Operations Management in Hospitals – Know Crucial Functions

Operations management in hospitals is one of the most important aspects of functioning and smooth operations.
It encompasses all the different management areas within a healthcare facility, from human resources to supply
chain and everything in between. By understanding the crucial functions of operations management, you can
help ensure that your hospital runs as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

What is Operations Management in Hospitals?

Operations management in hospitals is the process of planning, organising, and controlling the operations of a
healthcare organisation. It includes the management of both clinical and non-clinical operations. The main goal
of operations management in hospitals is to ensure that all operations are carried out efficiently and effectively.

It overlooks various essential aspects of hospital operations, such as staffing, patient flow, resource allocation,
and process improvement. Operations management in hospitals also helps ensure that the hospital is running
smoothly and meeting its goals.

Importance of Operations Management in Hospitals

Operations management in hospitals is crucial to the success of any healthcare organisation. It helps to ensure
that all operations are carried out efficiently and effectively. Additionally, hospital operations management also
helps improve patient care quality and safety.

Operations management in hospitals is also critical for financial reasons. Proper operations management can
help to reduce costs and improve efficiency. It, in turn, can lead to increased profits for the hospital.

Operations management in hospitals is a complex and challenging process. However, it is essential for the
success of any healthcare organisation. Proper operations management can help to improve patient care quality
and safety, as well as increase profits.

Without operations management, hospitals would not be able to function correctly. Operations managers ensure
that hospitals run smoothly and meet their goals.

Are you interested in a career in operations management in hospitals? Well, there are many great programs
available. A degree in operations management can help you start a rewarding career in this vital field. We offer
Advanced Certificates in Operations, Supply Chain and Project Management for aspiring operations managers.

Main Functions of Operations Management In Hospital

In any organisation, operations management (OM) is the process that coordinates and oversees the production
of goods or services. It includes developing, implementing, and supervising systems that create and deliver a
company’s products or services. In healthcare, operations management is crucial in ensuring patients receive
high-quality care safely and efficiently.

There are four main functions of operations management in hospitals: quality management, resource
management, process improvement, and patient safety.

Quality Management

Quality management is essential to providing safe, high-quality care. Quality management is the process of
ensuring that healthcare services meet and exceed patient expectations. It includes setting quality standards,
measuring and monitoring performance, and taking corrective action when necessary. Only quality can meet the
challenges of an ever-changing healthcare landscape and ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

It is the responsibility of operations managers to ensure that quality standards are met. To do this, they must
develop and implement quality management systems. These systems help operations managers to identify and
correct problems before they result in poor patient outcomes.

Tasks Included in Quality Management:

Establishing quality standards: This involves developing criteria against which the quality of healthcare services
can be measured. There are many different quality standards that operations managers can choose to adopt,
such as those set by the government.

Measuring and monitoring performance: This involves collecting data on the quality of healthcare services and
identifying areas where improvement is needed. Operations managers can use various methods to collect data,
such as surveys and patient satisfaction scores.

Investigating complaints and taking corrective action: It is all about operations managers taking complaints from
patients or their families seriously and using them to improve the quality of healthcare services. Operations
managers must investigate every complaint, identify the root cause, and take corrective action to prevent it from
happening again.

Educating staff on quality improvement: It is essential to ensure that all staff members are committed to
providing high-quality care. Operations managers must provide training on quality improvement methods and
ensure that staff members use them correctly.

Participating in quality improvement initiatives: It involves operations managers working with other
departments in the hospital to identify and implement quality improvement initiatives. These initiatives could
include changes to how healthcare services are delivered or modifications to how the hospital is run.

Resource Management

Resource management ensures that all resources (e.g., personnel, equipment, supplies) are used efficiently and
effectively. In healthcare, resource management is crucial to ensuring that patients receive the care they need
promptly. Healthcare operations have different resources, and each needs to be managed effectively.

The first step in resource management is planning. Planning entails goals and objectives set for the use of
resources. Once goals and objectives are set, a plan can be developed to achieve them. The second step is
implementation. This step is about putting the plan into action and ensuring that all resources are used according
to the plan. The final step is evaluation. This step involves assessing whether or not the goals and objectives were
met. If they were not, then adjustments can be made to the plan.

Tasks Included in Resource Management:

Scheduling: This task involves creating a schedule for the use of resources. The schedule should be designed to
meet the organisation’s and the patient’s needs. It is essential to consider the availability of resources when
creating the schedule.

