(ThyBlackMan.com) If you’ve ever wondered how much hospital managers and other healthcare administrators earn, you’ve probably assumed that they’re some of the highest paid people in the building, and that assumption would be correct. Along with surgeons and a few other positions, healthcare administrators are among the highest earners in the medical field, earning about $65,000-$95,000+ annually. Of course, we all know that being in such a crucial managerial position can’t be easy, so as usual there’s a trade-off. If you want the higher salary, you’ve got to do the harder work, but for the right personality type, it’s not such hard work at all. With that said, here are at least four essential skills you should have if you’re thinking about becoming a healthcare administrator.
1. Effective Communication
When you study for an online master of healthcare administration in strategy and innovation, one of the things you’ll learn about is the importance of communication in the workplace. Administrators are expected to coordinate and assist a large number of employees on a daily basis, and as such, they need to be attentive listeners and proficient speakers to accurately and efficiently convey messages and enforce policies. Thus, earning an online MHA degree is only the first step in the process. Once you have the credentials, you’ll need the communication skills to back them up.
2. Strong Leadership
In addition to being able to communicate well, you’ll also need to have the ability to know when it’s time to exercise authority and how to use it in an appropriate manner to produce positive results. Co-workers should respect your authority naturally as part of their job description, so there’s no need to be overly aggressive, but recognizing when your participation is necessary and acting accordingly will be a crucial part of the job.
3. Professional Demeanor
An executive look and attitude are hard to teach, but almost anyone can learn how to conduct themselves in a professional manner with the right training. Although it will take some self-improvement and development, even an online MHA will prepare you to behave and look the part of an administrator so long as you follow the right etiquette and recommendations. Looking to advance your Healthcare Administration career even further then visiting a site such as Southern Adventist University is a start. There you will find information, and programs one can take. The health industry is forever evolving so one has too also.
4. Business and Healthcare Environment Knowledge
Finally, perhaps the most important aspect of the job you will learn while studying to become a healthcare administrator is the actual operational procedure and techniques that you will be using to manage a medical facility in the healthcare environment.
5. It Isn’t for Everyone
Becoming a healthcare administrator isn’t rocket science, but it isn’t something that’s ideal for every kind of personality either. If you’ve always been anti-social and hate the idea of having a lot of responsibility, it might not be the right choice. If, however, you’re up to the challenge and could see yourself playing a valuable role in the leadership of a hospital or other healthcare facility, then health care administration could be a promising career path that leads you to a great salary.
Staff Writer; Craig Jordan