Healthcare Administration Jobs Basics

Learn the healthcare administration jobs basics before applying for a job

By Rhyah Fletcher
Careers in healthcare administration are growing at a steady pace. With proper credentials, the field of healthcare administration is quite lucrative. The majority of health administration jobs require a master's degree, but a bachelor's degree can land you an entry-level position in a hospital or clinic. Healthcare administrators are responsible for planning, directing and coordinating either specific departments or a whole medical facility.

There are head directors and assistant administrators in the field of healthcare administration. Healthcare administration careers range from clinical managers, health services managers and health information managers. A healthcare administration job can entail a variety of different functions such as:

1. Managing personnel such as nurses, medical assistants, lab technologists and office staff.

2. Creating budgets and working in the field of finances for nursing homes and other smaller facilities.

3. Securing patient records and maintaining confidentiality according to current legislation. Knowledge of current medical software and technology is important.

 

Find out the credentials needed for jobs in healthcare administration

Before sending out resumes, research the type of healthcare administration job you're interested in and make sure you have all the qualifications. While certain jobs require a master's degree, some may take a bachelor's degree along with certain certifications. Other areas, like nursing home administration, require state licensing.
Try: Find out about certification and application for certification through the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management, also called AAHAM. Learn about licensing and pre-licensing requirements for nursing home administration from Long Term Care Education.

Review salary information for health care administration jobs

If you have a few healthcare administration job areas you like, take a look at the salaries for different positions within the field. While most administrators jobs pay quite well, there are some that ensure a six-figure salary. A medical office administrator can make between $50,000 and $75,000, while a health services manager can make over $100,000.
Try: Look at salaries over the past few years at All Star Directories and find schools offering degrees in those fields. Type in your job description and locale for a general salary range at Vault.

Search for healthcare administration employment

The best way to determine what employers need for health care management jobs is to do a job search. Check your local hospital website for hospital administration employment, and browse online job boards to find jobs in healthcare administration. Pay attention to the qualifications expected of people applying for that position.
Try: Browse by job titles at Beyond.com. Search healthcare administration job opportunities at American Medical Jobs, and you can even post your resume.

 

  • Get hands-on experience as a medical assistant, CNA or medical office staff while earning your degree or credentials. Many hospital administration jobs and medical office management jobs prefer candidates with medical experience and advanced education.