part of a hospital administrator’s job. He is not only expected to successfully intervene and mediate crises on a regular basis, but also to interpret policies and make appropriate decisions that have a positive impact on patient care. These professionals usually coordinate all of the health care facility’s departments to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
In the majority of hospitals, the administrator is heavily involved in personnel management. He frequently collaborates with human resources in the recruitment and hiring of assistant administrators, medical interns, nurses, and physicians. His job also requires him to evaluate employee performance on a regular basis.
The administrator also serves as the facility’s public relations representative outside of the hospital. He works to ensure that the public perceives the hospital in the best light possible. He attends conferences and councils to stay current on medical trends and new technologies, in addition to representing the facility at charity events.
A bachelor’s degree is required for the position of hospital administrator, as well as five years of experience in a medical, health-care, or hospital setting. Because business administration makes up such a large part of the administrator’s job, a master’s degree in health sciences, business, health services, or public administration is highly valued.