7 Skills You Must Have to be a Great Hospital Administrator

Being a hospital administrator is not an easy job. It’s highly demanding and stressful. A hospital is much more than a place to go for medical care. It’s also a business that needs someone to oversee the day-to-day operations. That’s where a hospital administrator comes in. They act as a liaison between the medical staff and governing boards, organize medical and health services, hire new personnel, plan the budget, participate in fundraising, assist in quality assurance for patients, and so much more. On top of it all, administrators must have a good education.

Being a hospital administrator is not an easy job. It’s highly demanding and stressful. A hospital is much more than a place to go for medical care. It’s also a business that needs someone to oversee the day-to-day operations. That’s where a hospital administrator comes in. They act as a liaison between the medical staff and governing boards, organize medical and health services, hire new personnel, plan the budget, participate in fundraising, assist in quality assurance for patients, and so much more. On top of it all, administrators must have a good education. They can begin with an associates, but if they want to reach full administrator stage, most hospitals require a master’s degree or higher.

As you can see, this career involves a lot of responsibility. It’s easier to handle the pressure, however, if you have a few key personality traits that can help you smooth each individual situation and act as an authority in any given crisis. Being a hospital administrator is about more than being knowledgeable in the field of medicine, it’s also about being able to lead.

Those looking to pursue a degree in medical administration should work on honing a few of the following skills.

1. Critical Thinking

Leaders in healthcare should be independent thinkers who can understand the current medical market and bring in solutions to help with adaptation. They can focus on a single problem at a time, gather information regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the situation, and develop solutions that will actually work.

2. Leadership

Healthcare administrators will often be in charge of staff meetings and enacting policies. If they want their personnel to attend, listen attentively, and commit to the new regulations, they’ll need to stand as the authority in the room. Likewise, a good leader in this field will know how to accept blame gracefully and shift from making excuses to projecting solutions.

3. Passion

Because of the high-stress nature of the job and the need for a motivating presence, passion for the organization and purpose is critical. A healthcare administrator who lets their passion show can motivate those around them to be the best possible. 

4. Accountability

Quality assurance in healthcare is arguably the most important aspect of any medically-related business. For that reason, administrators must develop a standard of accountability that they hold themselves to, as well as those around them. There should always be benchmarks to demonstrate progress.

5. Communication

Both written and oral communication skills are vital. An administrator is the liaison between the medical workers and everyone else. They must be able to present well-written reports to the governing board and submit press releases to the public. Someone always has an eye on these operations, and communication is the best way to keep all interested parties on the same page.

6. Flexibility and Adaptability

It’s essential for administration to work well with their organization, no matter how different they are. They must fit in with the goals and visions of the company in order to further those objectives. In addition, the skill of flexibility can be used to show competence and confidence.

7. Professional Judgment

There’s a certain amount of maturity and decision-making that comes with this job. A hospital administrator makes most of the decisions, but they also take responsibility for the successes and failures that result. This is one of the heaviest duties of administrators, and those with strong character and excellent judgment will be able to gracefully handle the immense pressure of the position.