Forecasting: This task involves predicting future resource needs. It is done by analysing past trends and current
conditions. Forecasting can help organisations prepare for future demands and make necessary adjustments to
the resource plan.

Inventory control: Accurate inventory is essential for resource management. This task involves tracking the levels
of resources and ensuring that they are adequate to meet the organisation’s needs.

Budgeting: Without an adequate budget, resource management is complex. This task involves developing a
budget for the use of resources. The budget should be designed to meet the goals and objectives of the
organisation.

Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management manages the flow of resources (e.g., materials,
information, money) from suppliers to customers. In healthcare, supply chain management is crucial to ensuring
that patients receive the care they need on time.

Staffing: One of the essential tasks in healthcare operations is staffing. This task involves ensuring that there are
enough personnel to meet the demands of the organisation. It is crucial to consider the skills and experience of
the staff when making staffing decisions.

Training: Another critical function of operations management in hospitals is training. This task involves providing
employees with the knowledge and skills they need to perform their jobs effectively. Training is given to both
new and existing employees who need to learn new skills. Ensuring that all employees receive the training, they
need to perform their jobs effectively is essential.

Process Improvement

Process improvement is the systematic identification and implementation of changes that will improve the
quality and efficiency of healthcare services. Operations managers often lead process improvement efforts in
collaboration with other healthcare team members.

Six Sigma is named among the most important tools in the process improvement toolbox. Six Sigma is a data-
driven approach to identifying and eliminating errors and waste in healthcare processes. It has successfully
improved various healthcare operations, from patient registration to discharge.

Process improvement is dependent on the effective use of data. Operations managers must be skilled in data
collection and analysis to identify improvement opportunities. They must be efficient in communicating their
findings to the rest of the healthcare team.

Tasks Included In Process Improvement:

Data collection: Before any improvements can be made, operations managers must first collect data on the
current state of the healthcare process. This data can be managed through various methods, such as
observations, interviews, and surveys.

Data analysis: Once data has been collected, it must be analysed to identify areas of opportunity. This process
often involves creating flowcharts and other visual aids to help illustrate the current process. For instance, a
flowchart might show how many steps are involved in a patient’s journey from registration to discharge.

Identifying opportunities: After the data has been analysed, operations managers can begin to identify
opportunities for improvement. These opportunities might involve eliminating steps in the process, streamlining
communication between departments, or increasing the use of technology.

Implementation: Once opportunities for improvement have been identified, operations managers must work
with the rest of the healthcare team to implement changes. This process can be challenging, as it often requires
changing long-standing processes and procedures.

Communication: Throughout the improvement process, operations managers must keep the rest of the
healthcare team informed of their progress. This communication can take many forms, from regular updates at
team meetings to more formal presentations.

Implementation of changes: After the improvements have been made, operations managers will need to
monitor the process to ensure that the changes have the desired effect. This monitoring can involve collecting
data on the process and comparing it to the data collected before the changes were made.

Patient Safety

Operations management in healthcare is responsible for ensuring patient safety. It includes ensuring the hospital
environment is safe, clean, and free of hazards. Operations managers also develop policies and procedures to
prevent errors and accidents. They coordinate with staff to ensure they are properly trained in safety
procedures.

With patient safety being a top priority in healthcare, operations managers play a vital role in ensuring that a
hospital is a safe place for patients and staff. It sets the foundation for quality care and a positive patient
experience. All the staff must be appropriately trained and follow the set safety procedures to avoid accidents.
The operations manager must constantly monitor the hospital environment and make necessary changes to keep
it safe.

Tasks Included In Patient Safety:

 Developing policies and procedures to prevent errors and accidents includes creating policies on handling
hazardous materials, what should be done during a fire, and how to evacuate the building safely.

Working with hospital staff to ensure they are adequately trained in safety procedures: This includes training
on how to use safety equipment, handle hazardous materials, and what to do in an emergency.

Inspecting the hospital environment includes checking for trip hazards, ensuring adequate lighting, and
ensuring the building is up to code. It also includes ensuring that the hospital has an emergency plan in place.

Investigating accidents and incidents to determine root causes and prevent future occurrences. It includes
interviewing witnesses, reviewing security footage, and conducting analysis to identify trends.

Challenges and Benefits of Operations Management in Healthcare

Operations Management in Healthcare

Operations management is critical in every industry, and healthcare is no exception. At its core, operations
management is the planning, organizing, and supervising of internal processes to keep an organization running
smoothly.

