BEING A HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATOR

“Health care administration is a broad field. As an Administrator, I make it a point of showing each employee that I am committed to the organization. I am known for listening empathetically and stepping beyond the customary comfort zones to meet patient’s needs. Whether working with physicians, nurses, ancillary service personnel or managers, one of my top priorities is fostering and maintaining an inviting atmosphere. Consequently, administrators have a wide range of duties. We ensure good communication between medical staff, administration, committees and departments. Administrators create a smooth running organization with well-planned departments, such as nursing, human resources, food service, housekeeping, and maintenance. We also develop policies, plan budgets, coordinate space, and plan future expansions. We are responsible for the institution’s resources and sound financial standing.

On May 2002, I was named as the Chief Executive Officer of the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, a 189-bed acute facility located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The system also includes the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center on the Island of St. John. Over the past five months, I have been working on the development of a “World-Class” Cancer center, as well as, conducting extensive staff training in preparation for our upcoming Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) survey. This new role represents an exciting new challenge in my career. I have an opportunity to lead an organization that has major interest both nationally and internationally. My vision for the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital is to become the health care provider of choice for all patients throughout the Caribbean Islands.

At the age of 18, I joined the U.S. Navy hoping to continue to receive job training skills in the medical field. Essentially, my career has been built on a two-pronged approach: taking on much more responsibility than the average person and cultivating strategic relationships. I earned a coveted slot at the Naval School of Dental and Medical Assistant Technology. Upon completing my studies, I was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, as a clinical assistant in the medical and dental center. After a year’s time, though, it became evident that my calling was in healthcare administration.

After filling a few minor supervisory roles, I caught the attention of the center’s leaders, who soon encouraged me to enroll in Park College to earn an undergraduate degree in healthcare management. Consequently, while attending college, I was promoted to the position of medical and dental practice administrator.

In 1996, I was selected for a three-month internship with the Central Georgia Health System, a 518 bed tertiary hospital in Macon, Georgia. Having already proven myself to be executive material while in the Navy, I was given very challenging assignments immediately. At the close of the internship I was named as director of paramedical services for Central Georgia’s CareSouth Homecare Professionals. Married just two months after my internship began, I welcomed the permanent position as an avenue to anchor both my family and my career.

Less than a year into the job, I stepped up my service to the organization when the administrator of cardiovascular services resigned. While continuing my duties as director of business development, I assumed the administrator’s post on an interim basis in November 2000. Officially on record as departmental administrator as of January 2001, I faced one of the most challenging quarters in the history of Memorial Health’s cardiovascular product line. The hospital had to deal with major physician loyalty issues and performance was significantly down. Therefore, I was charged with rebuilding while managing the institution’s largest book of business–with an operational budget exceeding $70 million.

My goal was to build one of the most well-respected cardiovascular programs in the country and have Memorial recognized as a Top 100 cardiovascular hospital. I am proud to say I have achieved that goal, Memorial Health University Medical Center was recently named as one of Solucient’s, Top 100 Heart Hospitals.”

Rodney Earl Miller has referred to his beginnings in HOSA in several of the newspaper articles that have been written about him. He credits his teacher, Mrs. Linda Montgomery, for believing in him and giving him a chance to be successful when no one else would.

HOSA INVOLVEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1988-90 Brenham HOSA, TX
• 1989 HOSA State Conference Voting Delegate
• 1990 TX HOSA Area II Conference competitor in First Aid/CPR, HOSA Bowl, and Health Career Poster
• 1990 Area Conference champion – Health Career Poster
• 1990 State Conference competitor – Health Career Poster
• 2001 Distinguished Service Award from Georgia HOSA
• 2001 Judge, 2001 HOSA National Leadership Conference

EDUCATION

• 1990 Brenham High School
• 1997 Park College, Parkville, MO, BS in Health Care Management
• 1999 Central Michigan University, MS in Administration, Concentration in Health Care Administration
• 1996 Medical Center of Central Georgia, Administrative Residency

HONORS

• 2000 Received the American College of Healthcare Executives, Early Career Executive Award for Georgia,
• 2001 Recognized as one of the 40 under 40 business in Georgia by Georgia Trend magazine.
• 2001 Recognized as one of Ebony magazine's, 30 Leaders of the Future.
• 2002 Recognized as one of the 40 under 40 leaders in Coastal Empire, (Savannah, GA).
• 2002 Recognized nationally as one of 13 up and coming healthcare leaders under 40 by Modern Healthcare magazine.
• 2002 Received the National Association of Health Services Executives, Young Healthcare Executive of the Year Award.

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

• American College of Healthcare Executives, (Editorial Board, Healthcare Executive Magazine)
• National Association of Health Services Executive (Parliamentarian)
• American Hospital Association, (Committee On Volunteers)
• Institute for Diversity in Health Management Alumni Association (President).
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HUMAN SERVICES PLANNER, HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST, AND/OR AGING SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Additional career information is available from these sources:

ThinkQuest-Health Care Administrator
http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/car1bha3.html

American College of Healthcare Executives
Suite 1700
One North Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60606-3491
Phone: (312) 424-2800
Fax: (312) 424-0023
http://www.ache.org/

National Association of Health Service Executives
NAHSE National Office
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 126
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (202) 628-3953
Fax: (301) 588-0011
http://www.nahse.org/