Healthcare Administration is a growing field – according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand is expected to grow by 16% through 2018.

What makes a good healthcare administrator?

Education. Healthcare administrators need to be familiar with management principles and practices in general, and how they apply to a healthcare facility in particular. That’s why most positions require a minimum of a Bachelor degree in Health Care Administration! And a strong education combined with work experience can lead to a number of advancement opportunities.

Organization. Healthcare administrators are responsible for a lot of data – from patient records to daily operations. In some positions, healthcare administrators also manage staffing and scheduling for a number of people. The ability to work with technology and deal with a complex set of regulations and range of services is important as healthcare administrators work to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare.

Passion. Loving what you do is important – particularly for those who work in healthcare administration. Healthcare administrators work not only with numbers but also with people – physicians, nurses and other staff – and because many healthcare facilities are open 24 hours, the ability to work a flexible schedule can be important.

Job prospects for healthcare administrators should be good over the next decade – if you’re an organized, passionate individual, healthcare administration can be a rich and rewarding career.