Hospital Administrator Job Description & Roles and Responsibilities

A hospital administrator is a professional working as a healthcare administrative specialist who manages and oversees all the daily operations of a hospital. A hospital administrator ensures the delivery of effective and efficient services to the patients. The hospital administrator handles budgeting, staffing, and facility management complying with the rules and regulations of the hospital. He or she develops and implements different policies and strategies to improve services and patient satisfaction.

Job description of a Hospital Administrator

The primary job of a hospital administrator is to manage the daily operations of the hospital and provide the patient with the best facilities. Hospital administrator roles and responsibilities include working in collaboration with different departments, heads, and medical staff to ensure efficient plans are made and implemented for the betterment of all the facilities and elements of the hospital.

The hospital administrator works closely with stakeholders, board members, insurance companies, government agencies, and even community organisations to provide the best healthcare services and promote initiatives taken for public health. A hospital administrator job description entails making crucial decisions that are best for the hospital and its functioning.

What are the roles of a Hospital Administrator?

The roles and responsibilities of a hospital administrator are diverse and dynamic. They range from basic operation management to crucial decision-making and problem-solving. He or she is primarily responsible for the smooth functioning of the hospital and the efficient use of all the resources available. Here is a list of some major roles and responsibilities fulfilled by the hospital administrator:

• Financial management: A hospital administrator looks after the budgeting and financial management of the hospital. A hospital administrator job description includes managing and reporting the expenses and revenues of the hospital and departmental budgets to analyse the profitability of the hospital and take appropriate measures to improve it without affecting the quality of services provided.
• Technology management: A hospital administrator oversees and manages the technology and IT softwares used in the hospital and ensures that the latest and most helpful technology is used for the treatment of patients. Duties of hospital administrators is to ensure that the IT softwares used for internal work supports the work of doctors and facilitates the security of private information.
• Operation Management: The hospital administrator looks after the smooth and efficient functioning of the hospital and its daily operations. A hospital administrator job description includes keeping a check on the regulations of the hospital and making relevant upgrades from time to time to ensure a positive and supportive working environment.
• Crisis Management: A hospital administrator has to prepare for any critical or emergency situation occurring in the hospital or society like disasters, infectious breakdowns in the society, or security incidents. Hospital administrator roles and responsibilities entails developing contingency plans, coordinating response efforts, and communicating effectively with staff and stakeholders to ensure the best possible facilities.

What is the career path progression of a Hospital Administrator?

The career of a hospital administrator starts from basic entry-level roles like administrative assistants and advances to higher positions like director of the hospital. This advancement is based on different factors like skills, experience, and leadership qualities. Here is a list of some general roles in the career path progression in the profession of a hospital administrator:

• Entry-level Positions: The beginner-level roles in the career of a hospital administrator often include positions like administrative assistants or management trainees in healthcare organisations. A candidate experiences exposure to various aspects of hospital operations while working under seniors in a real environment.
• Mid-level Positions: An administrative assistant may be promoted to mid-level positions like department manager or program manager after gaining relevant skills and knowledge of the working environment of a hospital. The responsibilities include managing specific departments or programs organised in the hospital.
• Senior-level Positions: A department or program manager is promoted to handle higher responsibilities like heading and managing multiple departments or programs together. Senior-level positions may include roles like director of the hospital. The candidate working at senior-level positions in a hospital reports directly to the hospital administrator.
• Executive Positions: A hospital administrator is the highest executive role in the hospital. He or she is responsible for managing the operations and other aspects of the entire hospital. Duties of hospital administrators is to work in coordination with different departments, directors, and stakeholders to ensure the best facilities and profitability.

What are the qualifications of a Hospital Administrator?

A candidate must possess certain qualifications to succeed in the career of hospital administration in India. He or she must pass 10+2 from a recognised board of education. This must be followed by graduating in disciplines like healthcare management, business administration, or hospital administration. A candidate must also opt for a master’s degree. Here is a list of some entrance exams, and degrees a candidate can pursue:

Popular Undergraduate Entrance Examinations:

• Christ University Exam

• AIMA UGAT

Bachelor's Degree:MBA in Hospital Administratio

• BBA in Hospital Administration

• BSc in Hospital Administration

• Bachelor in Hospital Management (BHM)

Master's Degree:

• MSc in Hospital Administration

• Masters in Hospital Management (MHM)

What are the skills of a Hospital Administrator?

A hospital administrator needs a variety of skills to succeed in the career. These skills include knowledge of different business aspects like finance, customer management, and humor resource management. A candidate should also be proficient leadership skills to manage the working of every element of the hospital. Here is a liost of some major skills a hospital administrator must possess:

• Health care and ethics.
• Finance
• Human resources
• Leadership
• Organisation
• Interpersonal skills

Top recruiters of a Hospital Administrator

Recruitment of hospital administrators takes place in the healthcare industry across various positions are roles. It depends on several factors like skills, experience, and knowledge of the candidate and the size of the operation of the hospital. Here is a list of some top recruiters of hospital administrators:

• Apollo

• Fortis

• Medanta

• Cipla

• Max Healthcare

• Philips Healthcare

• Dr. Lal PathLabs

• World Health Organization

• Wipro GE Healthcare,

Salary of a Hospital Administrator

The average annual salary of a hospital administrator ranges from Rs. 4 Lakhs to Rs. !2.2 Lakhs in India. Salary structure is based on different aspects like the size and location of the hospital and the skills and experience of the candidate. Here is a list of salaries paid by some top recruiters of hospital administrators in India:

Conclusion

A hospital administrator is the highest executive position in the healthcare industry and is responsible for managing the operations of the hospital. He or she works in coordination with different departments, leaders, and stakeholders to ensure the best possible services are provided to the patients. A hospital administrator qualifies as a graduate or a post-graduate. He or she excels in numerous skills like leadership, communication skills, and organising skills.