How to Be Health Care Administrator - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Oct 1, 2021 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The cost of health care is rising at an alarming rate. This is causing a significant strain on both individuals and businesses alike. As a result, health care administrators are increasingly responsible for controlling costs while continuing to provide quality care.

To do this, they must be adept at identifying and managing cost drivers, such as labor and supplies, as well as negotiating and managing contracts with vendors, hospitals, and insurance companies. Furthermore, health care administrators must also be well-versed in the regulatory environment, such as HIPAA and Medicare regulations, to ensure compliance with rules and regulations. By controlling costs, increasing efficiency, and complying with regulations, health care administrators can help to ensure that health care remains accessible and affordable for everyone.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelors Degree. An aspiring health care administrator should earn a bachelors degree in health care administration, business administration, public health, or a related field. A degree in one of these areas provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career as a health care administrator.
Develop Core Skills. Health care administrators need strong communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and organizational skills to be successful in their roles. Additionally, because health care administrators often oversee budgets and financial decisions, they should have a basic understanding of finance and accounting.
Pursue Relevant Work Experience. Many employers prefer to hire health care administrators who have prior work experience in the health care field. Aspiring health care administrators can gain experience by working as medical office assistants, medical record clerks, health unit coordinators, or other entry-level positions in the health care field.
Earn a Masters Degree. Although a bachelors degree is sufficient for some entry-level positions in health care administration, many employers prefer to hire candidates with a masters degree in health care administration or a related field.
Obtain Certification. Earning certification from an accredited organization such as the American College of Health Care Administrators may give job seekers an edge over other applicants. Certification shows that a health care administrator has the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in their role.
Become Licensed. Depending on the state, some health care administrators may need to obtain a license to practice. Contact the board of health in the state where the job is located to determine the requirements for licensure.

The rapidly increasing cost of health care can have a negative effect on both patients and health care administrators. Patients are increasingly faced with higher deductibles, copays, and premiums, leading to fewer visits to their doctor or health care provider. This can mean poorer health outcomes for those individuals.

Health care administrators are also feeling the pinch; they are faced with the challenge of providing high quality care while managing increasing costs. To address this issue, administrators need to find ways to improve efficiency and cost control, while still providing quality care. This could include initiatives such as implementing electronic medical records systems, streamlining administrative processes, and developing better risk management strategies.

With the right strategies in place, health care administrators can help to ensure that patients receive the best possible care at an affordable cost.

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Job Description

Develop and implement policies, procedures, and goals to ensure the efficient and effective operation of a health care facility.
Establish and maintain relationships with other health care organizations and outside entities.
Oversee financial operations, such as budgeting, accounting, and billing processes.
Monitor and evaluate the performance of the facility's personnel, departments, and services.
Develop strategies to improve quality of care and patient satisfaction.
Manage employee benefit programs, such as leave policies, retirement plans, and insurance coverage.
Participate in the recruitment, selection, and orientation of new staff members.
Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and standards.
Advocate for the facility in the community and with other organizations.
Plan and direct activities related to marketing and public relations.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Strategic Planning: Ability to develop and implement plans, programs, and services to meet organizational objectives.
Financial Management: Ability to develop, monitor, and manage budgets and resources.
Policy Development: Ability to create and implement policies that support the organizations mission.
Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of laws, regulations, and best practices to ensure compliance with applicable standards.
Quality Improvement: Ability to assess and improve the quality of services, programs, and products.
Human Resources Management: Ability to recruit, motivate, and retain personnel.
Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, both internal and external.
Technology: Knowledge of technology systems and the ability to utilize them effectively.
Data Analysis: Ability to analyze data and draw meaningful conclusions from it.
Risk Management: Knowledge of risk management techniques and the ability to identify and mitigate risks.

Good healthcare administration requires a unique set of skills and abilities, the most important of which is the ability to think critically. Critical thinking enables healthcare administrators to identify problems, evaluate available solutions, and make sound decisions that can have a lasting impact on the quality of care for patients. In addition, healthcare administrators need to possess strong organizational and communication skills, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry.

They must have the ability to work with a variety of stakeholders, from physicians and nurses to patients and their families. An effective healthcare administrator must also be able to understand and use data to improve outcomes and develop strategies for cost-effectiveness. the most important skill for any healthcare administrator is the ability to lead, motivate and inspire others to achieve their goals.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in a health care administrative role?
How would you handle a conflict between staff members or with a patient?
Describe a time when you successfully managed a budget for a health care organization.
What strategies have you used to improve operations and quality in a health care setting?
How have you encouraged collaboration among team members?
What qualifications do you have that make you an ideal candidate for this position?
How do you ensure that patient privacy and HIPAA compliance are maintained?
Describe a recent project you completed and how it improved patient care.
What challenges have you faced in your previous health care administrative roles?
How do you stay up-to-date on health care industry trends and regulations?

Common Tools in Industry

Electronic Health Records (EHR). Electronic health records is an online medical record system that stores patient medical history, treatments, diagnoses, and medications electronically. (eg: Epic Systems Corporation)
Billing and Coding Software. Software that helps healthcare administrators manage billing and coding processes. (eg: Medisoft)
Practice Management Software. Software that helps healthcare administrators manage their practice, including scheduling, patient tracking, and revenue cycle management. (eg: Athenahealth)
Financial Management Software. Software that helps healthcare administrators manage their financial records, such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll. (eg: QuickBooks)
Human Resources Management System (HRMS). A web-based system that helps healthcare administrators manage their human resources activities, including employee records, hiring processes, and payroll. (eg: BambooHR)
Data Analytics Tools. Software that helps healthcare administrators analyze their data to better understand their patient population and their practice's performance. (eg: Tableau)

Professional Organizations to Know

American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB)
Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
American Hospital Association (AHA)
National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE)
National Association of Home Care & Hospice (NAHC)
American Public Health Association (APHA)
National Association of Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)
National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL)

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Common Important Terms

Patient Care. Refers to the range of services provided to individuals seeking medical treatment. This includes diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care.
Quality Improvement. A process used to identify and address issues within a healthcare system in order to improve patient care and outcomes.
Clinical Governance. A framework of rules, regulations, and policies that healthcare organizations use to ensure quality patient care and safety.
Regulatory Compliance. The process of adhering to the laws, regulations, and standards set by government agencies in order to ensure safety and quality in patient care.
Accreditation. The process of being evaluated and approved by a third-party organization in order to meet certain standards.
Policy Development. The process of creating and implementing policies within a healthcare organization in order to improve care and outcomes for patients.
Strategic Planning. A process used to outline goals and strategies for the future of a healthcare organization.
Human Resources Management. The process of allocating resources and managing staff in order to ensure the best possible patient care and outcomes.
Budgeting. The process of allocating funds and resources in order to ensure the best possible patient care and outcomes.
Quality Assurance. The process of evaluating and improving services in order to ensure they meet quality standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Health Care Administrator?

A Health Care Administrator is a professional responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a health care facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or physicians office.

What duties does a Health Care Administrator perform?

Typical duties for a Health Care Administrator include overseeing staff, managing budgets, developing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and maintaining quality standards.

What qualifications are needed to become a Health Care Administrator?

To become a Health Care Administrator, you need a minimum of a bachelors degree in a related field such as health care administration or public health, plus several years of experience in the health care field.

What is the average salary of a Health Care Administrator?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for Health Care Administrators was $98,350 in 2019.

What organizations provide certification to Health Care Administrators?

Organizations that provide certification for Health Care Administrators include the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM).