People who are considering launching a career in health care management may wonder what an assistant hospital administrator does. While the question seems simple, answering it is complicated by the reality that assistant hospital administrators’ duties often vary depending on the size of the facility where they work.
Assistant Hospital Administrators Employed by Large Hospitals
As the job title implies, the primary role of an assistant hospital administrator is to aid the hospital administrator in the planning, coordination and supervision necessary to ensure that the facility can deliver health care with smooth efficiency. At a large hospital with several departments and a massive staff, there may be several assistant administrators who are responsible for overseeing the running of one or more departments. In this situation, assistant administrators must work with department heads and their fellow assistant administrators to develop and implement new policies and procedures. They are also involved in budgeting, handling personnel matters, staff development and other management functions. Some may even participate in fundraising and community relations activities.
Assistant Hospital Administrators Employed by Smaller Facilities
Smaller hospitals may require only one assistant hospital administrator. Serving as the hospital’s second-in-command, the assistant administrator helps develop, orchestrate and implement any new policies, procedures and technologies. He also reviews existing policies and procedures and offers recommendations regarding any needed updates. The assistant administrator is responsible for verifying that the facility is meeting all local, state and federal regulations. He assists in coordinating activities and allocating resources so that the hospital can offer an effective health care delivery system. Tasks like helping to resolve complaints, raising funds, participating in budget planning, overseeing the work of the various department heads and aiding in community relations programs also fall within the purview of an assistant administrator who is employed by a small hospital.
Education Requirements for Assistant Hospital Administrators
Most assistant hospital administrators hold at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public health or health administration. Those who have a master’s degree in business administration with a specialization in health care will find increased opportunities for more distinguished and better-paying positions. The potential for promotion will also grow as administrators gain experience in the health care field.
Career Prospects for Assistant Hospital Administrators
With the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicting an impressive 23 percent job growth rate that should create some 75,000 new jobs for medical and health services managers like assistant hospital administrators by 2022, there will be plenty of opportunities for qualified management professionals to enter the field and move up the ranks as they gain experience. In 2013, the median salary for medical and health service managers was $90,940. Those on the lower end of the pay scale earned around $55,000. The top 10 percent earned more than $155,000.
Related Resource: Nursing Administration
With the United States’ aging population causing a skyrocketing demand for health care services, many smart, ambitious professionals are investigating management jobs in the health care industry. Management professionals who are interested in hospital administration positions should be aware that, much like the responsibilities of two managers with the same title can be vastly different depending on the size and scope of a business, the size of a hospital often influences an administrator’s duties. What an assistant hospital administrator does varies depending on the specific needs of the facility they serve.
