TOPICS TO DISCUSS

Week Topics Sub Topics Method Page

1 Introduction Asking and answering Speaking 2
questions
2 Hospital What is hospital Reading, 7
administration administration, range of speaking
duties, administration sizes,
types of administrattors, etc.
3 Hospital What does hospital Reading,speaking 9
manager manager do?, etc.
4 Hospital Job, duties and Reading,speaking 11
administration responsibilities.
carreer
5 Organizational What is organizational Reading,speaking 14
structure structure, the example of
hospital organizational
structure, etc.
6 Vocabulary Vocabularies related Reading,speaking 16
hospital administration
7 Application Example of application Reading,speaking 18
letter letter sent to a hospital
8 Dialogue Example of a dialogue Reading,speaking 20
between the Mayor and
hospital director
9 Effective What is communication? Reading,speaking 22
communication Effective communication in
the hospital, etc.
10 Communication Ten communication skills Reading,speaking 24
skills for hospital staff, process of
communication.
11 Medical The most common tools in Reading,speaking 28
supplies and the hospital
tools
12 Visiting hours Visiting hours at the hospita Reading,speaking 30
13 Medical Medical specialists Reading,speaking 33
specialists
14 Listening Listening practice Listening 35
comprehension
Reference 38

English for hospital administration for internal use only page 1

WEEK 7 LETTER OF APPLICATION UNIT 7

Example of application letter

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing with regard to the advertisement of the hospital administrator vacancy posted
on www.careerlink.com on 22nd September. As an experienced
healthcare facility manager, I believe I am a strong candidate for the position.

Your advert specifies that you are looking for an experienced healthcare unit manager with
relevant background. I graduated from St. John’s University, Bradsfield, in 2002, where I
obtained a master’s degree in management. Afterwards I enrolled on an MBA course with
a specialization in Healthcare Management in order to broaden my knowledge. The course
took two years and it included topics such as healthcare policy, information management
in healthcare, economics and financial management.

Having been awarded the MBA in 2004, I began my career by doing an  internship at a
small medical practice in my hometown, which let me hone my professional skills. It lasted
12 months and as an assistant to the manager of the facility, I was responsible
for implementing procedures developed by my supervisor. Additionally I took part in
the recruitment process and assisted in job interviews held by the general manager.

After the internship I applied for the position of the manager of a hospice for children,
which I obtained after a three-stage interview. It was a very challenging but rewarding
occupation, due to the nature of the facility. My main management duties
included budgeting and fundraising for the facility, and as the financial means allocated
to the hospice by the state were insufficient, unfortunately I had to limit expenditure, which
proved to be a difficult task. In order to collect the means necessary to support the facility I
was in charge of, my team and I organized several events involving sporting activities as
well as auctions.

After 4 years in the position of the hospice general manager, I applied for a post of a
hospital administrator at Josephine General Hospital, a large facility with 12 departments,
which provides healthcare services to over 600 patients at a time. The main reason for
changing the job was that I believed I had enough expertise to manage a large unit and
further develop my skills. As the hospital administrator, I have to liaise with the medical
staff, heads of departments and the governing board. Moreover it is my task to assess
risk connected with financial decisions, mitigate conflicts that occur among staff members
and oversee the work of lower-level managers in charge of individual departments. I
also establish standards of practice and make sure all employees comply with them.

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As the contract I have with the hospital expires at the end of this month, I am looking for a
new facility where I could apply my expertise. I am confident I would make a valuable
employee at your healthcare unit thanks to my extensive professional credentials.
Moreover, I am hard-working, ambitious and able to work efficiently under pressure, which
is a vital quality in healthcare administration. I am a creative problem-solver and have
highly developed interpersonal skills, which allows me to motivate staff effectively and
communicate with people from various cultural backgrounds and educational levels. I am
well aware of the specificity of the job of a healthcare unit manager and am able to
work flexitime, including nights and weekends if such a necessity arises.

