AFRO-NETS> RFI: Hospital Administrator's Job Description (3)

[Jane Shaw <hssjes@hyde1.leeds.ac.uk>]

RFI: Hospital Administrator's Job Description (3)
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You don't say what sort of hospital (Government/mission/not for 
profit/for profit) and this makes a difference. You also don't say 
whether the administrator is the Chief Executive reporting to a 
Board, an assistant manager reporting to a Medical Director, or in 
some other relationship. (In some countries the failure to take ac-
count of the Medical Superintendent's role has made the Hospital Ad-
ministrator's job description unworkable.)

If you can access a copy of Pearson's book "Medical Administration 
for Front Line doctors" you will find some useful advice in chapters 
1 and 2. In summary you need to consider:

Leadership role: The administrator's place in the top management 
group and his/her share of corporate responsibility for the smooth 
functioning of the hospital systems, for external relations and for 
hospital morale

Relationships: The administrator will not only be accountable to a 
Board or Director and have others accountable to him/her, but will 
also have co-ordinating, monitoring or liaising responsibilities in 
relation to other bodies or functions, which need to be identified.

Specific responsibilities: These may include: finance and accounting, 
clerical and office systems and record-keeping, committee support, 
maintenance and works staff, cleaning catering and other hotel func-
tions; staff management including staff consultation, disciplinary 
matters and staff development; supplies and materials procurement; 
and supervision of systems such as waste disposal, infection control, 
risk management; capital planning and developments; completion of 
statutory, statistical and annual reports - you will really have to 
pick out what is relevant for your purpose.

Authority and limits of authority: Howard Lyons has already covered 
this in his helpful reply.

These suggestions should get you started, but I am very happy to dis-
cuss your needs further if that would be helpful.

With best wishes

Jane Shaw
Senior Fellow in Health and Hospital Management
International Development Group
Nuffield Institute for Health
71-75 Clarendon Road
Leeds LS2 9PL, UK
Tel: +44-113-343-4857 
Fax: +44-113-343-6997
mailto:J.E.Shaw@leeds.ac.uk
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/nuffield/id/

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