Healthcare administrators require a diverse skill set to navigate today’s complex healthcare landscape. Lamar University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Healthcare Administration program equips students with these business and healthcare entrepreneurship skills to pursue roles like health system CEO, medical and health services director, hospital administrator, healthcare services consultant and medical practice executive.
Still, regardless of the position healthcare administration graduates pursue, they can benefit from acquiring a mix of the following skills.
Leadership and Management
Healthcare administrators need strong leadership skills to guide and inspire their teams, make tough decisions and drive organizational success. They must motivate and empower their staff to achieve common goals. In addition, the healthcare industry is dynamic and often presents unexpected challenges, so healthcare administrators should be adaptable, resilient and able to navigate uncertainties with composure and agility.
Communication
Effective communication is a must for healthcare administrators. They must convey information clearly and accurately to everyone, from healthcare providers and nonclinical staff to patients and governing boards. They must be active listeners, speaking and writing with authority and confidence to foster trust and credibility among their team.
Financial Management
Healthcare administrators must have a solid understanding of financial management and accounting principles. They should be able to analyze and plan budgets, approve expenditures, manage costs and make financially sound decisions to bolster the organization’s stability and sustainability. Risk management is another responsibility of administrators, who should understand cash and risk management and ways to improve service utilization.
Interpersonal Skills and Customer Service
Interpersonal and customer service skills can help healthcare administrators address complaints as they arise, whether from staff or patients, and seamlessly collaborate across the organization and community.
Strategic Planning and Problem-Solving
The ability to think strategically and develop comprehensive plans is essential for healthcare administrators. They need to assess challenges, identify opportunities and develop solutions — all while keeping a team of employees moving toward a common goal. Administrators with well-developed problem-solving and critical thinking skills can analyze data and trends and make informed decisions based on evidence, ideally heading off issues before they crop up.
Ethical Judgement
Healthcare administrators often face ethical dilemmas and conflicts of interest. They must advocate for patients’ best interests, including promoting policies protecting their welfare and safety. However, they must also balance that with other considerations, like how to fairly allocate resources to deliver optimal care while ensuring the organization’s financial health. Administrators need strong ethical decision-making skills to navigate these situations, comply with professional and regulatory ethical standards and maintain others’ trust in the institution.
Information Technology
Technology represents a growing part of healthcare, and administrators must understand its impact on operations, patients and staff. Those who understand information systems may find it easier to compile reports, analyze data, assess the benefits of emerging technological innovations and oversee revised workflows incorporating new software and tools.
Patient Care and Clinical Knowledge
Knowledge of clinical care and the typical procedures that guide patient care is crucial for healthcare administrators and will assist them in managing operations, regulatory compliance and quality improvement initiatives.
How Can Healthcare Administrators Develop or Improve These Skills?
If you are interested in a career in healthcare administration, earning an advanced degree like an MBA from an accredited university like Lamar University introduces many of these skills. You can also consider participating in the following to strengthen your existing skill set and gain more experience:
- Connect with others in the field through in-person and online networking.
- Seek out entry-level or related administrative roles.
- Attend industry events, including workshops, seminars and conferences.
- Apply to internships or apprenticeships.
- Enroll in a continuing education or certification course.
- Find a mentor.
By developing and honing several of these skills, healthcare administration professionals can find greater success in managing their organizations and driving positive change for employees and patients.
Learn more about Lamar University’s online MBA in Healthcare Administration program.
