What You Need to Know About Being a Medical Office Assistant
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Being a medical office assistant is a demanding but rewarding job. If you’re thinking of becoming a medical office assistant, here’s what you need to know.
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Job Description
A medical office assistant is a key member of any healthcare team. They are responsible for handling a variety of administrative tasks in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other medical facilities. Their duties can include everything from greeting patients and scheduling appointments to handling insurance paperwork and coding medical records
Medical office assistants must have strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask. They must also be able to maintain confidentiality and deal calmly with patients who may be experiencing stress or anxiety. excellent customer service skills are a must, as is the ability to work well with other members of the healthcare team.
Duties and Responsibilities
As a medical office assistant, you will be responsible for performing a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the staff of a healthcare facility. Your duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining Medical records handling billing and insurance claims, and assisting patients with questions or concerns. You will need to be able to work effectively under pressure and maintain a high level of confidentiality with regard to patient information. In addition, you must be able to work well as part of a team and maintain a positive attitude.
Skills and Qualifications
Most employers will require you to have a high school diploma, although some may prefer you to have taken some college courses related to the medical field. You will also need to be proficient in computers and various types of software, as well as have typing skills. In terms of personal qualities, you should be able to multi-task, be organized and have good people skills. One of the most important aspects of being a medical office assistant is being able to keep confidential information private.
Education and Training
Medical office assistants are responsible for performing a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. They may work directly with patients or behind the scenes to keep the office running smoothly.
Most medical office assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some jobs may require postsecondary education, such as an associate’s degree in medical office administration. Many medical office assistants also receive on-the-job training to learn specific skills, such as how to use electronic health records systems.
Salary and Job Outlook
In 2017, the median salary for medical office assistants was $35,830 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The top 10% of earners made more than $50,920 annually, while the bottom 10% earned less than $25,760.
The job outlook for medical office assistants is strong. The BLS projects that employment in this field will grow by 23% from 2016 to 2026 – much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is being driven by an increase in the number of medical offices and clinics as more people have access to health insurance
Working Conditions
Most medical office assistants work in well-lit, clean offices. They generally work a 40-hour week, although some may have evening or weekend hours. Many assistants and receptionists in small offices are responsible for opening and closing the office. Some medical office assistants may travel to off-site locations to perform their duties.
Career Paths
There are a number of ways to become a medical office assistant. You can learn on the job, through a formal training program, or by completing a medical office assistant course offered by a community college or vocational school.
The best way to become a medical office assistant is to have a combination of on-the-job training and formal education. Medical office assistants who have formal training generally have an advantage over those who do not when it comes to applying for jobs and getting promotions.
Certification
If you want to work as a medical office assistant, you will need to be certified. There are many different certification programs available, but the most popular is the Certified Medical Office Assistant (CMAA) program. To become certified, you will need to pass an exam and meet other requirements.
The CMAA program is offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA). To be eligible to take the exam, you must have completed a medical office assistant training program or have at least one year of experience working as a medical office assistant.
Job Opportunities
There are many opportunities available for medical office assistants. They may work in hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, or other healthcare settings. Some medical office assistants work for insurance companies or billing offices. Others may work for pharmaceutical companies or medical supply companies. With experience, some medical office assistants may advance to positions such as office manager, medical records administrator, or insurance billing manager.
Further Resources
After reading this guide, you should have a pretty good idea of whether or not becoming a medical office assistant is right for you. But, before making any final decisions, we highly recommend doing some additional research on your own.
Here are a few resources we recommend checking out:
-The American Association of Medical assistants provides comprehensive information on this profession, including job outlook data, salary information, and education requirements (https://www.aama-ntl.org/careers-in-medical-assisting/).
-MedicalOfficeAssistantEdu.org offers an overview of medical office assistant training programs and what you can expect to learn in each one (http://www.medicalofficeassistantedu.org/training/).
-The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides detailed information on job growth projections, wages, and working conditions for Medical Assistants nationwide (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-6).
