Hospital Management and Administration

Introduction

 

Medical establishments such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres and so on are looked upon as edifices of hope by the diseased and the ill. Like any other business, medical establishments are organized institutions. They follow complex processes and need efficient manpower to manage these processes.

Hospital management and administration is concerned with the organization, coordination, planning, staffing, evaluating and controlling of health services for the masses. The primary objective is to provide quality healthcare to people and that too in a cost-effective manner. Professional hospital administrators have proven how institutions can be managed proficiently, economically and successfully in a given time period.

There has been seen a remarkable growth in the hospital industry in India, which has lead to a great demand and popularity of the hospital management related courses. The requirement of professional administrators in the hospitals is growing briskly mostly because the nature of work in hospitals is quite different from other organizations. Hospitals are expected to deliver quality service 24 x 7 x 365.

The urgent nature of its work and the level of efficiency that is expected have increased the need of well-formulated hospital management courses. Further, various educational institutes have started offering hospital administration courses in India. What’s more, a career in hospital management helps you to achieve two goals in life, namely: a good pay package and service to mankind.

Step-by-Step

Every sphere of work demands a specialist and the hospital industry is no different. Earlier senior doctors were responsible to perform the role of a hospital manager apart from their normal medical duties. However, times have changed. Earlier there were just hospitals. Now, hospitals themselves have been categorized as ordinary hospitals, specialty and super specialty hospitals.

Moreover, there is manifold increase in the complexity and processes that take place in the successful management of a modern day hospital. This in turn has lead to a tremendous demand for efficient professionals who can handle the day-to-day chores of hospital management and administration. Highly trained professionals are needed for the smooth operating of a hospital.

The first step for a successful career in hospital management and administration is to earn an undergraduate degree in Hospital Administration. For a bachelor’s in Hospital Administration (BHA) you need to complete 10+2 with a total of 50% marks and biology as a compulsory subject. For a postgraduate degree in Hospital Administration (MHA), you have to be a graduate in any stream. This program is available for both medical and non-medical students.

Some institutes offer certificate and diploma courses in hospital management, you can also pursue short – term, distance learning courses in this regard. The Indian Society of Health Administrators (ISHA) offers a one-year distance learning program in hospital administration and nursing administration. On the other hand, the Tamil Nadu Open University offers a two-year distance learning MBA course in Hospital Administration.

Start Early

10+2 level is the earliest level when you can make a beeline towards this profession. It is desirable to have organizational skills that will help you guide you towards this particular career path later on in life.

Is it the right career for me?

To be a successful professional in this field you should have a service-oriented bent of mind and the capacity to work for long hours. Furthermore, you must have a high emotional quotient to survive the highly charged atmosphere of a hospital.
Other essential traits include skill to take swift decisions, a friendly approach towards work and the ability to handle work pressure and the public at large. Also, if you possess the ability to cope up with deadlines, have excellent communication skills and leadership qualities then this is the right career for you.

What would it Cost Me?

The annual fee for the three-year BHA program is approximately around Rs. 40,000. On the other hand, the cost of pursuing MHA is about Rs. 10,000 per semester with four semesters making up the two-year course duration.

This is the average cost that you will have to dish out to pursue an undergraduate or a post-graduate program in hospital management and administration. However, the actual expenses may vary from institution to institution.

Funding/Scholarship

Various state governments extend scholarships for SC/ST/BC students. The criteria for fee waivers, scholarships and financial aid is as per the prescribe norms of the respective academies.

Job Prospect

The importance of health care can never shrink and the number of institutes providing health care is only increasing. There are more than two and half lakhs health care institutes that require quality hospital administrators and managers in India

The growing need of high professionalism would only increase the importance of hospital management courses in India. Along with the government, various private hospitals are today competing with each other to provide first class health care services to the masses across the country. In this respect, the demand of professional hospital administrators is rising tremendously.

Pay Packet

The salary of an administrator working for a medium grade hospital is around Rs.30,000 per month. The annual remuneration of an administrator in a super specialty 1000-bed hospital can easily go into lakhs of rupees.

Demand and Supply

The healthcare concept in India has undergone a tremendous change in recent years. People have become increasingly aware of the importance of healthcare and this has led to higher expectations and an increased demand for a high quality of medical care and facilities.

A large number of private hospitals and clinics have come up all over the country. With increasing emphasis on quality of health care and patient satisfaction, there is a remarkable need for persons with a professional qualification in hospital management.

Market Watch

The government of India is making special and concerted efforts in providing health care in both rural and urban areas of the country. With more and more private players also entering the hospital industry the demand for efficient administrators and managers is bound to go higher and higher.

There is a massive growth especially in super specialty hospitals due to which the demand for hospital managers and administrators have immensely increased. Moreover a professional course in hospital management not only opens door for various big and small hospitals but also in corporate, private and public sectors.

International Focus

The sector also offers prospects of global recognition with medical tourism becoming more widespread. If you’re talented and demonstrate a good work ethic, you can advance quickly. There is no limit to where your dreams and ambitions can take you in the exciting and fascinating world of hospital management and administration.

Positives/Negatives

+ives
•    In the role of a hospital manager or administrator you will get to meet a vast array of people in your line of duty.
•    You will have the satisfaction of running an establishment where people come to regain their health.

-ives
•    It’s a difficult job as keeps you on your toes most of the time.
•    Intense work pressure is a part and parcel of this job profile.

13.    Different roles, different names

While medical graduates generally take care of the more technical aspects of hospital administration, non-medical graduates handle the operational aspects. The tasks would typically involve managing the staff, health services, technology decisions, IT management and working under a given budget.

You can work as hospital superintendents, dean or director of medical colleges, medical directors, nursing directors and so on. Other roles include head of departments and as administrators with substantial managerial responsibilities. A hospital manager will be in charge of the overall organization and management of the hospital to ensure its smooth functioning.

Top Companies

1.    Government and private hospitals

2.    Health agencies, laboratories and clinics

3.    National and international healthcare organizations

4.    Health insurance companies

5.    Medical colleges and institutions

6.    Healthcare centers and nursing homes

7.    Mental health organizations

8.    Public health departments and rehabilitation centers

9.    Pharmaceuticals and hospital supply firms

10.    Medical software companies and hospital consulting firms

Tips for getting Hired

1. For a career in hospital administration, you should possess some unique qualities such as an innovative attitude, responsibility, self motivation and selfless devotion towards humanity.
2. As health services and medical managers are responsible for hundreds of employees and very expensive equipment and facilities, you should be able to make effective decisions, interpret data and understand information systems and finance.
3. A post-graduate degree or a MBA in this field is desirable.
4. Since you will be dealing with people all the time you must have strong communication skills.

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