What to Expect in a Medical Administrative Assistant Job Description
Contents
If you’re considering a career as a medical administrative assistant, you’re probably wondering what the job entails. Here’s a look at what you can expect in a typical medical administrative assistant job description.
Checkout this video:
Job responsibilities
While the medical administrative assistant job description will vary by employer, there are certain responsibilities that are common to most positions. These include:
• Answering phones and directing calls
• Scheduling appointments
• Checking patients in and out
• Filing insurance paperwork
• Maintaining medical records
• Bookkeeping and billing
• Transcribing dictation
• Assisting with office administration tasks as needed
Qualifications
Qualifications for medical administrative assistant positions vary depending on the employer, but most employers require candidates to have at least a high school diploma and some relevant work experience. Some employers may prefer candidates who have completed a medical administrative assistant training program offered by a community college or technical school. Additionally, many employers require Medical Administrative Assistants to be proficient in using computer applications, such as word processing and spreadsheet programs, and to have good communication and customer service skills. Some employers may also require medical administrative assistants to be certified by a professional organization, such as the American Association of Medical assistants or the National Healthcare Association.
Key skills
Prospective students searching for Key Skills for a Medical Administrative Assistant found the following related articles, links, and information useful.
A medical administrative assistant is responsible for a variety of clinical and clerical tasks in a healthcare setting. As a medical administrative assistant, you may be responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records billing and coding insurance forms, and handling correspondence. You may also be responsible for managing the office, handling budget concerns, and purchasing supplies. In some cases, you may also provide direct patient care, such as taking medical histories or measuring vital signs.
To succeed in this role, you will need to have excellent customer service skills to deal with patients and their families. You should also be able to handle confidential information with discretion and maintain a high level of accuracy in your work. excellent time management skills to juggle multiple tasks at once. Medical administrative assistants must have basic computer skills and knowledge of office equipment, as well as experience with Medical Terminology and record-keeping systems. Some colleges offer associate’s degree programs in medical office administration that can provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge for this career.
Work environment
Medical administrative assistants work in a variety of settings, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics and health insurance companies. They typically work Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Some positions may require working evenings or weekends.
Salary and job outlook
Medical administrative assistants, also called medical secretaries, perform clerical and secretarial duties in doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. They typically work during regular business hours, although some positions may require evenings or weekends. Most medical administrative assistants have an associate’s degree or postsecondary certificate, although some jobs may only require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Medical administrative assistants typically need to be able to type at least 40 words per minute and have knowledge of medical terminology and office procedures. Many employers also prefer candidates who have experience with electronic health records (EHRs) and customer service.
The median annual salary for medical administrative assistants was $35,760 in May 2019, which means that half of all medical administrative assistants earned less than this amount and half earned more. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,840, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,620.
Career path
Medical administrative assistants are in charge of performing a variety of duties in a medical office. They may be responsible for scheduling appointments, managing Medical records billing patients, and handling correspondence. Some medical administrative assistants may also be responsible for providing secretarial support to the office staff.
Most medical administrative assistant positions require at least a high school diploma, although some employers may prefer candidates who have completed a postsecondary training program in medical office administration. Many community colleges offer such programs, which typically last one year.
Education and training
Most medical administrative assistant job descriptions will require at least a high school diploma, although some may require postsecondary education, and most will require on-the-job training. Many medical administrative assistants have completed a formal training program, which typically lasts between one and two years and results in a certificate or diploma. Some community colleges offer medical administrative assistant programs, as do some vocational schools, private trade schools, and online colleges and universities.
Certification
One of the most important requirements for a medical administrative assistant is certification. There are many different options for certification, but the most popular and widely recognized is the Certification of Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAA). The CMAA is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and requires candidates to pass a rigorous exam. Candidates who successfully earn their CMAA are required to renew their certification every five years.
Job search tips
As you begin your job search, you may be wondering what to expect in a medical administrative assistant job description. Here are some tips to help you identify the key duties and responsibilities of this position:
1. Look for medical administrative assistant job postings that list specific responsibilities. These may include tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling patients’ medical records and billing insurance companies.
2. Pay attention to the required qualifications listed in each job posting. Medical administrative assistants typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent, although some jobs may require postsecondary education or training.
3. Be prepared to show employers that you have the necessary skills for the job. In addition to good customer service skills, medical administrative assistants should be able to type accurately and use computers confidently.
4. Finally, remember that a positive attitude and a professional appearance are just as important as your technical skills when it comes to landing a medical administrative assistant job.
FAQs
-What is a medical administrative assistant?
A medical administrative assistant is a person who provides clerical and administrative support to a healthcare facility.
-What are the duties of a medical administrative assistant?
The duties of a medical administrative assistant include answering phones, scheduling appointments, filing insurance forms, and maintaining medical records.
-What skills are needed to be a medical administrative assistant?
Some basic skills that are needed to be a medical administrative assistant include good communication skills, computer skills, and organizational skills.