414 2/2. Healthcare Administrators: Against All Odds?

Running head: HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATORS1
Healthcare Administrators: Against All Odds?
Student Name
College/University Affiliation
HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATORS

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Healthcare Administrators: Against All Odds?


In healthcare, administrators are central to streamlined and effective operations management. In contrast to frontline staff, e.g. clinicians and nurses, administrators are slightly detached from day-to-day operations and are required, by definition, to manage care facilities, units and/or departments. This paradox of insider knowledge and detachment administrators encounter is not a novelty and is, in fact, a fairly common paradox each and every manager faces in different organizations, including healthcare facilities. The role of a healthcare administrator is, however, unique in many ways and, as such, administrators face just as unique challenges and are influenced by unique social, systemic and/or structural influences. Socially, administrators are perceived, on one extreme side, as profit-driven and ruthless pursuers of performance enhancement at any cost to considerable effect on staff physical and psychological well-being and, on...