Is Healthcare Administration a Good Career? - College of Professional Studies (2024)

Considering a career in hospital administration? Here’s what you should know about this impactful and rewarding field. Link

Healthcare administrators play a crucial role in any medical organization. Balancing a career that requires constant compassion and strong leadership skills can be tough but rewarding—in more ways than one. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare management is projected to grow 32% by 2030. The average salary for these jobs is $104,280 with the highest 10% earning over $195,630.

What Can You Do with a Degree in Healthcare Administration? Link

With such a wide range of healthcare settings, the career possibilities as an administrator are seemingly endless. Finding the right fit for you isn’t difficult when you’re able to choose from hospitals, doctor’s offices, medical practices, nursing homes, home care agencies and more. Here are just a few examples of what you would be doing in different healthcare settings:

  • Hospital administrators are responsible for organizing health services and overseeing day-to-day hospital activities, as well as evaluating hospital employees, creating policies, developing medical procedures and ensuring quality patient services.
  • Nursing home administrators supervise the clinical duties of nursing homes by overseeing staff personnel, medical supplies, nursing home patients, admissions and financial matters.
  • Clinical managers supervise, recruit and train physician staff, as well as manage the cost of equipment and activities. Clinical managers are given the choice of specializing in a specific department or working as a generalist supervisor.

There are also a variety of careers available outside of the typical healthcare settings. Here are a few more fields that offer competitive salaries for those with healthcare administration degrees:

  • Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Healthcare Technology
  • Consulting
  • Regulatory and Policy Organizations (ex. CDC, FDA, etc.)
  • Insurance Organizations

Is Healthcare Administration Right for You? Link

Healthcare administration is the ideal field if you’re passionate about creating a quality environment for patients and staff, but you don’t want to go into medicine itself. In healthcare administration, you won’t deal directly with patients, but the policies and decisions you make will affect the quality of service given by the department. Whether it’s a budget or a quality-of-care issue, being able to recognize how the facility and its patients are being affected is an important skill in healthcare management. A balance of empathy and an organizational mind is key for roles like these.

Managing a department or an entire facility also takes strong interpersonal skills and can be fulfilling work. You will not only be overseeing medical personnel, but you’ll interact with board members and other leaders to make decisions on financial, legal and wellness cases and initiatives. Being a leader in healthcare isn’t quite like being a leader in any other field. If you decide to work in a medical setting, the decisions you make will have an impact on the health and happiness of both your staff and the patients in their care. This is a career that allows you to take charge and make a positive impact on the members of your community.

Being able to manage a field as complex as healthcare can be exciting work once you understand healthcare policy and economics, but this doesn’t make understanding the medical field as a whole any less challenging. Though rewarding, being in a career that balances the technical medical knowledge and managerial skills can be challenging.

Syracuse University’s online Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) in Healthcare Administration degree provides you with a foundational knowledge of business, finance, electronic records management, human resources, project management, negotiation and conflict management.

A BPS degree program has fewer general education requirements than a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, so you’re able to focus on career-specific skills that will prepare you to make a faster and more influential impact in your field. Syracuse University also offers a 15-credit Healthcare Administration Certificate that can be rolled into your later BPS degree to make the transition that much easier. You’ll not only learn how to navigate the ever-changing healthcare industry with ease and confidence, but you’ll learn how to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

If you want to learn more about how to further your career in healthcare administration, contact an advisor who can guide you towards a fulfilling path.

As an AI language model, I have a vast amount of knowledge on various topics, including healthcare administration. I can provide you with information and insights related to this field.

Healthcare administration plays a crucial role in any medical organization. These professionals are responsible for organizing health services, overseeing day-to-day activities, evaluating employees, creating policies, developing medical procedures, and ensuring quality patient services.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in healthcare management is projected to grow by 32% by 2030. The average salary for healthcare administrators is $104,280, with the highest 10% earning over $195,630.

Career Possibilities in Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration offers a wide range of career possibilities in various healthcare settings. Some examples include:

1. Hospitals: Hospital administrators are responsible for organizing health services, overseeing day-to-day activities, evaluating employees, creating policies, developing medical procedures, and ensuring quality patient services.

2. Nursing Homes: Nursing home administrators supervise the clinical duties of nursing homes, including overseeing staff personnel, medical supplies, nursing home patients, admissions, and financial matters.

3. Clinical Management: Clinical managers supervise, recruit, and train physician staff. They also manage the cost of equipment and activities. Clinical managers can choose to specialize in a specific department or work as a generalist supervisor.

4. Other Fields: Healthcare administration degrees can also lead to careers in the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare technology, consulting, and regulatory and policy organizations such as the CDC and FDA.

Is Healthcare Administration Right for You?

Healthcare administration is an ideal field if you are passionate about creating a quality environment for patients and staff but do not want to pursue a career in medicine itself. In this field, you won't deal directly with patients, but the policies and decisions you make will affect the quality of service provided by the department.

To succeed in healthcare administration, you need a balance of empathy and organizational skills. Managing a department or an entire facility requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with board members and other leaders to make decisions on financial, legal, and wellness cases and initiatives.

