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Overview of Healthcare Administration
Healthcare administration is the sector of healthcare that provides support and ensures the smooth running of medical practices and hospitals. It’s an attractive industry for people who like interacting with others, being organised and contributing to health promotion.
Jobs in this area include medical receptionist, health manager and medical records administrator. Study options in healthcare administration range from on-the-job training to diploma and undergraduate courses. |
Studying Healthcare Administration
People who want to become medical receptionists can do a Certificate III, IV or Diploma in Business Administration (Medical), which takes six months to a year to complete. The course teaches you how to use office equipment and relevant computer programs, process medical accounts and understand medical terminology.
You can also do a medical degree at university and move into a higher level of medical administration in hospitals or government bodies. To get into a medical course, you need to have very high marks in Year 12 and the Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT), and do an interview with the university.
To become a medical records administrator or health manager, you can study a Certificate in Record Keeping, Health Administration or Business Administration (Medical), or Bachelor of Business.
Careers in Healthcare Administration
Medical receptionists are the first point of contact in a clinic or hospital. They book appointments, take calls and bill patients. According to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), they earn about $712 a week.
Health managers liaise with employees in a health centre or hospital in a supervisory role. The DEEWR expects health manager jobs to grow very strongly and says they earn about $1150 a week.
Skills needed in Healthcare Administration
People working in healthcare administration have close attention to detail, good time management and computer skills and be very organised.
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