In the ever-changing healthcare industry, effective operations management is not an option, but a necessity.
Without it, it’s difficult for a hospital, residential facility, nursing home, doctor’s office, or home healthcare
organization to provide the quality care services that improve and save lives.

Operations management in healthcare refers to overseeing the day-to-day practices of a healthcare facility that
impact the client experience and organizational goals. These practices are typically broken down into three
components: administrative, financial, and legal.

 Administrative tasks may include keeping detailed records of medical and office supplies, scheduling employees,
responding to questions from staff and customers, and updating patient records.
 Financial responsibilities often involve managing claims, medical billing, revenue cycle management, and value-
based reimbursement.
 Legal practices usually revolve around compliance and credentialing.

The Importance of Operations Management in Healthcare

The importance of operations management in healthcare cannot be overstated, as the healthcare industry is
incredibly diverse.

1. Operations Management can help you overcome a variety of obstacles so you can provide excellent customer
service at every interaction.
2. The right solution can eliminate manual processes to save you both time and money.
3. Implementing proper tools can also improve staff and client communication, promote more effective
collaboration among healthcare providers, and reduce or eliminate bottlenecks in your workflow.

Challenges of Operations Management in Healthcare

1- Cutting costs and working more efficiently.

2- Improving patient care and safety.

3- Scheduling patient appointments.

4- Shortage of staff and medical professional’s coverage.

5- Equipment and supply management.

6- Allocating budgets for different departments.

7- Implementing new technologies and tools to optimize workflows.

8- Boosting staff productivity.

9- Review all operations to find gaps and inefficiencies.

Benefits of Operations Management in Healthcare

1-Customer Satisfaction

A review from a customer can make or break a place. If negative reviews spread, it can be an issue to keep
clients, that’s why the operations manager conducts an audit of quality which is a method used to design a
service or product that is able to meet customer demands.

2- Product/Service Quality

- A manager of operations will have a procedures and a checklist to make sure that everything is in place in the
pre-production phase.

- After the final product is developed the operations manager will review it to make sure it is in line with the
place’s goals and ensure that the needs of the client are satisfied.

3- Activated employees

In general, the operation manager makes sure that employees are aware of their roles within the place in order
to ensure that production is maximized and effective.

4- Compliance

There are specific rules and regulations that an organization must adhere to. The director of operations must be
able to establish certain procedures to prevent fines and ensure that the organization operates in a legal way.

5- Revenue Growth

A company will enjoy an excellent reputation due to excellent service and product quality as well as satisfaction
of customers. This can result in higher revenue from a growing customer. This could be aided in the introduction
of new and exciting products or services, or the expansion of technologies and resources.

6- Competitive Advantage

A well-designed operations management strategy can help a business outdo its competitors. If both external and
internal elements are well managed within an organization this could result in an excellent standing in the
market.
Managing operations in healthcare is important and essential to make sure that your organization is able to
provide excellent and consistent services.

Top 10 hospital performance metrics

Hospitals and other care facilities are expected to track and improve on hundreds of financial and quality metrics.
As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to add and modify quality programs, it can be
difficult for hospital leaders to focus on the most vital and easily improved metrics.

Naturally, individual facilities will focus on specific metrics depending on their current and ideal performance.
While some hospitals prioritize financial performance, others may aim to improve the patient experience. Before
we go into more detail, however, let’s first define what these metrics entail.

What are hospital quality metrics?

Hospital quality metrics are a set of standards developed by CMS to quantify healthcare processes, patient
outcomes and organizational structures.

In value-based payment models, quality metrics are used to adjust provider reimbursement rates, offering a
bonus in the event of above-average ratings or a penalty for failing to meet standards.

Below we’ve listed the top 10 essential hospital metrics to track, with examples from Definitive Healthcare’s
comprehensive healthcare commercial intelligence.

1. Length of stay

Length of stay measures the length of time between a patient’s admittance to and discharge from a hospital. This
metric is most often tracked over months and annual quarters, though it can also be tracked over the course of a
few weeks. Length of stay measurement can be examined for an entire hospital or a specific therapy area, such
as acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs).

This data is important because it quantifies care efficiency over time. Longer patient stays are associated with
greater risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and other hospital-acquired conditions (HACs), as well as higher
patient mortality rates.

Interestingly, cardiac patients are an exception to this rule. Those admitted for heart failure see lower mortality
rates with shorter hospital stays, but higher readmission rates. As with other conditions, there is a risk of
releasing patients too early and overlooking potentially life-threatening complications.

