What is Healthcare Administration?

Healthcare administration is the management or leadership of health systems, such as hospitals or hospital networks, and involves making decisions that affect the organization's business. Professionals work closely with doctors and healthcare providers to ensure patients receive the best care.

What does a healthcare administrator do?

Healthcare administrators oversee the daily operations of healthcare facilities, hospitals, or doctor offices. Admins may oversee a whole facility or specific departments. Tasks may include updating records, overseeing the budget, developing goals for the facility, and ensuring the facility complies with laws and regulations. Healthcare admins may also recruit and manage staff, keep records of the facility’s services, and communicate with department heads.

How much does a healthcare administrator make?

The healthcare field is growing and healthcare admins are in demand. The salary of healthcare administrators may depend on the facility in which they work and their experience. In 2021, the median pay for health managers was $101,340 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most healthcare admins work full time and may be required to work nights or weekends in facilities that are open at all hours.

How do you become a healthcare admin?

To become a healthcare admin you need an education and training. Administrators should also be detail oriented and possess communication and analytical skills. Ashworth College offers healthcare administrator programs that you can learn online at your own pace.

• Healthcare Administration Associate Degree. Our online associate degree program may help you prepare for the growing field in as little as six months.

In our associate program, you’ll take lessons such as

• Medical Office Management I. In this lesson, you’ll receive an overview of medical office topics, an introduction to medical terminology, insurance processing and coding, safety issues, and more.
• Health Records Management. This lesson will introduce you to the records used in medical offices. You’ll learn about the relationship between these records and medical care, legal, and insurance or billing concerns.

Some positions or facilities may require healthcare administrators to be licensed. Licensing varies by state. While certifications may not be required, some administrators may choose to become certified by national organizations to increase their credentials.

Start your career journey with Ashworth

Start preparing for work you enjoy in the healthcare field with Ashworth College by calling an Admissions Adviser at or enroll online.