Four Reasons Why You Should Embark on a Career in Healthcare Administration

When it comes to considering careers in the healthcare sector, probably the first professions that come to mind are nursing and becoming a doctor. However, the healthcare industry is large and as such there are a great many roles to choose from to suit every skill set and personality type. You could, for instance, enjoy a long and satisfying career in healthcare administration, the field which focuses on the management of the non-clinical functions involved in operating a healthcare facility. To help you to make an informed decision, here are four reasons why you should embark on a career in healthcare administration:

• Education 

To improve your employability prospects, you should consider obtaining a Master of Health Administration before seeking your first employment. This degree program will teach you a wide variety of skills needed for a career in this field, for instance, healthcare quality management, ethics, and health policy. With this, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the issues and requirements of healthcare administration that can be applied across the sector. You can find a degree program to suit your lifestyle, for example, the Boston College Master of Healthcare Administration can be studied online to fit around work, family, and other commitments.

• High demand

The ongoing covid-19 pandemic continues to demonstrate just how essential a well-run healthcare system is to society, and the field of healthcare administration is expected to expand greatly over the next few years. This is due to the increasing healthcare needs of the aging baby boomer generation, and the need to manage functions and streamline processes to ensure the smooth operation of a healthcare facility and free up medical staff so that they can perform purely clinical duties. Considering these factors, you are unlikely to ever be out of work as a healthcare administrator. 

• Good salary expectations

With the increased need for highly-educated healthcare administrators comes an increase in salary levels. Although there is some disparity in annual wages between facility types and states, on average a healthcare administrator in a managerial position at a specialty hospital can expect to earn on average $116,640 per year, compared to the $85,730 that a healthcare administrator in a nursing home would expect to receive per annum. As such, healthcare administration is a career path that holds great potential for salary growth as you progress in your career. 

• Varied role

It’s safe to assume that those working in the healthcare sector are passionate about providing high-quality care for people. However, it is easy to become emotionally overwhelmed if you work in a clinical role dealing directly with patients, as a doctor or nurse for example. As a healthcare administrator, you will be helping patients at a distance, organizing policies, and running the facility to provide top-quality patient care. There are many other facilities you can work aside from hospitals, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, nursing homes, and home healthcare management.

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