• THE JOB
• COMPENSATION
• REQUIREMENTS
• OCCUPATIONAL CODES
  
  

HOSPICE ADMINISTRATORS (ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL CAREERS)
California Occupational Guide Number 2002A (part)
Interest Area:  Emerging Occupations
1996

THE JOB  

Hospice Administrators manage the budget, patients, employees, volunteers, 
and hospice records.  Some administrators network with businesses, 
associations, government agencies, and other groups to acquire financial, 
legal, and community support for their programs.

Administrators are responsible for ensuring that their hospice program is in 
compliance with government rules and regulations.  For example, Title XVIII 
(Medicare) of the Social Security Act was enacted, limiting home health 
services to post-acute care and focusing on recuperative care rather than 
long-term maintenance care.  Administrators must be knowledgeable of all 
federal, state, and local laws governing hospice programs so that they 
operate the hospice legally.  They are also responsible for assuring that 
appropriate documents are sent to Medicare and insurance companies if the 
hospice is Medicare certified.

Hospice Administrators must be knowledgeable of licensing and certification 
processes for hospice programs.  Hospices are generally licensed as Home 
Health Agencies, but they may also be licensed as Congregate Living Health 
Facilities or Skilled Nursing Facilities.  However, if Senate Bill 1603 is 
passed, it will create a separate hospice licensing requirement.

Hospice Administrators oversee training for employees and volunteers.  They 
establish training policies for ensuring the proper care of their terminally 
ill patients.  To do that, administrators must be able to communicate 
effectively with terminally ill patients, their families and the hospice 
staff as well as maintain standards of practice for staff members.

COMPENSATION

Wage data are not available for Hospice Administrators.

REQUIREMENTS

Skills

  - Ability to create and maintain hospice's budget
  - Organize and coordinate hospice team members
  - Interact with many kinds of people 
  - Gather, interpret, use, and report data
  - Devise and evaluate procedures
  - Set goals to be accomplished
  - Have strong interpersonal skills

Training/Requirements

  - Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, or related 
    field
  - May be required to hold a Master's Degree
  - Usually requires 2 years of experience in health care field
  - May require 1 year of experience as an Administrator
  - Financial Managers should hold a Master's Degree in Business 
    Administration
  - Social Services Directors should hold a Master's Degree in Social Work
  - Nursing Directors should hold a Master's Degree in Nursing and a 
    California license
  - Medical Directors must be physicians certified in internal medicine or 
    family practice 

OCCUPATIONAL CODES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., Rev. 1)
  Not available for this occupation.
OES (Occupational Employment Survey (System)
  Not available for this occupation.

Source:  State of California, Employment Development Department,
         Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
         (916)  262-2162

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