What Does a Medical Administrative Assistant Do?

A medical administrative assistant is a vital part of any healthcare team. They provide support to doctors and other medical staff, and help to keep the office running smoothly. If you’re thinking of becoming a medical administrative assistant, or are already working in this field, read on to learn more about what this job entails.

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Job Description

A medical administrative assistant is a vital part of any healthcare team. They are responsible for ensuring that the administrative and clerical work in a medical office runs smoothly. This can include tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records billing and coding insurance forms, and answering patient questions. A successful medical administrative assistant must be able to multitask and be detail oriented. They must also have excellent communication and customer service skills.

Duties

Medical Administrative Assistants work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, and insurance companies. They are responsible for a wide range of clerical and administrative duties.

Some of the duties of a medical administrative assistant include answering phones, filing Medical records scheduling appointments, and handling billing and insurance paperwork. They may also be responsible for greeting patients and providing them with information about the practice.

In larger facilities, Medical administrative assistants may specialize in a particular area, such as billing or insurance. In smaller practices, they may be responsible for all aspects of the office’s operations.

Skills

Medical administrative assistants are vital members of any healthcare team. They are responsible for keeping the medical office organized and running smoothly. In order to do this, they need to have strong administrative and organizational skills. They must be able to juggle multiple tasks at once and remain calm under pressure.

In addition to administrative skills, medical administrative assistants need to have excellent customer service skills. They are often the first point of contact for patients, so it is important that they be able to communicate effectively and answer any questions that patients may have. They should also be comfortable using computers and various medical software programs.

Salary

A medical administrative assistant, also known as a medical office secretary, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a medical office. Their duties include answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, preparing patient files, billing and coding insurance forms, and handling correspondence. A medical administrative assistant may also be responsible for ordering supplies and maintaining equipment.

The salary of a medical administrative assistant depends on their experience and education. The median salary for a medical administrative assistant is $35,000 per year.

Education

Education for a medical administrative assistant typically requires completing a postsecondary certificate or diploma program at a vocational school, community college, or healthcare facility. Some programs may offer an Associate’s degree in medical office administration. These programs generally last 1-2 years and cover topics such as medical billing and coding, transcription, office procedures, and computer applications. Many programs also include an externship component in order to give students the opportunity to gain real-world experience.

Training

To become a medical administrative assistant, you will need to complete a training program. These programs are typically offered at community colleges and technical schools. They can take anywhere from a few months to a year to complete. During your training, you will learn about medical office procedures, filing systems, billing and coding, and appointment scheduling. You will also get hands-on experience with medical software programs.

Certification

There are many different types of medical administrative assistant certification programs available, but most of them will require you to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may also require you to have some previous work experience in a medical office. certification programs typically take between six and twelve months to complete and include both classroom and hands-on training. Upon completion, you will be prepared to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam administered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

Job Outlook

The job outlook for medical administrative assistants is positive. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in this occupation will grow by 23 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to the increasing need for medical services as the population ages.

Advancement Opportunities

There are many opportunities for advancement for medical administrative assistants. With experience, they may move into supervisory or management positions within their organization. Some may also open their own medical administrative assistance businesses. With additional training, they may transition into related occupations such as medical billing and coding or become a certified medical transcriptionist

Work Environment

Most medical administrative assistants work in healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and physician’s offices. Some administrative assistants may work in corporate settings or for insurance companies, claims processing firms, or transcription services.