Healthcare Administration vs. Public Health | George Koveos | Healthcare
Both healthcare administrators and public health workers improve the quality of care, but the scope of a public health worker’s responsibilities is broader.
Healthcare administrators are concerned with the internal operations of a hospital or network. They concentrate on day-to-day operations such as finances, patient care, staffing, and quality control. They have a direct impact on how well a healthcare organization performs.
On the other hand, public health professionals are concerned with a community’s overall health and how it can be improved. They have a greater impact on the population than healthcare administrators. Because public health professionals work in medical facilities, they must understand how each department operates and collaborate to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Community education and awareness are also responsibilities of public health workers. They educate the public on disease prevention and how to reduce their own risk of injury or illness. They also teach people how to live healthier lives. This includes encouraging them to eat healthy foods, exercise regularly, and refrain from risky behaviors such as smoking or drug use.
Public health workers play an important role in the community. They must improve the quality of life for all residents, not just those who work in medical facilities. Public health professionals are in charge of a community’s and its people’s overall health, whereas healthcare administrators are in charge of a healthcare facility’s day-to-day operations.
The field of public health is vast. Public health professionals are in charge of everything from disease prevention to the promotion of healthy lifestyles and behaviors. They educate and inform the public through formal education as well as community outreach and awareness.
Healthcare administration skills differ from public health skills. Healthcare administrators must understand the operations of their specific locations. They must understand how to manage their facilities and employees, including budgets and payroll.
Public health professionals know a lot more about the community in which they work and the people they serve than most. They must be able to communicate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds because they are responsible for educating everyone in the community.
Healthcare administration vs. public health is a decision that many people must make when deciding on a career path. The two professions share many similarities, but some significant differences set them apart.
Originally published at https://georgekoveos.net on August 4, 2022.