Patient length of stay also impacts hospital financial performance. Naturally, the longer a patient stays at a
hospital, the more money is required to care for them. In addition to patient care costs, CMS incentivizes shorter
patient stays where possible, offering financial bonuses to reduce the time patients spend in hospitals for an
episode of care. According to our data, the average length of stay among short-term acute care hospitals in the
U.S. was 7.2 days in 2022.

2. Readmission rates

Readmission rates track the percentage of patients that are admitted into the same or another hospital within 30
days of being discharged for the same condition—or a complication from the original episode of care. This metric
measures the quality of care given to patients. High hospital readmission rates indicate that physicians and other
care providers are not delivering the proper care to patients, overlooking complications or relevant patient data.
Lower hospital readmission rates, by extension, indicate a strong quality of care.
The average all-cause hospital readmission rate in 2022 was 15% according to Definitive Healthcare data (most
recent data available). Oroville Hospital in California had the highest all-cause readmission rate at 21% — more
than one in five patients was readmitted to a hospital within 30 days of discharge. New York’s Hospital for Special
Surgery had the lowest readmission rate at 9.9%.

High readmission rates could also be a detriment to hospital financial performance. Hospitals with the highest
readmission rates may not receive full Medicare reimbursement payments as a penalty. Walking the line
between short patient stays and low readmission rates is a difficult task, but it is important for patient health as
well as hospital financial health.

3. HCAHPS

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey measures 64 markers
of patient satisfaction. Topics included in the survey range from care quality to cleanliness of the care facility.
Results from the survey are released as star ratings on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best possible score.
HCAHPS scores provide actionable data on how hospitals can improve patient care and services offered.

Most criticisms of the HCAHPS system center around the simplistic manner of the star system. Hospital leaders
argue that the ratings are misleading, as they do not always provide the whole picture of patient care. Similarly,
experts expressed concern that hospitals serving poor and high-risk populations are unfairly penalized through
this system—particularly hospitals with high patient volume. Average daily census refers to the mean number of
patients admitted to the hospital every day.

According to Definitive Healthcare data, of the 2,791 hospitals that received an HCAHPS star rating, only 137
hospitals achieved 5 stars — about 4.9%. Roughly 29% received a 4-star rating (809 hospitals) in 2022.

4. Mortality rates

Patient mortality rate measures the percentage of patients who die in a hospital’s care before being discharged.
This metric is a strong indicator of providers’ ability to stabilize a patient’s condition following surgery or
another procedure.

According to Definitive Healthcare data, the average heart attack mortality rate was 12.4% in 2022 (most recent
data available). Among short-term acute care hospitals, Pikeville Medical Center in Kentucky had the highest
heart attack mortality rate at 17%, while Mayo Clinic Hospital – Saint Mary’s Campus had the lowest mortality
rate at 9%.

The average stroke mortality rate was 13.5% in 2022. Baxter Regional Medical Center in Arkansas had the highest
stroke mortality rate at 21.4%, while Tisch Hospital in New York had the lowest at 7%.

5. Bed utilization rate

Bed utilization rate (also called bed occupation rate) refers to the number of hospital beds being used at any
given time. Knowing bed demand in real time is important to providers who need to know the difference
between available beds and patients awaiting care. According to Definitive Healthcare data, the average bed
utilization rate is 51.8%. The rate is higher for urban hospitals than for rural hospitals.

Balancing bed availability can be difficult. If occupancy is too low, the hospital is likely losing money through
unnecessary staffing and facility maintenance. If occupancy is too high, care quality could decline because there
aren’t enough clinicians to care for the admitted patients.

6. Incidents
Hospital incidents include unintentional consequences or side effects of hospital procedures, including conditions
like sepsis, postoperative respiratory failure, pulmonary embolisms, hemorrhages and other reactions or
infections. This metric measures the ability of healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive, high-quality
care to patients without triggering an adverse reaction.

Tracking hospital incidents is vital to understanding the quality of care a facility is providing. Incidents provide
hard data on what steps a hospital should take to improve its services as well as reduce patient mortality and
readmission rates. According to Definitive Healthcare data, 747 hospitals reported receiving a penalty for
hospital-acquired conditions in fiscal year 2021.

7. CMS program performance

CMS spearheads dozens of initiatives aiming to reduce overall healthcare costs and improve care quality across
the country.

Some of these programs, like the Medicare Shared Savings Program, target accountable care organizations
(ACOs). Others, like Fee-For-Service Part B, target hospital spending. Regardless of the target facility or
organization, CMS’s value-based programs offer financial rewards for improvement on a variety of clinical and
quality metrics.

