Introduction:

In recent times, health care concept of the people have undergone a tremendous change which has lead to higher expectations and an increased demand for high quality medical care and facilities. Here comes the importance of Health/ Hospital Management. It is the latest concept in the field of management and one of the most lucrative and important careers in the health sector. According to a recent US survey, Hospital management is one among the top ten millennium professions which provides a direct link between healthcare facilities and those supplying the services they need. A career in Hospital Management involves ensuring effective utilisation of physical and financial resources of the hospital as well as creating an organisational climate beneficial to the growth and development of the personnel.

It is a difficult, challenging, responsible and more over, a demanding job.

Professional services of trained manpower namely Hospital administrators/ managers have now become essential to manage hospitals and medical facilities. It is the hospital administrators/ managers who manage hospitals, outpatient clinics, hospices, drug-abuse treatment centres etc. They would be responsible for overall patient care, education, research and community health care associated with the organisation, and make sure that they conform to the rules of the Hospital. These people with the help of a team of assistants, look after the administrative affairs i.e plan, coordinate and direct the delivery of health services within a hospital. In early days, senior doctors used to perform the role of a hospital manager. But now things have changed and the services of these qualified professionals are required for the smooth functioning of hospitals. The services of these professionals go a long way in making the hospital more productive, profitable and comfortable for the patients.

Career opportunities in the field of Hospital Management are increasing very rapidly not only because of the growing importance of hospital industry, but also with the difference in the nature of work in hospitals. It is an apt career for those who have an emphatic nature along with a flair for organizing, and an eye for detail. A Hospital Manager requires good knowledge of finance and information systems, interpretation of data, and must be able to keep up good communication with the staff of various departments, and patients. They can work as Deans and Directors of medical colleges, Hospital superintendents, Deputy superintendents, Medical directors, Nursing directors, Heads of departments and as Administrators with substantial managerial responsibilities. Hospital manager will be responsible for the overall organisation and management of the hospital to ensure its smooth functioning with the objective of ensuring complete satisfaction.

Eligibility & Course Areas:

With the growing importance of hospital industry in providing health care to people across the country, Hospital Management courses are becoming very popular. An individual from a medical or a non-medical background, can pursue a career in Hospital Administration/ Management. The pre-requisite is a graduation (medical/ non-medical)or a degree/ diploma in Hospital Administration.

The main professional courses available in this field are Bachelor of Hospital Management/ Administration, Post Graduate Diploma in Hospital Management/ Administration, Master of Hospital Administration, MBA in Hospital Administration and M.D/ M Phil in Hospital Administration. Apart from these programmes, there are about 70 accredited programs in healthcare administration.

Eligibility for Bachelor’s degree in Hospital Management /Administration (BHA) is 10+2 with Biology attaining minimum 50% marks. One can do Post Graduate Degree/ Diploma courses and MBA in Hospital Administration, after graduation in any subject. But the eligibility criteria for post graduate courses may vary according to the course and the institute concerned. For institutes like All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Armed Forces Medical College, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Symbiosis Centre of Health Care (SCHC) etc, the minimum qualification for PG courses is M.B.B.S. MHA is required for doing M.Phil in Hospital administration.

Several institutes are offering short term, certificate, diploma and correspondence courses in Hospital management through distance learning. The Indian Society of Health Administrators (ISHA) offers 1 year Distance Learning Programme in Hospital Administration. Tamil Nadu Open University also offers 2-year distance learning in MBA Hospital Administration whereas Indian Institute Of Pharmaceutical Marketing offers Executive MBA In Hospital Management (EMBA), Advanced Diploma In Hospital Management (ADHM) and so on.

Selection - Selection to the Bachelor of Hospital Administration (BHA) courses is generally made on the basis of the marks obtained in +2 and through general entrance test, followed by a Group Discussion and / or Personal Interview. In the Institute of Health Management Research (IHMR) Bangalore, the candidates are selected for admission to PGPHM / PGPPHM only on the basis of personal interviews conducted by the Faculty of the Institute at Bangalore and other cities of Delhi , Mumbai, Chennai & Hyderabad. The selection criterion will also take into account the candidates command over English Language, Skill in communicating, Computer handling and overall managerial ability.

Candidates of any field medical or a non-medical background, they can pursue a career in Hospital Administration/Management. You can pursue Bachelor, Master & a Doctoral Degree in Hospital Management. Various Institutions in India also offer short-term, diploma, certificate and correspondence courses in Hospital management.

Personal skill:

Candidates need to be hardworking and should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to handle disputes or criticism with patience. He/she should be co-operative ,polite and respectful towards guests in all situations. He/ she should have quick decision-making capability based on up-to-date management principles and techniques; analytical and logical reasoning skill, patience, excellent verbal and written communication skills to maintain functional relationships with the hospital staff, physicians and the community. As they are responsible for the overall organisation and management of the hospital, they should possess good health, energy and stamina for working long and irregular hours.

