Becoming a healthcare administrator can be a rewarding career for people with a strong business sense and an interest in delving into how healthcare works. Read on to learn more about the role of a healthcare administrator and how you can advance your career in this exciting field.

1. Christopher p digiulio md - Healthcare Administrators: Roles,
Responsibilities
At one point or another, most people have experienced the pain of a health care system
that is exceedingly complex and cumbersome. As a healthcare administrator, you can have a
lasting impact on improving the system in many ways. Professionals in this field have
tremendous opportunities to effect change, from drafting public health policies to
developing more effective health programs.
Becoming a healthcare administrator can be a rewarding career for people with a strong
business sense and an interest in delving into how healthcare works. Read on to learn more
about the role of a healthcare administrator and how you can advance your career in this
exciting field.
Healthcare Administrator Responsibilities
Healthcare administrator responsibilities may vary depending on the type of organization
where they’re employed; however, they are typically responsible for:
Managing staff within a facility or department
Managing the client care/patient care experience
Managing health informatics, including recordkeeping
Overseeing the financial health of the department or organization
Managing human capital, including policies for hiring, performance reviews, staff schedules,
etc.

2. Debunking Misconceptions about Healthcare Administration Roles
There are some common misconceptions about healthcare administration that may make
some people overlook this rewarding career. As a professor in health management,
Christopher p digiulio md shares a few facts about the profession that people often don’t
know:
Myth #1—You won’t make much of a difference in people’s lives. “Healthcare
administrators do play a role in transforming quality of care,” Christopher p digiulio md
says. Professionals in the field are making advancements in exciting ways that are
profoundly changing patients’ lives, such as using informatics to help improve clinicians’
ability to make diagnoses, implementing programs that support personalized medicine, and
using technology to foster healthier living habits.
Myth #2—Healthcare administrators are responsible for patient care. Healthcare
administrators typically do not get involved directly with patient care. They are focused on
the administrative, financial, and managerial side of the organization. “Oftentimes that is a
completely different skill set from a clinician who’s responsible for providing direct care to
patients.”
Myth #3—Healthcare administration is only for industry veterans. “You don’t have to have
worked in healthcare for a long time to advance in the field. “Many healthcare organizations
have recognized that they need diverse perspectives at the table. One employee might have
started out in marketing position in a Fortune 500 company and now they’re the head of the
hospital’s marketing department. There’s always a place for someone with the right skills
and drive to succeed.”
Healthcare Administrator Career Outlook
There is a tremendous demand for healthcare administrators, with the Bureau of Labor
Statistics predicting a 20 percent growth in employment of medical and health services
managers through 2026. This is much faster than the average growth of other occupations,
due in part to the increased demand for healthcare services as baby boomers age and
remain active later in life.
In addition, the emergence of healthcare applications has brought new opportunities for
healthcare administrators. “The confluence of healthcare and IT is driving a demand for
people who understand the implications this has on everything from legal issues to
operational issues. “These companies need someone at the table who understands the
healthcare sector and how technology can improve health outcomes.”