Medical professionals sometimes desire to move out of a patient-medical role into the administrative field. This shift requires an employee to have specific skills and desires. As a hospital administrator, you become in charge of the facility operations as well as patient care, looking to see how well the organization is running and if anything could improve. If you think this is your next step, be ready to handle the following things.
1. Work with Budgetary Issues
As a nurse or doctor, you deal with patient charts; likely, you do not look at the bills. As an administrator, you may start to look at the financial end. Understand the basics of financial obligations and how to read these reports and spreadsheets.
You may be tasked with looking at personnel staffing and the impact it has on the budget. Based on numbers and cost, you could be hiring or cutting back on hours. You also could review the cost of stocking supplies and general operating procedures. Use a critical eye to think about these hard decisions.
2. Discuss and Improve Hospital Challenges
Hospital administration evaluates what is working and what might require changes. These decisions include adopting new programs, changing policies or speaking with staff for input. For instance, many hospitals struggle to collect a debt from their patients. Once they are out the door, it becomes a bit more trying to get in contact and receive funds.
The administrator may be asked to research this concern and look into better methods of collecting operating room charges. This job mandates someone to be good at looking up new methods and working without outside companies.
3. Coordinate With Staff and Various Departments
You aren’t completely removed from the floor. Administration may find time to walk the floors, seeking out an understanding of how smoothly people and departments are working. Also, communicate about procedures and needs so that everyone tries to remain consistent and on track.
4. Perform Personel Reviews
Reviews often connect to personnel pay and retention, so this assignment requires emotional distance and professionalism. Don’t allow personal feelings to impact your evaluations, and try to remain calm in your discussion. When discussing a need for improvement, use data collection such as attendance records or patient reviews. Tie in your observations to hospital protocols and expectations.
Moving into a new spot is a chance to stretch your wings and learn new skills. Be cognizant of the changes between working the floor and supervising people. The challenge requires someone to love policy and coordination.