Published: 11th January 2022.
Written by Jodie Magrath
A Certificate III in Health Administration is a great way to advance your career in this rewarding sector. This course will give you the skills to work in a range of roles in hospitals, community health centres and private health care practices. You might be employed as a medical receptionist or practice manager, take on a role as an admissions clerk or ward clerk or work in a specialist health administration role such as a patient liaison officer. If you enjoy helping patients in an administrative role, this qualification can give you the skills you need to succeed.
The Certificate III in Health Administration addresses a range of subjects to prepare you for work in a range of health administration roles. You’ll learn what it takes to work and communicate in a health care setting and develop the ability to work with diverse groups of people. This course covers infection prevention and control procedures in a medical environment and looks at issues such as logistics and workplace health and safety. You’ll also learn to understand and apply various medical terminology.
A Certificate III in Health Administration is an ideal course of study for the following careers:
Medical Receptionist
A Medical Receptionist carries out a range of administrative tasks in a health care setting. You might answer phone calls, greet patients as they arrive and process payments or health insurance claims. Medical Receptionists respond to patient enquiries, update patient files and ensure paperwork is complete. You might schedule future appointments and liaise with healthcare staff when required.
Admissions Clerk
An Admissions Clerk conducts administration associated with patients checking in and out of a hospital stay. You’ll ensure all paperwork has been completed and may process payments and health insurance claims. Admissions Clerks make sure patient files are up to date and may answer any general enquiries from patients or family members.
Patient Liaison Officer
A Patient Liaison Officer acts as a contact point for patients during visits to a hospital or healthcare facility. You might support patients during their stay and answer any questions they have. Patient Liaison Officers provide patients with important information and deal with any issues that arise. You may also connect patients with relevant support services.
Higher education pathways
A Certificate III in Health Administration is an ideal way to start your career in medical administration. You may decide to specialise your skills with a Certificate III in Business (Medical Administration) or a Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting. You could also choose to further your studies with a Diploma of Practice Management or a Diploma of Clinical Coding.
If you want to take your studies further, you could enrol in a university degree such as a Bachelor of Health Services Management or a Bachelor of Health Information Management. This will extend your career opportunities and develop your knowledge of the health administration industry. A university degree may allow you to take on a position with more responsibility. You may be able to use a Certificate III in Health Administration as a pathway to these courses.
Getting started
If you’re thinking about enrolling in a Certificate III in Health Administration, it’s important to gather information from a range of providers. Course providers usually vary in the way they deliver their courses so you’ll need to find the qualification that best meets your needs. Make sure you find out about the duration of the course, costs, any prerequisites and the content the course will cover. Once you have all the information you can compare details and find the course that is best for you.