Hospital administration - Need of the Hour

The Indian healthcare industry, as an emerging and recession-free sector in general, and the hospitals and other healthcare delivery systems in India in particular, have tremendous potential to become a global hub for providing quality health care services that are comparable to the best in the world and yet are safe, affordable and easily accessible. An increasing number of players in healthcare sector are focusing on the Indian market due to its inherent strengths which include the availability of qualified and trained human resource, raw material, abundance of natural beauty and historical places, cultural attitude of providing selfless service to the suffering, and all these at a fraction of the cost in the western world. These factors contribute towards providing affordable and accessible healthcare facilities.

The value of the Indian healthcare industry is estimated at 2.7 trillion.  The industry is growing at a fast rate of 13% per annum. The private sector accounts for nearly 88% of the total healthcare market in India while the public sector accounts for the rest.

The healthcare industry has several verticals which work together in sync in order to make this healthcare delivery a success. These are Medical equipment, engineering services, dietary services, pharmaceuticals, clinical research, IT and telecommunications services, support services as prevailing in the hospitality industry etc. One can work as a business analyst, can run NGO’s, contribute in clinical research, work in diagnostic Laboratories, HR, Medical education, quality accreditations and a few more.

Though we have pockets of excellence in the industry, as of now, it lags in basic infrastructure and standardization in quality of services – more due to lack of awareness/ knowledge, demand for quality services and the prevailing cultural attitude than due to lack of financial resources. Delivery of quality health care services also requires training of professionals in core and related aspects of healthcare management.

With the rapid growth in the medical sector, it is becoming increasingly competitive. In the year gone by the healthcare sector has posted a growth of 17% – next to IT and FMCG sectors.  Therefore, the need for professional management of the healthcare delivery systems today has become even more acute.

Hospital administration comprises a number of complex operations (with a considerable scope for ambiguity). A thorough knowledge and understanding of these complex operations is essential for effective and efficient policy making and optimal resource utilization.      

 

What is Hospital administration?

Hospital administration is defined as planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, delivering, controlling and evaluating health services for the community to provide optimum patient care of superior quality which is accessible and affordable. It also involves upgrading the system to keep pace with the advancements in technology and techniques. It involves synergy of continuously evolving technology and the qualified human resource.

 

Who is a Health Administrator?

He is the one who is aware of the requirements of all stakeholders and is a link that maintains an effective liaison between all doctors, patients and their attendants, nursing, paramedical and other staff, vendors of items used in hospital, the health insurance companies and the Government agencies. He is responsible to ensure that the hospital provides appropriate medical care to the needy with a human touch.

 

Responsibilities of an Administrator:-

  • Hospital Administration
  • Healthcare Policy planning.
  • Managing investments in infrastructure.
  • Providing adequate facilities for the treatment required.
  • Recruitment and management of staff, this also includes training.
  • Supervision of day to day work.
  • Maintenance and upkeep of all facilities.
  • Handling budgets and making schedule for fee payments.
  • Maintenance and repair of building and equipments.
  • Providing adequate work environment.
  • Material management.
  • Disposal of bio medical waste.
  • Evaluation of the subordinates.
  • Management of support services such as Wards, Pharmacy, laundries, catering etc.
  • Keeping the top management ‘in the loop’.

 

Management Vs Administrator

Sr.No

Management

Administration

1

Management is an executive function.

Administration is a determinative function.

2

Management is more popular to business enterprises where economic performance is of prime importance.

It is preferred in government departments, hospitals and other non business organizations.

3

It is a thinking process concerned with determination of policies done mainly at the top level and is influenced by outside forces and public opinion.

It is mainly concerned with implementation of policies and is influenced by the objectives of the organization and done at the middle level.

4

Getting things done by others.

Giving oneself orders.

 

What makes MBA-HA unique?

