Healthcare administration can either be in healthcare management or public health, both of which are exceptionally challenging fields. Not only is the work demanding and draining, but you are also faced with various ethical considerations as a healthcare administrator, which affect your decision-making process.
Among these delicate, sensitive matters, here are some of the most significant ethical problems you can prepare for by applying for and obtaining a healthcare administration bachelor’s degree online:
Difficult financial decisions and choices
Healthcare managers are tasked with managing financial decisions and choices in hospitals and other healthcare settings. While the process does have a sense of objectivity, it is up to their ethical and moral decision-making skills to make these difficult fiscal decisions.
Some examples of difficult choices include prioritizing hospital needs over staff requirements and demands, which can be difficult, especially on employee morale and burnout.
Upholding and maintaining patient confidentiality
Healthcare administrators (including healthcare managers and public health professionals) are bound by a strict code of ethics regarding patient privacy and confidentiality. They cannot violate regulatory standards such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA), which outline when, where, and how patient data can be used and shared, why protecting their privacy is essential, and other details. Most healthcare administrators are responsible for maintaining records, privacy, and security and for any violations or data breaches.
Insuring patient care is a priority at all times
Both private and public healthcare setups are prone to pushing patient care to the bottom of their priority list, a major pitfall in service delivery. This can be attributed to various factors, including a lack of resources and being underfunded, problems with insurance, and stakeholder intervention.
Given that many pharmaceuticals, manufacturers, and donors contribute to hospital funding, it is no surprise that many hospital staff members may feel obliged to push their products and services at the expense of patient care. It’s a tough decision, but one that healthcare administrators must make ethical considerations for and decide how to ensure quality care alongside sponsorships, sales requirements and quotas, and donation terms.
Fairly handling legal and public image issues
Healthcare setups are familiar with various legal and PR issues, including malpractice suits, campaigns, and other cases. Your ethical considerations as a healthcare administrator should factor in the merit in these cases while maintaining a humble, compliant, and transparent public image for the hospital. You may be the public representative for the facility, making it very difficult to remain objective, which is why it’s all the more important.
Through our online undergraduate degree programs, you get to learn key skills that help you deal with these challenges head-on during your career in health administration. Apply for an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration to get started on your professional training and education and learn core principles, practices, and more.
To know more about our completely online accredited university, reach out to our team for more detailed feedback and information. You can also get more details about the tuition and financial aid we offer here.