Hospital Administration as a Career Option

The single most important question for most doctors after graduation is to secure admission in post-graduation speciality courses. However, the dearth of seats in clinical specializations courses and changing attitudes result in young doctors exploring non-clinical careers. A single question that plagues the mind of fresh graduates is – after MBBS which course should you do? Rightly so, in most instances, some of these careers, with the right choices, have the potential to result in strong & lucrative careers. Courses for Hospital Administration are available anywhere from world-renowned universities to remote learning platforms. This makes it incredibly easy to pursue Hospital Administration.

Overview of Hospital Administration

In India, the hospital industry is estimated to increase to INR 8.6 trillion by FY’22 from INR 4 trillion in FY’17, at a Compounded annual growth rate of 16–17%. Doctors will receive plenty of opportunities in the hospital industry in the coming years. A skillset grounded in management and a drive to leave a positive impact is especially advantageous. Hospital Administration is one such non-clinical career path that bridges Administration with life sciences. They use this knowledge to develop healthcare policies to ensure better healthcare solutions. In doing so, the Hospital Administrator oversees the hospital operations and ensure efficient delivery of care services. They also simultaneously work to improve access, quality, and efficacy of services.

Why are more doctors choosing courses for Hospital Administration?

Doctors inclined towards creating systemic changes in the operational areas of hospitals should choose Hospital Administration. Hospital Administration provides greater job security compared to other healthcare careers. A high percentage of women also opt for this career. Better work-life balance is the main reason for this. Many women consider this a pivotal factor. In addition, Hospital Administrators tend to have shorter working hours than clinicians. Although, odd working hours may exist at the start of the career. People engaged in this profession enjoy a higher job satisfaction rate due to the above factors. CNN’s Money Rankings corroborates this by awarding Hospital Administration jobs an ‘A’ grade for job satisfaction, growth, and stability.

Job Titles of A Hospital Administrator

A Hospital Administrator can occupy various positions in a care providing organization. These include a Healthcare Clinic Manager, Hospital Operations Administrator, Director of Clinical Operations, Director of Patient Care Services, and Medical Office, Administrator. As Administrators, they explore various aspects of the healthcare business, including finance, economics, and management. Hospital Administration offers a diversity of job roles, which interests most doctors looking to switch from a clinical job. In addition, as Hospital Administrators, they get to network with high-ranking managers, financial analysts, insurance agencies, and pharmaceutical companies. This helps care-providing professions to expand their knowledge base and learn about every aspect of patient care. 

  • Healthcare Clinic Manager
  • Hospital Operations Administrator
  • Director of Clinical Operations
  • Director of Patient Care Services
  • Medical Office Administrator

What are the responsibilities of a Hospital administrator?

Hospital Administrators play a key role in every division of the hospital. These Administrators focus on the smooth running of a medical facility, from monitoring daily operations to regulating health policies. For instance, Hospital Administrators are tasked with reducing reception waiting time for patients. They employ the use of better appointment systems, adding or changing employees, or provide self-service. This helps to streamline the process. They may also choose to design feedback surveys for patients to fill out. It helps the Administrators to formulate different ways to run the facility more efficiently. The next step is to analyze the collected data over a time period. The root cause of the problem is finally identified and solutions are devised.  

One of the major functions of a Hospital Administrator is to improve the level of patient care. For example, nurses monitor every Admitted patient’s vital signs and fluids. This needs to be done from the start till the end of the shift. The task is quite tedious and time-consuming when done manually in a large-scale hospital. This problem can be overcome by automating the task of monitoring vital signs and fluids. A Hospital Administrator can identify this area of inefficiency and switch to wireless monitoring systems. These wireless systems can send the data directly to the nurses’ desk. This eliminates the need for routine checking, thereby freeing the nurses’ time towards more important matters.

What are the courses for Hospital Administration?

After MBBS which course should you pursue to become a Hospital Administrator

A Master’s degree in Hospital Administration or Healthcare Management gives the skill sets to understand how a hospital operates. Courses for Hospital Administration may vary from 1 to 2 years depending upon the country and type of study. Leadership, communication skills, adaptability, ethical judgment, and quick thinking are some of the personality traits essential for a Hospital Administrator. This is because Hospital Administrators take up various roles in a healthcare setting. They are required to supervise daily administrative operations; monitor the cost-benefit analysis of operations; maintain schedules of employees; stay up-to-date with healthcare policies and regulations, and improve the accuracy levels of patient care in the medical facility.

What are the prospects for career growth in Hospital Administration?

The origin of Hospital Administration can be traced back to over a hundred years ago in the West. A group of eight doctors met in Cleveland and established the foundations for modern Hospital Administration. Over the years, it has gained popularity in the East, resulting in numerous job opportunities. Currently, there are more than 3,500 job openings for Hospital Administrators in India alone. There are close to 10,900 vacancies worldwide. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in jobs in the healthcare domain. Therefore, the availability of Healthcare Administrator jobs is only expected to rise in the coming years. 

On average, a Hospital Administrator earns more than a regular physician in India. However, different countries have varying salaries. Overall, it remains a lucrative profession in the long run. This is because Administrators tend to experience a more rewarding path of career growth than doctors. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also predicts a 32% growth of the healthcare Administration industry by 2029. Most Hospital Administrators are also provided medical benefits and bonuses. 

Doctors enjoy a stable career, while also creating fundamental changes in patients’ lives. This is what makes Hospital Administration an attractive career option. If you’re wondering after MBBS which course is the best for a non-clinical career, choose Hospital Administration. Courses for Hospital Administration also help doctors to sharpen their interpersonal and problem-solving skills. This is why it is one of the most sought-after non-clinical career paths chosen by healthcare professionals. The infusion of digital technology in healthcare has caused an expansion of the healthcare industry. So, Hospital Administrators can expect a promising career ahead. 





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