What You Need to Know About Getting a Medical Administrative Assistant Degree
Contents
- What is a medical administrative assistant?
- What are the duties of a medical administrative assistant?
- What are the educational requirements for becoming a medical administrative assistant?
- What are the skills required to be a successful medical administrative assistant?
- What are the job prospects for medical administrative assistants?
- What is the average salary for medical administrative assistants?
- What are the benefits of becoming a medical administrative assistant?
- What are the challenges of being a medical administrative assistant?
- What are the best things about being a medical administrative assistant?
- What are the worst things about being a medical administrative assistant?
Medical administrative assistant positions are in high demand. If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in this field, you’ll need to know what kind of education you’ll need to get started. Here’s what you need to know about getting a medical administrative assistant degree.
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What is a medical administrative assistant?
A medical administrative assistant is a professional who provides support to medical staff and patients in a variety of ways. They may be responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records billing and coding insurance forms, and handling other office tasks. Many Medical Administrative Assistants work in hospitals, but they may also work in private practices, clinics, or other healthcare settings.
To become a medical administrative assistant, you will need to complete a training program that lasts anywhere from six to twelve months. During your training, you will learn how to perform the duties of a medical administrative assistant and gain the skills you need to succeed in this career. Once you have completed your training, you will be ready to begin your career in this growing field.
What are the duties of a medical administrative assistant?
Most medical administrative assistants work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, or other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary depending on the size and type of facility they work in. Most medical administrative assistants perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering phones, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, preparing patient Medical records and billing.
Some medical administrative assistants also may perform clinical tasks, such as taking patients’ vital signs or drawing blood. In larger facilities, medical administrative assistants may specialize in a specific area, such as insurance billing or medical transcription
Medical administrative assistants must be detail oriented and able to multitask. They must have strong interpersonal skills to deal with a variety of people, including patients, families, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. They also must be able to handle confidential information discreetly and effectively.
What are the educational requirements for becoming a medical administrative assistant?
There are several educational paths you can take to become a medical administrative assistant. You can earn a certificate, diploma, or associate degree from a variety of community colleges, technical schools, and online education programs.
Most Employers will prefer candidates who have an associate degree in medical administration or a related field. An Associate’s degree program will typically take two years to complete and will offer more comprehensive training in medical office procedures than a certificate or diploma program.
Medical administrative assistants typically need to have good computer skills and be proficient in office software applications such as Microsoft Office. Some employers may also require medical administrative assistants to be certified through organizations such as the National Association of Healthcare Administrative Professionals or the American Association of Medical assistants
What are the skills required to be a successful medical administrative assistant?
The skills required to be a successful medical administrative assistant may vary depending on the employer, but there are some essential skills that all medical administrative assistants should possess. These include strong communication and interpersonal skills, excellent organizational and time management skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. Medical administrative assistants must also have a strong knowledge of Medical Terminology and be proficient in computer applications.
What are the job prospects for medical administrative assistants?
Medical administrative assistant programs prepare students to work in a variety of medical settings, performing administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, handling patient records and billing insurance companies. With an aging Baby Boomer population and an increased demand for healthcare services, the job prospects for medical administrative assistants are expected to be good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical secretaries is projected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.
What is the average salary for medical administrative assistants?
The average salary for medical administrative assistants is $35,000 per year. Medical administrative assistants typically work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and managing medical records
What are the benefits of becoming a medical administrative assistant?
The medical administrative assistant degree is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform a variety of tasks in a medical office setting. Students who complete this degree program will be able to work in a variety of medical office settings, including hospitals, clinics, and physician’s offices.
Medical administrative assistants are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a medical office. They may be responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing patients, and handling insurance claims. In addition, medical administrative assistants may also be responsible for assisting physicians with patient care.
Individuals who complete the medical administrative assistant degree program will be prepared to sit for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) examination. The CMAA is a nationally recognized credential that can be beneficial when seeking employment as a medical administrative assistant.
What are the challenges of being a medical administrative assistant?
There can be some challenges associated with being a medical administrative assistant. These challenges may include working long hours, dealing with difficult patients, and having a high level of responsibility. However, these challenges can be offset by the rewards of helping others and making a difference in the medical field.
What are the best things about being a medical administrative assistant?
One of the best things about being a medical administrative assistant is that it is a field that is in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for medical administrative assistants is expected to grow by 29% from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
As the population continues to age, there will be an increasing need for healthcare services, and medical administrative assistants will be needed to help manage the administrative tasks associated with this increase in demand. In addition, as more and more insurance companies require patients to see primary care physicians before seeing specialists, there will be an increased need for medical administrative assistants who can help schedule and coordinate patient appointments.
Another great thing about being a medical administrative assistant is that it is a field that offers a lot of opportunity for upward mobility. Many medical administrative assistants start out working in entry-level positions, but as they gain experience and prove their worth to their employer, they often have the opportunity to move into higher-level positions with more responsibility. In addition, many medical administrative assistants eventually choose to go back to school and get a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or another related field, which can lead to even more career opportunities.
What are the worst things about being a medical administrative assistant?
There can be some downsides to working as a medical administrative assistant. The job can be challenging and demanding, and it may sometimes be difficult to keep up with the pace. Additionally, there is a lot of important information to keep track of, and sometimes it can be overwhelming.