Administrator

Assisted living administrators' national average salary was $71,272 in 2010, according to the new 2010-2011 Assisted Living Salary & Benefits Report. Assisted living directors of nursing, meanwhile, had an average salary of $63,571. Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service and LeadingAge (formerly AAHSA) formally issued the report, with support from the National Center for Assisted Living.

A new seven-member watchdog panel in Indiana will review the state board responsible for reviewing and regulating nursing home administrators.

Creating an independent contractor position gives nursing home administrators a stronger sense of ownership over their facilities.

Long-term care administrators feel pressure from competing quality initiatives, says Marianna Grachek, president and CEO of the American College of Health Care Administrators.

The Joint Commission recently emphasized the need for more involvement from healthcare administrators, executives and trustees in preventing medical errors. It also recommended using successful methods from other industries to improve quality in healthcare.