A degree in healthcare administration can provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the ever-changing healthcare industry. Syracuse University offers an online Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) in Healthcare Administration degree that covers business, finance, electronic records management, human resources, project management, negotiation, and conflict management.

In conclusion, healthcare administration is a rewarding field with a growing job market. It offers a variety of career possibilities in different healthcare settings and allows you to make a positive impact on the health and happiness of both your staff and the patients in their care.

Is Healthcare Administration a Good Career? - College of Professional Studies (2024)

FAQs

Is a career in healthcare administration worth it? ›

Whether you're brand new to the field, or you already have some experience and are just looking for the academic credentials needed to advance your career, there's no doubt that it's worth completing a Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration.

Is healthcare administration a difficult degree? ›

It's Not as Bad as You Might Think

Just like any other program, you'll run into some elements of healthcare administration that are complex, but you may also find some of it to be relatively intuitive, or even easy.

Is a DHA degree worth it? ›

While it is possible for people who earn DHA degrees and Ph. D.s to cross-pollinate within the healthcare industry, with both finding opportunities to conduct research and teach, a DHA is the preferred choice for leadership positions and administrative roles in the healthcare industry.

Why do people get degrees in healthcare administration? ›

A healthcare administration degree doesn't just open the door to rewarding career paths in the healthcare industry. You can also take your knowledge, skills, and experience into insurance, pharmaceuticals, government, and nonprofit organizations.

What are the cons of being a healthcare administrator? ›

While this career is ideal for many, it does come with some downsides.
  • Strict regulations. The healthcare industry is one of the most regulated in the U.S., seeing that numerous regulatory bodies and programs apply to various aspects and activities of this industry. ...
  • Longer hours. ...
  • Prone to stress.
Aug 18, 2021

Is healthcare administration a lot of math? ›

Does healthcare administration require a lot of math? Because most healthcare administration roles require some level of financial management, expect to complete several math and finance courses in a degree program. Most require coursework in statistics, finance, business analysis, and accounting.

What is the easiest degree in healthcare? ›

Easiest Medical Degrees
  1. Radiation Therapist. When it comes to treating cancer, radiation therapists are essential because they apply focused radiation to reduce tumor size. ...
  2. Dental Hygiene. ...
  3. Ultrasound Technician. ...
  4. Registered Nurse. ...
  5. Physical Therapist Assistant. ...
  6. Phlebotomy Technician.

What is the hardest healthcare degree? ›

8) Nursing

Considered one of the hardest majors in college, it is also a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding career. As undergraduates, students typically take coursework in psychology, chemistry, and anatomy as well as participate in clinical experiences.

What is the highest paying job in healthcare administration? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Healthcare Administration Jobs 2024 (Inc Salaries)
  1. Medical Director. ...
  2. Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ...
  3. Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CIO) ...
  4. Hospital Chief Financial Officer (CFO) ...
  5. Chief Nursing Officer. ...
  6. Clinical Informatics Manager. ...
  7. Ambulatory Care Director. ...
  8. Nursing Home Administrator.
6 days ago

How long does a DHA degree take? ›

Most DHA programs take around three years to complete. You will tend to be taught in small groups, with less than twenty students active in a given program being typical.

Is a DHA called a doctor? ›

The Doctor of Health Administration (D.H.A.) is a doctoral degree focused with the development of theoretical knowledge in health administration and on the applied application of the said knowledge in the field of health administration.

What degree is best for healthcare administration? ›

A master's degree in healthcare administration (MHA) is a valuable credential for those looking to pursue leadership roles in healthcare.

Should I get my masters in healthcare administration? ›

Is a master's degree in healthcare administration worth it? Whether a master's in healthcare administration is worth it for you depends on your career goals. If you want to move into a high-level management position in healthcare administration, then yes, this degree may benefit your career.

Why should I do healthcare administration? ›

Do you want to work in the health care profession but don't want to join as a doctor or nurse? It would be best if you considered a career in healthcare administration. You may make a yearly salary of $101,340, and the job growth holds a projection of 28% by the year 2031, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Is business degree better than healthcare administration? ›

While an MBA can offer students a wide breadth of business education, an MHA degree provides job-seekers with knowledge specific to the role of leading healthcare organizations forward — from healthcare policy and procedures, to talent management and profitability.

What is the highest salary for a healthcare admin? ›

Healthcare Administrator Salary in California
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$148,035$12,336
75th Percentile$125,800$10,483
Average$84,018$7,001
25th Percentile$48,400$4,033

What is the future of the healthcare administration? ›

With the combined healthcare law and population growth, healthcare administrators can anticipate strong job potential in the future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for healthcare executives, administrators and managers will grow at a projected rate of 32% between 2020 and 2030.

What is the best degree for a healthcare administrator? ›

An MHA is recommended for those who want to become a healthcare administrator. You may also earn an MBA in healthcare management, but the difference between MHA and MBA is that an MBA focuses more on business principles than healthcare.

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