Medical Administration Jobs
Administrators (General, Non-Clinical), who work in hospitals or health care services, apply their knowledge of medical terminology to patient records and data keeping systems. They help ensure the process of appointment, diagnosis and treatment management runs smoothly. Administration staff book patient appointments, check patients in, provide customer service, undertake data entry, handle complaints and enquiries, pay bills and process payments, upkeep the office space, compile records and charts of patient history and ongoing treatment, and communicate any important information to medical staff. Non-clinical administrative roles in the health care industry are available to professionals with management skills, and experience in procurement, human resources, finance, organisational systems and health information management.
Medical Administrators are senior doctors who have extensive experience in clinical medicine and hospital administration. These roles are among the highest administrative positions of the organisation, often only overseen by the management board. Medical Administrators, such as CEOs, Chief Health Consultants and Officers, and Medical Directors, have serious supervisory and operational responsibilities. They oversee, and are accountable for, the clinical, professional and financial performance of the department/organisation, and the delivery of high quality, effective and efficient patient care. They use their clinical training and experience together with medical management expertise, to lead and influence health service delivery and manage complex health organisations. They may be responsible for human resource management, fiscal management, recruiting and credentialing, implementation of governance frameworks and accreditation, attending board meetings, coordinating interdepartmental functions; and developing, monitoring and evaluating the protocols and guidelines for clinical staff. Doctors in this role require excellent communication and interpersonal skills; a thorough understanding of organisational systems, processes and interdependencies; and need to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and specialists. Roles in Medical Administration include senior management positions such as Chief Medical Officers, Directors of Medical Services, Heads of health authorities, Chief executives of hospitals and universities, Chief health officers of government jurisdictions and Consultants to governments and private sector health services. The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA) runs a 3-year training program in Medical Administration, available to registered doctors who have at least 3 years clinical experience. This advanced training program includes a master’s degree and leads to RACMA Fellowship and Specialist registration with AHPRA.
Registrars are registered doctors who have completed their medical degree and pre-vocational training (internship and residency/PGY2-3). They have attained general registration with AHPRA and can now undertake specialist/or vocational training positions to broaden and refine their scope of practice and gain experience, skills and competency in their chosen area of medicine. Registrars are very important members of the integrated and multi-disciplinary health care team. They have increasing responsibility for patient care, oversee and support junior doctors and staff, participate in professional development activities and continue to receive important guidance, training, and support from senior staff. They work in a range of primary, secondary, tertiary, clinical, laboratory and acute care settings, in hospitals, private practices and community clinics. Registered doctors at this level can further their career as Hospital Doctors or Career Medical Officers or pursue a medical specialty with further training and specialist registration. Registrars who want to pursue a career in Medical Administration can undertake RACMA advanced training in Medical Administration. They work under Specialist Medical Administrators and develop skills, expertise, and valuable work experience in this area of medicine and healthcare delivery.