Should you find my application interesting, please contact me to arrange an interview. I am

mostly available in the afternoon, but am able to rearrange my schedule so as to come to
your facility at a time convenient to you.

I attach my up-to-date CV as well as references provided by my previous employers. I look

forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Stephen Bradley
Discussion Questions
1. What are the main duties of a hospital administrator?
2. What pros and cons of this job can you see?
3. Would you like to work as a hospital manager? Why/why not?
4. What position is availabel?
Source: Medical English. (Online, accessed dated 26 February 2019)
https://www.medicalenglish.com/unit/19/reading

WEEK 8 DIALOGUE UNIT 8

English for hospital administration for internal use only page 3

Example of a dialogue
A dialogue between the mayor and the hospital director
A: Mr Hecky, welcome to Blackwell Community Hospital. I am honored you decided to attend our
modest opening ceremony. Before we begin the tour of the facility, I would like to thank you for
your personal involvement and endeavors, which greatly contributed to the construction of the most
modern medical center in the region. We are also very grateful for...

B: Sorry to butt in, doctor, but I have a very busy schedule today and only came to see what so
much public money was spent on.

A: Ahem. I totally understand that, taking into account the fact that you yourself might end up being
an inpatient some day.

B: Get on with it, doctor. This is the east wing, right? What's that place over there, near the
entrance, with A&E sign flashing above? We only treat American and English citizens or what?

A: That's not quite right. A&E stands for Accidents & Emergency, which is a department where
patients come without prior notice.

B: So are they treated there and then go home?

A: Well, those who are not severely injured and whose life is not in danger, are asked to consult a
specialist at one of our clinics for a detailed diagnosis. Can you see a large sign saying 'Neurology'
on your right? Patients are sent there if it is suspected their condition is related to problems with
their nervous system. Opposite is a sign which says 'Cardiology', where patients suffering from
heart disorders are sent. At a clinic, patients may be given some medicine, which a doctor picks up
from the pharmacy at the end of the hall. We also have many patients who do not stay in the
hospital, but only come in for treatment. In such a case, we call them outpatients.

B: What about people after accidents or with serious conditions, you know, when an ambulance
brings them?

A: Well, they are taken upstairs, where we will go now. This is where patients with severe injuries
or diseases are transported. On your left you can see operating rooms, where surgeries are
performed.

B: Surgery? I heard that can be very painful.

A: As long as anesthetics are administered, a patient does not feel a thing.

B: Right. What about that room on right, with all that fancy equipment?

English for hospital administration for internal use only page 4

A: This is the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where patients with the most severe and life-threatening
injuries are provided care. Frequently, people who were involved in a traffic accident are taken
there.

B: How long do patients stay there?

A: It may be a few days or a couple of weeks, it depends on the severity of injuries. When their
condition improves, they are transported to a ward, where they remain until discharged.

B: Which means they are healthy and can go home?

A: Well, they can go home, but may need further treatment. Very often physiotherapy is necessary,
particularly in case of victims of accidents, to recover fully.

B: I understand. What about the west wing?

A: Let's go there. Originally that part of the building was a university hospital. Twenty years ago it
was adapted to serve as a psychiatric ward. Now its first floor addresses needs of female patients.
There is a gynecology clinic, a maternity ward and a neonatal unit, where newborn babies are
provided treatment if necessary.

B: What about the second floor?

A: The oncology ward is located there, where cancer patients are treated. As they often suffer from
agonizing pain, we located the palliative care there, which ...

B: I have to go, doctor. But I have one final question to you - if in the future I need some advice,
where do I go?

A: I am very sorry, Mr Hecky, but the funds that were available to us were not sufficient to build
the geriatrics ward. I am afraid it will have to be Stanton General, only 30 miles from here.
Discussion Questions
1. What are the typical departments usually found in each hospital?
2. Would you say that one department is more important than others? If so, which one and why?
3. Which department would you like to work in? Why?

Source: Medical English. (Online, accessed dated 26 February 2019)

https://www.medicalenglish.com/unit/3/reading

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