The management of healthcare organizations, systems, and facilities is referred to as healthcare administration. It entails monitoring facility operations to make sure they function effectively, efficiently, and in accordance with legal and ethical norms. To guarantee that patients receive high-quality care and that systems run smoothly, healthcare administration is essential.
Due to a number of causes, including staff shortages, rising costs, technological improvements, patient safety, and policy and regulation, contemporary issues in healthcare administration have become increasingly complex. The aim of this article is to give a general overview of these contemporary issues and how they affect healthcare management.
Staff shortages
Inadequate staffing levels can have severe consequences for healthcare facilities. With fewer staff members to handle the growing demand for healthcare services, the quality of care can suffer, and patients may experience longer wait times, delayed treatments, or even medical errors. Moreover, the remaining staff members often face an increased workload, which can lead to stress, burnout, and reduced job satisfaction. This, in turn, can contribute to high staff turnover rates, further exacerbating the staffing shortage problem.
To address staff shortages, healthcare administrators must be proactive in their approach. One strategy is to offer incentives to attract and retain staff, such as competitive salaries, benefits packages, and professional development opportunities. Investing in the development of their current staff members can also help improve retention rates and boost morale. Additionally, healthcare administrators can develop partnerships with educational institutions to encourage students to pursue careers in the industry and provide internship opportunities to help them gain hands-on experience.
Technology can also play a role in addressing staff shortages. Implementing electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine technologies can streamline operations, reduce the workload on staff, and improve patient outcomes. By automating routine tasks, staff members can focus on providing high-quality care, improving patient satisfaction, and reducing staff burnout.
Healthcare costs
Given the rising demand for healthcare services, healthcare administrators continue to be quite concerned about costs. Many variables, such as an aging population, an increase in chronic diseases, and a rise in the cost of medical technologies and treatments, are to blame for this. These factors have bumped up healthcare costs, which makes it hard for administrators to manage.
High costs have a variety of effects on how healthcare is administered. The financial pressure on organizations can result in staff reductions, service cuts, and a general deterioration in the standard of patient care. In addition, high costs can also lead to decreased access to care, as many individuals cannot afford the cost of necessary treatments and services.
Healthcare administrators can put numerous strategies into place to reduce rising costs. Investing in preventive care is one strategy that can help lower the overall cost of healthcare by preventing the onset or worsening of chronic illnesses. Another strategy to reduce expenses is to promote the use of generic drugs, which are frequently less expensive than brand-name drugs.
Hospital managers can bargain with vendors to lower the price of medical supplies, including equipment and medications. Healthcare organizations can make sure they are paying the least amount feasible for the supplies they require to give their patients high-quality care by haggling with suppliers.
Health information technology
Health information technology (HIT) adoption in healthcare facilities has been on the rise over the past few years. Healthcare administrators have observed a variety of benefits in terms of enhanced efficiency, improved patient safety, and improved access to health information with the widespread adoption of electronic health records, telemedicine, and other technologies.
HIT’s capacity to optimize processes and lighten the administrative load on healthcare staff is one of its key benefits. For instance, telemedicine can increase patient access to care, particularly in rural or underdeveloped locations, while electronic health records provide simple and accurate record-keeping. Besides that, HIT can enable real-time monitoring of patient outcomes, assisting in pinpointing problem areas and improving care delivery.
HIT implementation, however, can be difficult because of large initial costs, resistance to change, and worries about privacy and security. By investing in staff training programs, collaborating with technology suppliers to ensure the proper hardware and software are in place, and putting strong privacy and security measures in place to secure patient data, healthcare administrators may resolve these problems.
Infographic provided by MCRA, an FDA regulatory consultant for medical devices
HIT is an essential component of healthcare administration despite its difficulties. Healthcare administrators that are knowledgeable about the most recent HIT trends and technology will be best positioned to guide their firms into the future as the sector continues to develop.
As the field of healthcare administration continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly clear that technology management is an essential component of effective healthcare leadership. By staying current with the latest technological advancements, healthcare administrators can ensure that their organizations are providing the highest quality care while also maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs.
The Online MSN-MBA Dual Degree program offered by Spring Arbor University is an excellent resource for healthcare administrators looking to develop expertise in healthcare technology management. This online program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers topics such as healthcare information systems, technology innovation, and strategic planning for organizations. Graduates of this program will be well-equipped to lead their organizations into the future, with a deep understanding of how to leverage technology to improve patient outcomes, streamline operations, and reduce costs.
In addition to its robust curriculum, the Online MSN-MBA Dual Degree program at Spring Arbor University offers the flexibility that working healthcare professionals need to balance their educational pursuits with their professional and personal responsibilities. With fully online coursework and a part-time schedule, students can complete the program at their own pace while still maintaining their work and family commitments.
By investing in a healthcare education that includes a focus on technology management, healthcare administrators can position themselves and their organizations for long-term success.
Patient safety and quality of care
Crucial concerns in healthcare administration include patient safety and quality of care. Patient safety and high-quality care must be upheld by healthcare administrators. Communication problems, medical mistakes, and a lack of healthcare practice uniformity are obstacles to providing patient safety and high-quality care.
Healthcare administrators can invest in staff training to improve communication and lower the frequency of medical errors in a bid to improve patient safety and the quality of care. Training on the use of medical technologies, the significance of adhering to defined protocols for patient care, and training on good patient-provider communication are a few examples of what might be included in this.
To ensure that every patient receives the same high standard of care, healthcare administrators can also create standardized protocols for patient care. These procedures may address a variety of subjects, including medication administration, infection control, and patient monitoring. By giving healthcare professionals a defined framework to operate within, standardized protocols can also help to lower the frequency of medical errors.
Healthcare policy and regulation
Healthcare administration depends heavily on policy and regulation. Changes in policy and regulations can have a big effect on the funding, accessibility, and quality of care in the healthcare systems. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded access to healthcare, and the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which introduced new payment structures for providers, are recent changes to healthcare policy and regulations.
Increasing focus on preventative care, the use of technology to enhance healthcare delivery, and integrating mental health services into primary care are a few future trends in healthcare policies and regulations.
In conclusion, contemporary issues with healthcare administration have broad ramifications for the entire industry. A few of the difficulties faced by healthcare administrators include a shortage of staff, rising costs, the use of health information technology, patient safety and care quality, as well as policy and regulation. Healthcare administrators must come up with innovative solutions to these problems that will guarantee patients receive high-quality care while cutting costs.
The role of healthcare administrators in shaping the future of healthcare cannot be overstated. It is crucial to have skilled professionals who can lead and manage organizations effectively. The Online MSN-MBA Dual Degree program at Spring Arbor University is an excellent opportunity for those who want to pursue a career in healthcare administration. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the challenges of contemporary healthcare administration successfully. By enrolling in this program, students can learn how to address staff shortages, control costs, implement health information technology, improve patient safety and quality of care, and stay abreast of policy and regulatory changes.