Top colleges in India offers Hospital Management Courses:

  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
  • Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
  • Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya
  • Symbiosis Centre of Health Care
  • Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University
  • Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani.
  • Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, [IHM] New Delhi
  • Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development [OCLD], New Delhi
  • Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata
  • Jaipur National University, [JNU] Jaipur
  • Birla Institute of Technology, [BIT] Mesra, Patna

Courses:

  • Bachelor of Hospital Management/Administration : The duration of this course is three years.
  • Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] in Hospitality

Master Courses: It is two year duration’s programme.

  • Master of Hospital Administration
  • MBA in Hospital Management/ Administration
  • PG Diploma in Hospital Management/Administration
  • PG Diploma in Hospital and Health Management
  • Sc in Hospital Administration

Doctoral Degree:

  • MD/M.Phill in Hospital Management

Job Prospects & Career Options

Hospital management is concerned with the efficiency and cost effectiveness of all levels of health service. With the tremendous growth in the healthcare/hospital industry there are sufficient job opportunities for Hospital Managers in India and abroad.

The work of a hospital manager involves administration, managing and maintaining equipment, management of the medical staff and day-to-day medical activities, financial planning, operations of the hospital etc. They try to bring about economy in the use of supplies, facilities and human resources of the hospital.

The Hospital Manager's role differs according to the size of the organization. In a smaller, medical or health care center, they have to handle day-to-day administrative work, which may involve billing, maintenance, equipment supply etc. and also work closely with doctors, in group practice and decision-making. But large-scale organizations may require the services of a manager in key aspects as well. Hospital administrators have to co-ordinate between the various departments of the hospital and have to ensure that all equipment are functional. They are responsible for hiring non-medical staff, maintenance of hospital services, security, building the hospital brand, marketing, accounts, financial operations, planning and control for continuous supply of materials, management of the research and clinical work etc.

Most job opportunities in the field of Hospital Management are in hospitals, but one can also find openings in health agencies, laboratories and other health and allied services. Government hospitals as well as private hospitals employ Hospital administrators/ managers. Hospital Management positions varies from Head of the department to Chief executive officer at numerous organizational levels. A fresh graduate with Master’s degree in health services or hospital administration may start their professional career as Assistant Hospital administrators or as managers of various departments like Front office, Public Relations, finance, Quality control etc. Experienced and senior Hospital Administrators can eventually reach the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). It is these people who are supposed to report to the board of directors or the governing body of the hospital.

Degree/ Diploma holders in Hospital Management can find employment in large Corporate / public / private sector hospitals, clinics, international and national healthcare organizations and health insurance companies, college and universities, healthcare centers, nursing homes, mental health organizations, public health departments, rehabilitation centers, pharmaceuticals and hospital supply firms, medical software companies and hospital consulting firms. Those having a Masters Degree in Hospital Management with 4-5 years of experience can get employment as a lecturer. With several years of experience in the field, one could even set up their own nursing home or hospital.

Some Popular career in Hospital Management:-

  • Acupressure Therapist
  • Acupressure Therapist
  • Magnetic Therapist
  • Surgical Technologist
  • Music therapists
  • Gerontology
  • Dental Assistant
  • ENT or Otolaryngologist

Challenges:-

  • High Pressure Career. Working as a hospital executive is very challenging. Since the real decision making is made by healthcare executives, any mistakes in making these decisions could impact the way the hospital is viewed by the public as well as how the patients are treated and how they receive care in the future. This is also a highly managerial position that requires strong focus and the ability to multitask continuously.
  • Many Responsibilities: Healthcare Administrators especially Administrators in a medical setting are expected to handle a variety of tasks such as administration, budgeting, research, medical practitioners, etc. They are also expected to guide emergencies, such as post-medical malfunction negotiations, disaster/crisis situations, etc.
  • Lack of Hands-on Patient Care. If you’re getting into the healthcare executive world to deal with patients hands-on, think again. This is especially the case if you’re applying to become a physician executive. The bulk of tasks that a physician executive must do day-in and day-out are mostly managerial and are performed behind the scenes. Also, attaining the additional education required to handle the business side of things takes more time away from the practice.
  • Difficult Hours- A hospital is usually running 24 hours a day, especially if they have an emergency department. As a healthcare professional at a hospital hours can get crazy. Late night and early morning hours can be the norm for new employees in a hospital setting.

Remuneration

Remuneration of a Hospital administrator / manager depends on the type of organisation he works for. In India, a Junior Hospital Manager can earn a starting salary in the range of Rs.8,000- Rs.12,000 per month. An experienced and qualified Hospital Manager can earn more than Rs.40, 000 per month. Large corporate organizations pay a lucrative amount as salary. The annual remuneration of a Hospital administrator /manager in a super specialist of 1000 beds hospital can easily go into lakh of rupees.

The demand for skilled and experienced Hospital Managers in foreign countries is reasonably high. The salary offered by hospitals abroad may be number of times more than that of the salary offered in India.

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"Pros And Cons." Healthcare Administration. N.p., 2017. Web. 5 Oct. 2017.