Introduction
The following essay is on professional networks and the role that they play in one’s career path. The essay will look into the professional career path of a healthcare administrator and the professional networks that healthcare administrators need to join.
The essay will discuss the role of professional bodies and reasons for one to join the professional networks. The other part of this essay will look into the ways in which the professional networks maintain their members and the kind of activities they have for their members as well as the advantages that accrue to member’s participation.
Purpose of Professional Networks
Professional networks play an important part in the career development of the members in many ways. They provide a platform for the members to interact with each other. Professional networks make it easier for the professionals in that network to identify new trends in their field and new employment opportunities with better rewards. For a starter professional they provide an opportunity to work in (Tulenko, 2009).
Other than networking and informing the members of new opportunities in their field, the professional bodies provide continuing education for their members. These are important to the members to ensure that they are up to date with the dynamic field. Opportunities of continuing education keep the members abreast with new trends and education requirements of their career.
At a time when downsizing due to integration of technology in work places is the order of the day, the professional networks provide training opportunities for their members such that they are at par with the technological changes (Turban, 2008).
The certifications offered by the professional bodies assist individual who possesses them, as they are an added advantage. In most of the job opportunities, membership to a professional body is usually a requirement (Weare, 2007).
The professional bodies act as internal regulators of the professional practices. They stipulate and enforce professional ethics. They formulate and enforce code of ethics that members should ascribe. They have panel and disciplinary actions against those who do not follow the stipulated measures in their career practice. This enables them to protect their members from external intrusion by other members of the society during their profession (Weare, 2007).
Importance of Professional Networks in Healthcare Administration
As a healthcare administrator, there are professional bodies that one may join to have a network of like-minded professionals. The first one is the Association of Medical Practitioners. Due to the managerial work done by the healthcare administrator joining a professional body that deals with healthcare managerial activities would update the administrator. Therefore, the need to create well-oriented network is imperative in development of one’s career (Turban, 2008).
The professional body of healthcare administration offers the healthcare administrator knowledge on the current trends in healthcare administration. It also provides training opportunities for the healthcare professionals to keep up to date with the ever-evolving technology. The professional networks provide opportunities for the administrators to hire new people in the organizations as well as informing the professionals on the code of ethics to follow during the professional practice (Weare, 2007).
Professional Network Activities
The Association of Medical Practitioners engages in many activities to promote the organization and provide an opportunity for members to join the network. The first common activity that professional bodies engage in is that of providing conferences to the members where they bring together professionals in the field to participate in discussions and networking activities.
This enables the members to increase their professional contacts. Professional conferences act as training opportunities for the members and at ordinary times such opportunities are expensive but professional bodies offer them at subsidized costs (Tulenko, 2009).
The professional body in healthcare management should also participate in Corporate Social Responsibilities such as sponsoring healthcare related charity works. This offers the association publicity and provides an opportunity for the healthcare professionals to network as they participate in the corporate social responsibilities of the organization (Weare, 2007).
The healthcare professional body should also have online community networks for the members to share their ideas and challenges through the social networks such as Twitter and the LinkedIn. Participating in discussion in those forums keeps the members informed. It also offers an opportunity for identifying the challenges that healthcare professionals go through and methods of tackling them (Turban, 2008).
The healthcare in the professional body must be active in participating in the public discourse on the healthcare administration and professional issues affecting the practice of healthcare administration. They body must participate in formulation of policies that affect the healthcare issues (Tulenko, 2009).
The body must provide certifications to the members of the healthcare administration body after they participate in training and other professional activities of the professional network (Weare, 2007).
Conclusion
Participation in a healthcare professional network is imperative in ensuring that the members receive positive results. The contacts offered to the network members, the training, and the certifications offered by the professional network enable the members to thrive in their career.
References
Tulenko, J. (2009). Framework and measurement issues for monitoring entry into the health workforce. Handbook on monitoring and evaluation of human resources for health. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Turban, D. (2008). Information technology for management: Transforming organizations in the digital economy. Massachusetts: John Wiley & Sons.
Weare, K. (2007). promoting mental, emotional and social health: A whole school approach. London: Routledge Falmer.