Many of us have been stuck between the two most misunderstood fields, health administration vs. healthcare management. Some think none is different from the other, simply because of the fact that they sound almost the same, while some think since they work in the same environment, they should be the same.
Meanwhile, a health administrator and a health manager are two different officers in the health sector. In this article, highlights shall be given over what and what could be their differences and what could be their similarities. What is important that you must know however is that health care is a fast-growing industry with many job opportunities.
Differences Between Health Administration and Healthcare Management
Health care administration careers have different education and training requirements than careers in health care management. Professionals in health care administration often begin their careers with a bachelor’s degree in health care administration.
Professionals in health care management may begin their careers with a bachelor’s degree in health care management, which focuses on the business operations of the industry and the tasks involved with managing a health care practice.
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Job Responsibilities: Healthcare Manager
Professionals overseeing and managing health care facilities may have different daily responsibilities. These responsibilities can vary depending on the job title and organization, but a health care manager position often has the following duties:
- Managing the health care organization’s finances, including the budget and bills
- Maintaining records related to the health care organization’s operations
- Collaborating with a financial board of investors
- Overseeing a team of administrative professionals
- Reviewing the organizational structure and suggesting changes to improve efficiency
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Job Responsibilities: Healthcare Administrator
A professional in health care administration may have the following duties:
- Overseeing the recruiting, training and onboarding process for new staff members
- Creating work schedules for team members
- Performing administrative human resource tasks, such as payroll and benefits
- Monitoring procedure and policy changes
- Training staff members on updated policies
Healthcare Management Job Positions
- Hospital administrator
- Executive director
- Practice administrator
- Public health director
- Health advocate
- Social welfare administrator
Healthcare Administration Job Positions
- Clinic director
- Hospice care director
- Health services manager
- Practice administrator
- Medical records manager
- Practice or office manager
Skill Similarities of Health Administrators and Healthcare Management
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Analytical skills
The ability to criticize and rationalize over a situation and conditions can help both health care administrators and managers as they often face challenges tin the course of their work.
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Organization skills
These professionals manage finances, budgets and administrative paperwork. They can use strong organizational skills to ensure the accuracy of all information.
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Communication skills
Health care administrators and managers communicate with professionals, investors and staff members. They can use effective communication skills to collaborate with teams, share information and support the health care staff.
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Technical knowledge
Professionals in health care leadership careers often use medical knowledge and vocabulary when communicating with staff members and health care providers.
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Leadership skills
Knowing how to lead effectively is useful in either role since both involve managing people and overseeing and improving processes.
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Problem-solving skills
The ability to address and solve problems can help both health care administrators and managers as they often face challenges they must resolve.
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Interpersonal skills
This skill helps us understand that good relationship is diamond in itself. So, health administrators and healthcare managers need have this skill in order for them to run a smooth relationship with both their subjects and patients.
