How to Become a Hospital Administrator

Hospital administrators oversee the business aspect of a hospital, including day-to-day operations and the management of different departments. Read on to learn how to become a hospital administrator.

Introduction
- A hospital administrator manages the financial operations of a hospital. In a larger hospital, the administrator may direct others who supervise individual hospital departments. In smaller hospitals, the administrator may have more hands-on involvement in the facility's everyday operations.
Hospital Management Training - Healthcare Administration College - Heritage Education

This video discusses the Hospital and Health Services Management program at Heritage College. It offers training for entry-level careers in Hospital and Health Care Administration. This Structured Learning program offers students the tools they need to study online. Some skills can only be effectively learned in person, so the program does require students to physically attend class one day per week.

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Step 1: Education
- All hospital administrators are required to have a bachelor's degree. A large majority also hold master's degrees in:
1. Health services administration
2. Long-term care administration
3. Health sciences
4. Public administration
5. Business administration
- Graduate degrees can take up to three years to complete; a one-year supervisory period will also be required. Coursework could include:
1. Hospital organization and management
2. Marketing
3. Accounting
4. Human resources administration
5. Strategic planning
6. Law and ethics
7. Epidemiology
8. Health economics
9. Health information systems
Step 2: Enter the Field
- Most entry-level hospital administrators begin their careers at smaller facilities, working as managers of various departments or of staff members. This step can be essential in helping the future administrator learn the ins and outs of hospital bureaucracy.
Step 3: Move Up in Your Career
- Opportunities for advancement will likely show themselves as you gain experience in the workplace. Administrators may choose to leave positions at smaller hospitals and move on to larger facilities, often as an administrator of a particular department. From there, they may eventually become administrators over an entire hospital.
Conclusion
- Hospital administrators are highly educated, professional managers who are responsible for all business-related aspects of their hospitals. The job requires years of study, sharp managerial skills and the ability to interact with medical professionals, patients and patients' families.