Health Administration Job Description

A health administration job description involves overseeing the daily administrative operations of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Health administrators, also known as health care managers, account for organizing and managing all medical services. 

As a health administrator, your role will be to ensure that a healthcare institution delivers the best possible care to its patients. At the same time, ensure that all corporate KPIs are met, and all rules and regulations are followed. Daily operations include nursing, food service, facility maintenance, groundskeeping, transportation, administration, and marketing.

If you are interested in this position, you must have a bachelor’s degree in health care administration or a closely related field. It is also essential for the ideal candidate to possess any necessary medical licenses required by the state, as well as a minimum of eight years of experience in an aged care facility in which they have assumed increasing responsibilities. 

Besides keeping patient information private, you will also be responsible for administering Medicare benefits according to the plan, obtaining the benefits for the patient from Social Security, and applying those benefits correctly to the patient’s account.

health administration job description

Obligations and Duties of a Health Administrator

A successful health administrator works to ensure that people in their community receive a smooth and effective healthcare experience. These professionals manage both clinical and administrative staff and help the healthcare organization run efficiently. They also play an important role in promoting healthy living and advocating for medical services, both inside their organization and throughout the community.[¹]

In addition to daily management, health administrators are responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

  • Hiring, training, and supervising professional and support staff
  • Developing plans, policies, and procedures related to health and wellness programs
  • Ensuring compliance with all healthcare laws and regulations
  • Building strong partnerships with government agencies, community groups, and healthcare institutions
  • Designing and managing the organization’s structure and internal processes
  • Supporting employee growth and development through training and education
  • Overseeing health departments and specialized programs
  • Making sure all patient records are accurate and properly maintained
  • Ensuring the organization meets its goals and patient care standards
  • Exceeding safety standards and regulations for patient care
  • Monitoring patients’ dietary needs when necessary
  • Ensuring food preparation follows safety guidelines
  • Managing facility and grounds maintenance programs
  • Identifying staffing needs and making informed hiring decisions
  • Making sure the staff meets the needs of the community and patient population
  • Coordinating with suppliers to ensure high-quality, timely service

What Qualifications Do Healthcare Administrators Need?

Because they impact both care quality and patient experience, healthcare administrators must have a strong and well-rounded skill set. Below are some of the most important traits and abilities needed for success in this role:

Business Management Skills

Healthcare administrators must be able to manage resources and make financial decisions that support the facility’s goals. In addition, they need to communicate clearly with staff, physicians, and insurance providers to keep operations running smoothly.

Teamwork

Working as part of a team is critical. Administrators often collaborate with doctors, nurses, and support staff to improve care and solve challenges.

Organization

Since many tasks are time-sensitive, strong organizational skills help administrators prioritize work and meet deadlines. A well-organized healthcare facility tends to be more efficient and patient-focused.

Clinical Knowledge

Although they don’t provide direct patient care, administrators need a basic understanding of clinical practices. This is one reason many former nurses transition into administrative roles—they already understand how care is delivered.

Budgeting

Managing budgets is a central part of running any healthcare facility. Administrators may be responsible for allocating millions of dollars in funding, so they must make thoughtful and cost-effective choices.

Quality Control

Finally, health administrators must set high standards and remain flexible in their approach. Ensuring quality care requires constant attention to patient outcomes, safety measures, and industry guidelines.

master of health administration job description

Getting Into the Health Administration Field

Doctors, nurses, surgeons, and technicians often rely on healthcare administrators to ensure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. Although administrators don’t usually interact directly with patients, their work has a big impact on how well a facility functions.

Healthcare administrators help improve how healthcare facilities operate and how patients experience care.[²] Their work is essential to the success of hospitals, clinics, and other care organizations. If you’re interested in healthcare policy or want to help improve care without becoming a clinician, this field offers a strong and stable career path.

What Training Do You Need To Become a Health Administrator?

To begin, most healthcare administrators need at least a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management or a related field.[³] This type of degree teaches the basics of how healthcare organizations work, including budgeting, planning, and communication. You’ll also learn about business principles that apply directly to the healthcare industry.

For higher-level jobs, many employers prefer or require a master’s degree, such as an MBA in healthcare management or a Master of Health Administration (MHA). These programs go deeper into topics like leadership, healthcare policy, and large-scale system management.

In addition to education, many employers look for hands-on healthcare experience. This could include working as an assistant administrator, joining an internship program, or spending time in another healthcare role. Experience helps you understand how different professionals—such as doctors, nurses, and technicians—contribute to the system.

If you’re thinking about long-term career growth, consider a graduate degree or additional certifications. Many schools offer flexible programs and short courses to help you build your skills and stay up to date with industry changes.

What Experience Do Employers Look For?

Healthcare organizations usually want candidates who already understand how hospitals and clinics operate. If you’ve worked in healthcare in any capacity, especially in a support or administrative role, you’ll have an edge.

Employers often prefer people who know how to work with various professionals, including doctors, nurses, and allied health staff. Being familiar with healthcare systems, services, and programs also makes a big difference.

Salary Expectations for Health Administrators

In the United States, the average salary for a healthcare administrator is around $74,561 per year. However, your actual salary can vary depending on your location, experience level, and the size of your employer.

In larger hospitals or major cities, administrators often earn more. Likewise, those with advanced degrees or several years of experience may qualify for senior roles with higher pay.

What Makes Someone a Good Healthcare Administrator?

To succeed in this field, you’ll need strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Healthcare administrators often face complex challenges, and they must be able to analyze issues and make decisions quickly.

Strong leadership and communication skills are also important. Administrators lead teams, manage daily operations, and coordinate across departments. They must inspire staff and ensure that everyone is working toward the same goal—delivering quality care.

Conclusion

A career in health administration can take you into many different settings, from hospitals and clinics to insurance companies and government agencies. You may work in human resources, become a department manager, or even rise to an executive position such as hospital CEO.

If you’re organized, driven, and passionate about improving healthcare without working directly with patients, this could be the right path for you. With the right education, experience, and mindset, health administration offers both stability and long-term growth.

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Reference

[1] Empower Patients Through Healthcare Advocacy “Why Healthcare Advocacy Is Important” Tulane University School Of Public Health And Tropical Medicine,  2021

[2] Management Functions “Learning How To Manage The Health Care Organization” Springer Publishing, 2022

[3] Education Requirements “Do I Need To Be Certified To Be A Healthcare Administrator?” Healthcare-Administration-Degree.Net, 2022