Yes, I Had to Google it

So I was talking to one of my co-workers, The Cake Lady, about my upcoming transition. She knows I'll be working in hospital administration, but she asked me exactly what that means. I told her I will be learning how to run a hospital. Again, she asked me what that meant. I was stumped. I've had people ask me exactly what this job is going to entail and I'll admit right now, that I have absolutely no idea!

I was in class last night and thought I should research this a bit. It's a statistical research class and it's held in a computer lab (making the Internet an all-too-accessible temptation). I googled "hospital administration" and came up with this:

"Doctors on television seem to lead exciting and fulfilling professional lives (their personal lives are disastrous in comparison, but that makes for good TV). There are many people that hear the call to save lives, but not all of them like cutting into people. The hospital administrator plays a vital role in saving lives, without having to take scalpel in hand."

The article went on to remind future hospital administrators that they will be asked to serve on "numerous boards and committees and attend professional conferences and networking opportunities." I think that's code for "I'll be sitting on my duff in a lot of meetings!" Just as the physician tends to the patient's medical condition, the administrator tends to the hospital's condition. Apparently, I'll also have to keep abreast of advances in medicine, advances in technology, quality assurance, morbidity and mortality, human resources, budgeting, and ethics. But hey, at least I found out what this job is going to entail!

I've always felt the call to save and serve people, but given my fear of blood and other projectile bodily fluids, wasn't sure how I would answer that call. Maybe this path will really turn out to be my calling in life. Who knew?