Hospital Administrator Responsibilities (Including Roles)

Updated 1 April 2023

Pursuing a career as a hospital administrator can offer a rewarding career with many development opportunities. A hospital administrator can have various specialisation options, essentially guiding the organisational needs of a hospital facility. Understanding some common responsibilities of a hospital administrator can help you determine if this is a career path that interests you. In this article, we list 10 hospital administrator responsibilities, discuss some of their specialist roles and explain useful skills for this role.

10 hospital administrator responsibilities

Hospital administrator responsibilities can vary significantly depending on their employer, experience or areas of specialisation. Here are 10 responsibilities of a hospital administrator:

1. Organise hospital services

A hospital administrator is often responsible for organising various hospital services. They might coordinate services with patients and healthcare professionals. The hospital administrator typically follows standardised procedures whilst organising services. Organising hospital services might include triaging patients, taking patient information, authorising admissions, setting appointments and organising procedures.

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2. Oversee hospital development

Hospital administrators might be responsible for overseeing development within the hospital. This can include the improvement and implementation of certain programs and procedures. They might also conduct quality assurance and identify areas for improvement. Whilst overseeing hospital development, a hospital administrator typically evaluates their public relations and identifies how they can implement improvements.

3. Use financial acumen

This might relate to the management of hospital budgets. It's necessary for them to know how to make logical decisions, use good judgement and understand budgeting concepts. Having the ability to identify and understand the financial relations and effects of various aspects within the hospital is often necessary to manage budgets effectively.

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4. Maintain documentation

An important aspect of a hospital administrator's role is to maintain accurate documentation. Completing detailed medical records for each patient is essential for this responsibility. A hospital administrator is likely to be responsible for the receiving and dispersing of medical tests and results. When handling documentation, a hospital administrator then follows an organised filing system to ensure documents are easily retrievable.

5. Monitor stock levels

Many hospital administrators complete the task of monitoring stock levels throughout the hospital facility where they're employed. They might check stock levels physically whilst also maintaining specific records to monitor the stock levels. A hospital administrator then manages the timely ordering and receiving of stock when necessary.

6. Managing staff

Hospital administrators are responsible for managing the non-medical staff such as cleaners, administration staff and security.

7. Ensure compliance

Often, a hospital administrator is responsible for ensuring the medical facility they're working for is compliant with certain policies and regulations. This can include monitoring practices to verify they comply with government-determined regulations. They also make sure they follow insurance company policies to help establish insurance reimbursement where necessary.

8. Assist with recruitment and training

Many hospital administrators assist with the recruitment and training of personnel. They might be involved in the screening process of potential candidates, which can include reviewing resumes, testing skills, conducting interviews, checking references and searching for candidates online. After determining a successful candidate, a hospital administrator might be responsible for providing the recruit with an overview of the facility, their responsibilities, any probation periods and their targets or goals. These professionals may also assist with the training and development of new and current staff.

9. Serve as a liaison

Serving as a liaison is often a responsibility of a hospital administrator. Specifically, they may serve as a liaison between governing boards, healthcare staff and department managers. This responsibility is important because it allows the team of professionals to work simultaneously, communicate effectively, minimise conflict and resolve issues effectively.

10. Coordinate staff scheduling

This can involve determining employee availability and ensuring adequate staffing throughout various departments. Coordinating staff schedules can also include organising coverage for both planned and unplanned leave. The hospital administrator often organises the staff schedule by a certain time and date, then publishes it for each staff member to view.

Hospital administrator roles

Some hospital administrators complete a range of various roles, but there are often opportunities to specialise in a particular area. Here are some examples of hospital administrator role specialisations:

Patient advocacy

Improving patient experiences and providing solutions for patients who have had poor hospital experiences is something a hospital administrator specialising in patient advocacy might do. They often work to improve the hospital system for future patients. When specialising in patient advocacy, a hospital administrator makes themselves available to assist patient, their families and their caregivers. They can assist with patient rights, grievances or complaints, crisis intervention, customer service and satisfaction, conflict resolution and communication.

Finance

A hospital administrator who is interested in the financial aspect of the role might choose to specialise in finance and budgeting. Depending on the size of the hospital facility and its prerequisites, there might be a requirement for additional training before specialising in this area. This specialisation role can include managing budgets, purchasing, costs and forecasting. It can also involve working with patients and their families to ensure they understand their entitlements and options through both public and private benefits.

Information processing

Information processing is often a specialised role for hospital administrators because of the heavily digitised nature of record storage. A hospital administrator who specialises in information processing might be responsible for correctly storing medical documentation. They can use their technological skills to properly utilise the features of the record-keeping software. This helps them to easily access the documents and communicate the information within them to the required personnel.

Public health policy

Some hospital administrators can dedicate their specialisation to public health policy. This means they have a deep understanding of the law and public policy and can use their knowledge to influence government regulations and policies. Many hospital administrators who specialise in public health policy work to educate both the community and the government to reach ideal policy outcomes. In addition to working to influence government policies, this type of hospital administrator can ensure strict policy compliance within their facility because of their thorough understanding.

Healthcare marketing

Sometimes, a hospital administrator can choose to specialise in healthcare marketing. This means they work to deliver important health-related messages to the community. These messages can help to deliver important, educational information to consumers. They can also help to build a brand for the healthcare facility. To specialise in healthcare marketing, a hospital administrator might keep up to date with industry trends, current events and economic changes. This helps to ensure the information being communicated remains relevant, informative and helpful.

Equipment management

A hospital administrator who specialises in equipment management might oversee the purchase and maintenance of medical equipment. This role might involve checking the functionality of equipment and materials, performing tests and inventory checks and ordering necessary resources. Whilst doing this, a hospital administrator specialising in equipment management monitors and maintains the financial budget for equipment and materials.

Useful skills for a hospital administrator

There are some skills that are likely to be useful for a hospital administrator, regardless of which areas they specialise in. Here's a list of some practical skills for a hospital administrator:

Organisational skills: Strong organisational skills can help a hospital administrator prioritise tasks, keep track of documents and plan ahead.
Attention to detail: Being detailed oriented can ensure a hospital administrator creates accurate records and makes minimal mistakes.
Critical thinking: Critical thinking skills can help a hospital administrator make logical decisions when in high-pressure, time-sensitive scenarios.
Teamwork skills: Many hospital facilities require their staff to work as part of a team to improve productivity and ensure their patient's experience continuity and accuracy.
Communication: Strong communication skills can help a hospital administrator provide information to patients and communicate messages to their colleagues.