Consider a featured online health administration program currently accepting applications for 2024.
| School | Level | Program | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston College | Master | Online Master of Healthcare Administration
Finish in 24 months or less, designed for working professionals. |
Website |
| George Washington University | Master | Online Master of Health Administration
Earn an MHA in 24 Months With GW’s Online Program. No GMAT/GRE Required. |
Website |
| Maryville University | Master | Master of Health Administration
Earn your Master of Health Administration (MHA) online from Maryville University in as few as two years. Prepare for leadership positions across a variety of healthcare settings. |
Website |
| University of Tennessee | Master | Online Master of Public Health
Concentrations in Health Policy and Management, Community Health Education, and Veterinary Public Health. |
Website |
| Maryville University | Master | Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management
Understand the business of healthcare. Prepare for leadership roles that help transform the industry. No SAT or ACT scores required. |
Website |
This career field is a great choice for hard working professionals with excellent organizational skills and dedication to great service.
In hospitals, the CEO often works behind the curtain. These professionals may be responsible for providing upper tier oversight in financial decision, treatment options and technology implementation that can increase the quality of care for patients being seen in their hospital.
What does a Hospital CEO do?
Some of the more important decisions and considerations faced by hospitals CEOs may be patient safety and security, which may be maintained by extensive training of hospital staff on a regular basis, as well as strategic planning. Strategic planning can touch on many facets of the healthcare facility - from patient satisfaction to financial stability.
People interested in one day becoming a hospital CEO may be curious about what type of education may be required, the type of work experience that can best prepare them for a career in this field and what to expect from a career at this position. Our team of educational experts has thoroughly reviewed this career field in order to give you more information on what routes you can take to be considered for these positions. Read along in the guide below to learn more about this excellent career choice and what it can provide for you as a professional.
Click to search for online health administration programs that are currently taking applications.
How can I become a Hospital CEO?
Hospital CEOs may be expected to have a certain level of education and experience in order to be effective in their positions. This career may require a deep knowledge of the healthcare field from an administrative and leadership point of view.
Also, professionals at this level should have a large amount of knowledge about the treatment process, customer billing and great customer service. This may be why most career sites list work experience as one of the most important factors in determining whether or not an applicant can be hired. Most organizations seek out applicants that have 5 or more years work experience within an administrative field of healthcare.
While most CEOs start off in more modest positions in healthcare administration, some often move up into management positions in the field of healthcare prior to being chosen as CEO of a hospital. If you are starting from a general position in healthcare, or are not in the healthcare field at all, you may want to engage in a degree program that can help you obtain such positions in the field. One of the most popular options for future leaders in the healthcare field may be the Master’s in Healthcare Administration – Hospital Management.
The Master’s in Healthcare Administration program can help you to gain more information about the rules and regulation present with the field of healthcare, as well as practice guidelines for working with healthcare professionals.
Most degree programs may touch on the financial and ethical aspects of this field, which can be great knowledge for future hospital CEOs to absorb. If you might be interested in starting your journey with a degree such as this one, read more about this program in the sections below.
Hospital CEO Degree Programs to Consider
Colleges all over the country may offer legitimate programs that can help you learn more about the daily operations of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. It is important that you choose a college that offers a reliable and accredited program, so that you can be considered for future certification or licensure if applicable.
Our team of educational experts has reviewed some popular leadership programs in healthcare administration in order to provide you with an example of a great quality program available for admissions.
The online Master’s in Healthcare Administration through Colorado State University’s Global program can be a great option for upcoming professionals interested in pursuing upper-tier management positions in healthcare centers and hospitals.
This program seeks to help students better understand the management skills, motivation techniques, organizational knowledge and problem solving skills needed to effectively manage healthcare settings after graduation. This program can take 1-2 years to complete for most students and can lead to many exciting opportunities in the field of healthcare.
Courses You Can Expect To See
The U.S. Healthcare System
Students enrolled in this course can review the U.S. Healthcare System from an educational point of view. This course looks at the system at both a small and large-scale perspective, allowing students to better understand concepts set forth for better health practices for all people. The history of the U.S. Healthcare System may be reviewed as well as the operational functions and funding resources currently available.
Health Law and Ethics
This course can help students receive a further introduction into healthcare law and ethics as they are presented in the healthcare system. Students may look into how policies are developed and changed over time, the reasons for implementing policies and methods for reporting fraud or abuse in the healthcare system. Students can also review some historical implications that may have influenced the current state of healthcare law in the U.S.
Quality and Performance Improvement
As one of the most concerning factors in U.S. Healthcare, quality and performance may be a topic of interest for students throughout their program. In this course, students can learn about assessment methods available for evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare agencies, methods to address challenges to quality in the healthcare environment and engaging in a value-based healthcare delivery model.
What can I earn as a Hospital CEO?
At the very top of the corporate ladder, hospital CEOs may be an important aspect to the healthcare field. These professionals may be responsible for overseeing hundreds or even thousands of workers and their contributions to the organization on a daily basis.
While partnering with other members of management may be an easier method of ensuring top quality performance, these professionals may also analyze the performance of each hospital sector to evaluate how well services are being provided within their organization.
At this level of employment, the rate of pay can vary depending on how large of a medical organization is involved, the amount of experience you have as a professional in the healthcare field and the area of the U.S. in which you work. Below this section, you can view salary estimates from actual professionals in the field.
- Top Executives – Healthcare: $160,940 on average per year (BLS).
- Medical and Health Service Management: $98,350 on average per year (BLS).
Unique Personality Traits for Hospital CEOs
Hospital CEOs may be considered the ultimate leader within the healthcare industry. There are numerous skills and attributes that can contribute to how well a professional performs in this field, many of which are geared towards experience and critical thinking.
However, there are a few diverse skills that can really assist professionals in making the right decisions for their organization and using prior knowledge of the healthcare field to ensure the fair treatment of patients and employees alike. Take a look at a few of these traits below.
Ethical Decision Making
As a hospital CEO, you could make decisions that could affect the lives of many different people. One of the most important skills to have to potentially succeed in this field is ethical decision making skills. In order to make ethical decisions, you may need to have a deep understanding of healthcare ethics and laws. Being an ethical decision maker can help to ensure that people are only positive affected by any changes that you make from your position.
Fast Decision Making Skills
When it comes to healthcare policies and laws, changes may come at the blink of an eye. Hospital CEOs may be responsible for approving changes and making recommendations without a minute to spare. It is in these moments that a deep knowledge of the healthcare field and healthcare regulations can be beneficial, since every decision must be educationally supported in this field.
Innovation/Adaptability
The medical and healthcare field is one that may be constantly undergoing some degree of change. Technology may play a role in this constant evolution of healthcare, meaning leaders within this field should be flexible and able to adapt as technology changes. Innovation and creativity may be other attributed that can welcome new technologies and positive change within this field.