  • Health Care Management Course:This course provides an overview of the role of the Hospital Administrator. Coursework focuses on effective leadership, planning, problem solving and organizational management. Leadership issues covered include motivation and conflict resolution. Organizational management covers the management of hospital operations, projects and inventory.
  • Health Care Delivery Systems Course:A health care delivery course takes a broad look at the health care system as a whole. Students learn about its history and the events that have shaped its current structure. They also study the factors that continue to influence the quality and availability of health care, such as regulations, financing and location. Institutions in less populated areas may focus on the unique challenges of providing health care to rural communities.
  • Finance for Health Administration Course:Finance classes in hospital administration programs explain how to evaluate financial performance, budget capital, read financial statements and manage payment systems. Lessons cover general accounting practices and then show how these practices are applied to the health care environment. At the end of the course, students should be familiar with the different types of health care payment systems and how they influence hospital finances.
  • Health Care Law Course:Hospital administrators need to have a strong understanding of the laws and regulations that apply to health care, including legal responsibilities of the hospital and the rights of patients. These subjects as well as other legal and ethical issues, such as liability, malpractice and confidentiality, are addressed in the course.
  • Human Resources in Health Care Course:Managing hospital personnel is a key duty in hospital administration. A human resources class teaches skills in recruiting, training and retaining quality employees. Prospective administrators learn to evaluate employee performance and determine salaries. The course also covers methods for working with labor organizations such as unions.
  • Information Systems Course:Computers have become a vital part of hospital operations, from maintaining databases and patient records to communicating between health care facilities. An information systems course familiarizes students with the design and implementation of computer systems used in hospitals and the ways in which they inform management decisions. Students learn to consider an organization’s size, needs and budget when selecting hospital information systems.

 

Why is it important in Medical colleges?

  • While treating a patient we are not only eliminating the disease but also dealing with different human beings with different psychologies, so a holistic approach for better prognosis is required which can be possible through MHA.
  • Doctors in Hospital deal with nurses, paramedical staff, patients and their attendants, management, technicians, co-doctors and other class of workers. He is also expected to train them. To meet these diverse demands beyond clinical practice, some professionalism is required. MHA would equip him to face these challenges.
  • In the near future the scenario is going to change. Only qualified professional with MHA degree (and other equivalent courses) would be legally allowed to manage healthcare delivery systems.
  • The patient today is much more knowledgeable and informed than what one was a few years age. Medical Negligence aspects also are increasing as a result of this awareness. To cope up with MLC and other legal issues, the course would make the doctors aware of the issues involved and the changes that would be required in their practice and conduct.
  • To have a more effective interaction with the diverse categories of staff working with them, it is important to know various management strategies.
  • Quality accreditations are the talk of the day. It is imperative that the medical students are made aware of the requirements of the applicable standards like NABH in order to improve quality in healthcare facilities.
  • We, the medical fraternity in India, have become serious competitors to the foreign medical practitioners. We are, of late, being blamed for problems like ‘Superbugs’ etc. by the developed nation. In order to defend ourselves and address such problems more effectively, we need to have a good knowledge of hospital and healthcare management, legal issue of clinical research and patents and other related issues. A course in MHA helps do exactly that.
  • It helps you to plan and organize one’s work environment in an efficient and systematic manner.

 

Important Medical Institutes offering this Course

  • AIIMS, New Delhi.
  • PGI, Chandigarh.
  • Manipal University, Manipal.

 

How to establish a hospital administration course?

  • Conduct preliminary feasibility.
  • Approval by the complete management.
  • Survey to find out the willingness of the students.
  • Genesis of a business idea                
  • Detailed feasibility analyses of the organizational, market and financial viability,
  • Prepare a comprehensive Project report.
  • Obtain necessary clearances
  • Construction of building including the required infrastructure
  • Recruit Employees
  • File memorandum
  • Marketing strategies

 

Employees required

  • HOD.
  • Professor.
  • Associate professor.
  • Lecturer
  • Tutor.
  • Administrator head.

 

A library (including a digital library) dedicated to healthcare management would provide an edge over the other institutes. Dedicated journals – both Indian and imported.


With Thanks & Regards:-

BALDEV BATRA 

(Youngest Healthcare Management Consultant and Medico-Legal Expert)

Alumnus & Studies From:- IIM Ahmedabad | Symbiosis Pune | CCS University, Meerut | Delhi University|NEFT University, A.P|

GSS- Business Planning- IIM Ahmedabad |MBA-HA (Hosp. Admin. State Govt. Scholar) PG-Medico-Legal – Symbiosis | PG- Healthcare Mgmt. | BHA (Healthcare Admin.) | NABH Counsellor-Quality Council of India | Legal in Healthcare- AIIMS, Delhi |Medical Emergency & Life Saver Preparedness-Govt. of India |High Altitude Rescue & Life Saving Techniques- BSF, NDRF, Indian Air Force, CRPF |

Contact Details:- 

Ph. No. :- 9560257717, 9968913633
Email Id:- baldevbatra1996@gmail.com

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