Patients prefer home care over an extended stay in a hospital or nursing home, and for the elderly, home care can actually be the more affordable option. Home health care agencies provide skilled nurses and medical workers to oversee older patients who need constant care and may be approaching the end of their lives. They also serve people with severe disabilities or patients who are recovering from serious accidents. Home health agencies also employ administrators to be in charge of both the business and the patient wellness aspects of the company. Not every health care administrator works at a hospital – some of them specialize in the best ways to provide this very personal home health care. Here are the steps to pursuing health care administration as a career.
1. Researching Health Care Administration
The duties of a home health care administrator can vary wildly based on the kind of agency they work for. The first step in getting involved in the home health care industry is finding out which kinds of agencies are near you and which services they provide. Some agencies specialize in hospice care, which can mean involving a person’s family in their end-of-life treatment. Others provide help with dressing and bathing for the elderly or disabled. Some agencies specialize in physical therapy, and others provide nurses who can administer medications and help patients with their diet. Every kind of home health care has different licensing requirements, and it’s important to know what kind of education or certification you need to pursue.
2. Gaining Health Care Experience
Before you can become the boss, you need to have a good grasp of medical practices. Many health administrators are also registered nurses, and even more have spent years working in hospitals and interacting with patients. Even if your knowledge and experience lean more towards the business side of things, you might want to look for work as a healthcare administrative assistant. This is a valuable way to [Read more…] about Becoming a Home Health Care Administrator