Participation in these programs can lead to improvement in care quality, efficiency, technology use and more.
CMS incentive programs serve as beta tests to improve care delivery while lowering costs. In addition to the
obvious financial incentives, participating facilities also have a plethora of data to analyze in order to improve on
the most relevant measures.

8. Average cost per discharge

Tracking the average care costs per patient discharged can aid hospitals in understanding which therapy areas
see overspending. Similarly, this metric shows where hospitals make the greatest profit as well as whether the
costs associated with patient care actually improved the patient’s outcome. Cost per discharge is a dynamic
measure that can be adjusted for a hospital’s case mix and other patient population demographics.

Tracking this metric can help hospitals understand long-term spending by therapy area and adjust care provision
accordingly. Over time, high care costs and low profits can negatively impact hospital performance and care
offerings, reducing the variety of services available and physicians on staff.

9. Operating margin

A hospital’s operating margin refers to the facility revenue after subtracting operating costs such as wages,
medical equipment and supplies, rent and other expenditures. To remain operational, hospitals must be able to
pay these fixed costs without going into debt.

According to Definitive Healthcare data, the average hospital net operating margin among short-term acute care
hospitals was -8.9%. Of hospitals with a positive operating margin, the average was 13.2%. Hospitals with a
negative operating margin averaged -25%.

10. Bad debt

Bad debt refers to revenue loss that occurs when a hospital requests payment from a patient for care provision
and does not receive the full amount.
 Under the original guidelines, any lack of repayment was reported as bad debt. As of January 2019, bad debt is
only valid if there was an event in a patient’s life, such as unemployment, that led to the inability to pay for
their care.

A high bad debt ratio can impact the amount of charity care a hospital is able to provide to patients. Bad debt
also negatively impacts hospital revenue, restricting available services.

According to Definitive Healthcare data, the average bad debt to net patient revenue ratio is 6.7%. Only four of
the 4,442 hospitals reporting bad debt claimed a negative ratio. Of those four, three hospitals also reported a
negative net patient revenue.

Hospital Performance Improvement

Improving Efficiency

The first step to achieving Operational Efficiency in Hospitals is developing practical, workable Systems across all
Process Areas of the Hospitals, in close consultation with all stake holders to that Process. It is on the foundation
of a robust set of Systems, supported by Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Operating Manuals that any Process
Efficiency Improvement can be achieved.

Areas for improvement

Staffing

Hospitals are going through a very challenging time. Their capacity to attract the right staff and retain them is
going to be key to surviving this critical period. Training and encouragement help improve efficiency at work and
drives their optimum utilisation. Ensuring Employee satisfaction is also key. The Hospital must seem to them like
a very desirable place to work.
Layout and design of the Hospital also plays a huge role in improving staff efficiency. Minimising the distance
they need to cover every day on the Hospital floor reduces fatigue and stress and improves efficiency.

Equipment & Materials Utilisation

Improving Equipment Utilisation hinges very much on the quality of the Break down and Preventive Maintenance
Program at the Hospital. The Utilisation Coefficient (UC) needs to be regularly monitored. Other factors include
obsolescence, the non availability of technology and of the required consumables and spares.

Lean Management

Implementation of Lean in a Hospital helps identify typical 'waste' activities i.e., those that are non-value adding
and then in eliminating them. Such 'wastages' include errors, unnecessary inventory, unnecessary movement of
staff, delays, wastage of operational time due to equipment set-up, patients' waiting for receiving services etc.

Many organizations in the manufacturing sector have over the years tremendously benefited from Lean
Management and now it is the turn of the Healthcare Sector to reap the benefits.

Some of the typical benefits that your Hospital could get out of a Lean Program include:

 Freeing up the locked capacity of infrastructure facilities and equipment

 Avoiding / delaying capital expansion / new construction
 Reducing / minimizing unnecessary movement of staff and repeat activities
 Gaining more opportunities for increasing revenue and growth
 Significantly increasing the overall satisfaction of the Patients and Staff of the Hospital
 Improving the work culture and morale of the Staff. Doctors, Nurses and Administrators

Hospital Administrator: Duties, Pay, and How to Become One

Hospital administrators ensure that hospitals operate efficiently and that medical staff members are adequately
trained and supported. Equipped with a broad range of responsibilities, hospital administrators must be equally
well-versed in the fundamentals of health care delivery and business management.

If you’re a practical, project-oriented person looking to start a career in health care but who prefers a role that
doesn’t include face-to-face patient contact, then you might consider a career in hospital administration.

