Medical Office Assistants – What Do They Do? (Pictures)

Medical office assistants are important members of the healthcare team. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the office running smoothly. If you’re thinking of becoming a medical office assistant, read on to learn more about what they do.

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Job Description

Medical office assistants are responsible for providing administrative and clerical support to physicians, nurse practitioners, and other medical staff. Duties can include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records billing insurance companies, and transcribing medical reports. They may also be responsible for stocking supplies and handling correspondence. Some medical office assistants specialize in areas such as insurance billing or coding, while others may provide care coordination or patient education.

Duties

The duties of a medical office assistant may vary depending on the size and type of healthcare facility in which they work. In a small clinic, they might be responsible for a variety of administrative tasks, while in a large hospital they might specialize in one particular area. In all cases, however, their goal is to make sure that the office runs smoothly and that patients are well taken care of.

Some of the duties of a medical office assistant include:
-Answering phone calls and directing them to the appropriate staff member
-Scheduling appointments
-Checking patients in and out
-Maintaining medical records
-Filing insurance forms
-Billing patients

Education and Training

Most medical office assistants have postsecondary education, although some have on-the-job training.

Most medical office assistants have postsecondary education, although some have on-the-job training. Many community colleges, vocational schools, and universities offer certificate, diploma, and degree programs in medical office assisting or a related field such as medical assisting or healthcare administration. These programs typically take one year or less to complete but may take up to two years if they are part of an Associate’s degree program. Admission requirements vary but may include a high school diploma or equivalent and passing scores on entrance exams.

During their education, medical office assistants take courses such as anatomy and physiology, medical billing and coding, administrative medical procedures, and computer applications in healthcare. Some programs also include an externship in which students gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting. After completing their education, many medical office assistants become certified. Although certification is not always required, it may improve job prospects and lead to higher wages.

Salary and Job Outlook

Medical office assistants, also known as Medical Administrative Assistants perform a variety of administrative tasks in medical offices and clinics. They may work in a small doctor’s office or in a large hospital. Medical office assistants typically do the following:
-Answer phones and take messages
-Schedule appointments
-Greet patients and collect personal information
-Update patient medical records
-Prepare patients for examination
-Assist the doctor during examination
-Take vital signs, such as blood pressure and Pulse oximetry readings process insurance forms
-Code and file insurance forms
-Handle billing keep track of laboratory results

Certification

There are many different types of medical office assistants, each with their own set of responsibilities. In order to become a certified medical office assistant, you will need to complete an accredited program and pass a certification exam.

Some of the duties you can expect to perform as a medical office assistant include schedule appointments, handling patient records, billing and coding insurance forms, and more.

Skills

Medical office assistants are multi-skilled health care professionals responsible for performing a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of doctors and other health care professionals in medical offices.

Some of the skills that medical office assistants need to perform their job duties effectively include:

-Strong communication skills
-Excellent organizational skills
-Detail oriented
-Ability to multitask
-Computer literacy

Working Conditions

MEOA’s typically work in doctor’s offices, clinics or other healthcare facilities. They may also work remotely, providing administrative support to healthcare professionals via email, telephone or video conferencing. Their work hours are generally regular and they typically work full time; however, some MEOAs may work part time or have flexible schedules.

Advancement Opportunities

One of the great things about medical office assistant positions is that they offer many opportunities for advancement.

With experience, medical office assistants may move up to positions with more responsibility, such as office manager or supervisor. Some may also choose to become a medical assistant, a position that requires more knowledge of medical procedures and terminology.

Those who are interested in working with patients may become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses. Others may decide to continue their education and become physicians or other types of healthcare providers.

Medical Office Assistant Job Titles

Medical office assistants are the professionnels who work to keep doctors’ offices, clinics and healthcare facilities running smoothly. Their duties can be both clinical and administrative, and their responsibilities vary from one job to the next. However, most medical office assistants have a few core duties that are common to many positions.

Some of the most common duties of medical office assistants include:
– Answering phones and routing calls
– Greeting patients and visitors
– Scheduling appointments
– updating and maintaining patient medical records
– billing and coding insurance forms
– preparing patients for examinations
– taking and recording vital signs
– administering basic treatments
– collecting lab specimens

Medical office assistants may also be responsible for more specialized tasks, such as handling medical transcription managing the office budget or ordering supplies. Some medical office assistants also work as certified nurse aides or Medical assistants which requires additional training.

Related Occupations

In addition to working as medical office assistants, there are a number of related occupations that might be of interest. These include:

-Medical billers and coders
-Medical transcriptionists
-Medical secretaries
–Medical records clerks
-Health information technicians
-Billing and coding specialists