Chances are, you’ve heard the
buzz about healthcare
administration careers these days. Look at any job board and you’re bound
to see plenty of job listings in the field – and if you are considering going
back to school, chances are the school you are considering offers a degree
program in healthcare administration, management or a related field.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics defines healthcare administrators as those who work behind the
scenes to make sure that people have access to healthcare services – they plan,
coordinate, direct and supervise the operation of hospitals, doctor’s offices,
clinics, nursing homes and healthcare systems, making sure that everything runs
smoothly, within budget and within the scope of the law and standards
surrounding the practice of medicine.
There are some very good
reasons to seek a master
degree in health administration or a similar degree and enter this exciting
occupational field. Among them:
Plenty of job opportunities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field of health
administration will grow by almost 20 percent in the coming decade, which is
faster than most occupations. As the population ages, and people get sicker,
the demand for healthcare will continue to grow, as will the demand for
qualified people who can manage healthcare delivery.
Good salaries and working environment. While no one could ever say that working in healthcare is easy,
despite the challenges, it is generally a stimulating and pleasant working
environment. Most administrators work in offices during business hours, and
have the chance to interact with a wide variety of people each day.
Compensation is generally above average as well. According to the BLS, the
median salary for an administrator in 2008 was between $71,000 and $87,000 a
year; top-level administrators, such as vice presidents, presidents and CEO’s
easily earn well over six figures annually.
Variety of job opportunities. In most cases, especially in larger hospital and systems, one
administrator does not handle every aspect of managing the organization. There
are opportunities to specialize in areas such as finance, human resources,
information technology, operations, communication and for those who have a
medical background and the proper certifications, nursing and medical
administration. No matter what your interest or background, chances are there
is a healthcare administration job for you.
A chance to help others. Not everyone is cut out to be a direct care medical professional
like a doctor or nurse. Working in healthcare administration or management,
though, gives you the chance to be involved with helping others live better
lives without providing direct patient care.
When you’re evaluating
educational programs and subject areas, don’t overlook the field of health
administration. With good job prospects and pay, a wide variety of
opportunities and the chance to give back to your community, it might be just
what the doctor ordered.
