Understanding Inpatient Care: Roles and Responsibilities of Administrators

Hospital administrators make sure that medical personnel are properly trained and supported, and that hospitals run smoothly. Hospital administrators, who have a wide variety of duties, need to be equally knowledgeable about the principles of business management and the provision of healthcare.

Consider a job in hospital administration if you’re a pragmatic, goal-oriented individual hoping to begin a career in healthcare but would rather work in a position that doesn’t require direct patient interaction.

Learn more about the duties, salaries, and requirements for becoming a hospital administrator.

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What is a hospital administrator?

A hospital administrator is a specialist who plans, directs, and coordinates medical services in order to supervise a hospital’s day-to-day operations. Hospital administrators make ensuring that the medical facility runs efficiently and that the medical staff is adequately supported and trained, even when other health care professionals, such as doctors and registered nurses (RNs), give direct patient care.

What is inpatient care?

When you receive inpatient care, you are admitted to a hospital or other inpatient facility and stay there for at least one night, perhaps longer, depending on your health.

As an inpatient:

• In a hospital, you are under the care of physicians, nurses, and other medical specialists.
• Depending on the condition you are receiving treatment for, you are frequently admitted to a certain service, such as neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, general surgery, etc.
• Surgery, illness, childbirth, or a catastrophic injury could have you in the hospital. Substance abuse and mental health disorders are also treated in hospitals and inpatient institutions.
• It’s possible that your hospital stay was scheduled in advance for anything like childbirth or knee replacement surgery.
• An emergency or an unforeseen illness or injury, such a heart attack or a major auto accident, may have caused your stay.
• You require medication, care, observation, and medical attention—the type that 24-hour medical personnel can deliver.

You are released from the hospital as soon as a physician determines you no longer need inpatient treatment. Instructions to follow up with other doctors, take prescribed medications, and even attend outpatient services, if necessary, are frequently included in discharge notes.

What are some examples of inpatient care?

Among the various forms of inpatient care are:

• Serious conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and the flu
• Traumatic injury
• Burns that are severe
• Treatment for substance use disorders, severe mental health conditions, and overdoses
• Chronic conditions that need continuing care and specialist treatment include cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Certain cosmetic operations necessitate substantial repair or plastic surgery.

What does a hospital administrator do?

Hospital administrators are crucial to the provision and operation of medical services at a hospital. As a hospital administrator, you might anticipate performing some of the following tasks, though the precise responsibilities may differ depending on the position:

• Overseeing and guiding the work of medical personnel
• Setting up the objectives of the organization
• Program planning and execution, including management of human resources (HR)
• Managing money and associated tasks, including budgeting, approving spending, and generating financial reports.
• Speaking with board members, employees, and departments
• Employing and educating employees
• Tracking the distribution and utilization of resources
• Making certain that facilities are up to code and adhere to the most recent regulations

How much do hospital administrators make? 

The salaries of hospital administrators are significantly greater than the national average.

The median salary for hospital administrators, who are classified as medical and health services managers by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), was $128,740 [1]. In contrast, Glassdoor projects that hospital administrators will make $109,276 in total compensation, which includes commissions, tips, bonuses, and profit-sharing [2].

The US BLS reported that the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $48,060 [1], which is greater than these salaries. The precise amount you can anticipate making, however, will probably differ depending on your company, work experience, education, and region.

Hospital administrator job outlook 

Fortunately, hospital administrators have a very good career outlook if you are interested in this field.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2023 and 2033, the number of medical and health services managers’ job opportunities will increase by 29%, resulting in an annual increase of about 61,400 new positions. Compared to the national average for all occupations, which the US BLS estimates is 4 percent, this represents a much higher rate of job growth [3].

The nation’s requirement for medical professionals who can manage health systems and provide healthcare has increased due to the aging of the baby-boomer generation in particular.

How to become a hospital administrator

Managing the day-to-day operations of these vital healthcare facilities is a big job, whether you work in a large university hospital or a small local one. To work in this field, you typically require a bachelor’s degree. As a result, being a member of a hospital’s administrative staff requires a combination of professional training, education, and practical job experience.

Learn more about the steps you might anticipate taking when you embark on your own professional career if this sounds like the right position for you:

1. Get qualified. 

A bachelor’s degree in health administration or a similar discipline, such as nursing, health management, public health, or public policy, is required to work as a hospital administrator. Taking pertinent business courses will also probably help you better grasp how to run a complicated healthcare facility like a hospital, given the financial and business duties of hospital administrators.

2. Consider a specialization. 

Hospital managers must be knowledgeable with a variety of health care practices, processes, systems, and standards due to their broad range of responsibilities. They must also stay abreast of crucial technological and regulatory developments that could have a big influence on their area of employment. To stand out from the competition and get ready for so many duties, you can think about focusing in a related profession. Among the most popular specializations are:

• Financial and business management
• Informatics in health
• Public policy
• Advocacy for patients

3. Hone your skills. 

Hospital administrators need to be well-versed in health care systems, rules, and procedures. They also need to be able to lead others, interact with team members, and oversee big projects. Think about strategies to improve your technical and interpersonal skills as you get ready for a career in health care administration to make sure you give your best effort.

4. Gain experience.

Employers are understandably concerned about selecting a candidate with the expertise required to guarantee they can perform the finest job possible when it comes to leading a hospital’s administration. Therefore, you should look to obtain suitable administrative experience, such as working as a clerk in the accounting department of a hospital, medical records technician, or assistant administrator.

5. Consider a master’s degree in hospital administration. 

Although most hospital administration positions require a bachelor’s degree as an entry-level qualification, many employers may favor applicants with a related master’s degree. In certain situations, they might even demand that candidates have one.

A relevant master’s degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis on health care systems, a Master of Public Health (MPH), or a Master of Health Care Administration (MHA), may be of interest to you if you’re thinking about a career in hospital administration.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, a wide range of tasks necessary for efficiently running and managing healthcare facilities are included in the list of duties and obligations for hospital administrators. Strategic leadership, operational management, financial supervision, and a dedication to provide high-quality patient care are all necessary to successfully carry out these duties.

They make a substantial contribution to the improvement of healthcare and the welfare of the communities they serve by embracing innovation, encouraging a culture of lifelong learning, and adjusting to the particular difficulties presented by their surroundings.