In this article, you’ll learn more about hospital administrators, what they do, how much they earn, and what you
need to do to become one. At the end, you’ll also find a suggested course to help you get started on the path to
this impactful career today.

What is a hospital administrator?

A hospital administrator is a professional who oversees the daily operations of a hospital by planning, directing,
and coordinating health services. While other health care professionals like physicians and registered nurses
(RNs) provide care directly to patients, hospital administrators ensure that the health facility itself functions
smoothly and that the medical staff is properly supported and trained.

Hospital administrator duties

Hospital administrators play an important role in the delivery and functioning of health services within a hospital.
While the exact duties they perform vary from role to role, here are some of the most common duties that you
can expect from the job:

 Directing and supervising the work of medical staff

 Establishing organizational goals

 Planning and implementing programs, such as human resources (HR) administration

 Overseeing finances and related operations, such as budget planning, authorizing expenses, and creating
financial reports

 Communicating with staff, departments, and board members

 Hiring and training staff

 Monitoring resource use and allocation

 Ensuring that facilities are up to standard and meet current regulatory requirements

Hospital administrator salary

Hospital administrators earn a much higher than average salary in the United States.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for medical and health services managers –
the job category under which hospital administrators fall – is $101,340 as of May 2021 [1]. Glassdoor,
meanwhile, puts the estimated total pay for hospital administrators at $88,553 as of October 2022 [2].

These salaries are higher than the median annual salary in the United States for all professions, which the BLS
noted was $45,760 as of May 2021 [1]. The exact amount you can expect to earn, however, will likely vary based
on your work experience, education level, geographic location, and employer.

Hospital administrator job outlook

The job outlook for hospital administrators is very positive.

According to the US BLS, the number of job openings for medical and health services managers is expected to
grow by 28 percent between 2021 and 2031, adding approximately 56,600 new jobs annually throughout the
decade. This is significantly higher job growth than the average for all occupations in the country, which the BLS
puts at five percent [3].

An aging baby-boomer population, in particular, has driven an increased need for medical professionals capable
of providing health care and managing health systems in the country.

Related hospital administrator jobs

There are a variety of administrative and management positions that overlap with the skills and knowledge used
in hospital administration. While the scope of these positions may vary considerably, each supports the health
systems, facilities, and health care professionals that save lives every day.

If you’re interested in working in health care in an administrative or managerial capacity, here are some positions
similar to hospital administrator that you should consider exploring:

1. Health care administrator

2. Nursing home administrator

3. Clinical manager

4. Hospital manager

How to become a hospital administrator

Whether you’re working in a large, university hospital or a small, local one, overseeing the daily operations of
these critical health care facilities is a heavy responsibility. As a result, the path to joining the administrative staff
of a hospital is one filled with professional training, education, and real-world work experience.

Here’s what you can expect to do as you set out on your own professional journey:

1. Get qualified.
 Typically, hospital administrators are required to have a bachelor’s degree in health administration or a related
field, such as nursing, health management, public health, or public policy. Due to the financial and business
responsibilities that hospital administrators have, you will also likely benefit from taking relevant business
courses to better understand how to manage such a complex health care facility as a hospital.

2. Consider a specialization.

Their wide range of responsibilities mean that hospital administrators must have familiarity with a variety of
health care practices, procedures, systems, and standards. At the same time, they’re expected to keep up with
important technological and regulatory changes that have the potential to greatly impact their workplace. To
prepare for these many responsibilities, you might consider specializing in a relevant field to stand out from the
applicant pool. Some of the most common specializations include:

 Business and financial management

 Health informatics.
 Public policy.
 Patient advocacy

3. Hone your skills.

Hospital administrators must have a keen understanding of health care systems, regulations, and operations
while, also demonstrating an ability to lead others, communicate effectively with team members, and manage
large projects. As you’re preparing for an administrative career within health care, consider ways you can hone
relevant technical and personal skills to ensure that you perform to the best of your abilities.

4. Gain experience.

When it comes to heading the administration of a hospital, employers are rightfully concerned with hiring
someone with the experience necessary to ensure they can do the best possible job. As a result, you should seek
to gain relevant administrative experience, perhaps by working as an assistant administrator, medical records
technician, or clerk within a hospital’s accounting department.

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

While a bachelor’s degree is an entry-level requirement for most hospital administration jobs, many employers
might prefer candidates with a relevant master’s degree. In some cases, they may even require that applicants
possess one.