What Does a Medical Office Assistant Do?

A medical office assistant is a professional who performs a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in a doctor’s office.

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Job Description

A medical office assistant supports the day-to-day operations of a medical facility. Duties can include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, handling billing and insurance paperwork, maintaining medical records and providing administrative support to doctors and other medical staff.

Education requirements for medical office assistants vary by employer, but most positions at least require a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may prefer candidates with postsecondary education or training in medical office administration or a related field. Many medical office assistants receive on-the-job training to learn specific software or billing systems.

Medical office assistants must have strong communications and customer service skills to interact with patients and other staff members. They must also be detail oriented and organized to handle the administrative tasks associated with the job.

Duties

Duties of a medical office assistant may vary slightly from one employer to another, but there are some core duties that are common to most workplaces.

-Answering patient inquiries and routing calls
-Scheduling appointments
-Updating and filing patient medical records
-Preparing patients for examination
-Taking patient histories and vital signs
-Assisting with minor medical procedures
-Arranging for laboratory tests and X-rays
-Helping to organize the office and keep it running smoothly

Skills

In order to be a good medical office assistant, you need to have certain skills. These include:
-Being able to type fast and accurately
-Being proficient in using Microsoft Office applications
-Having excellent customer service skills
-Being able to handle a variety of tasks at once
– Having good organizational skills
– Being able to multitask

Salary

Medical office assistants are in charge of a variety of administrative tasks in healthcare facilities. Their duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining Medical records billing patients, and handling insurance claims. They typically report to a medical office manager or a healthcare provider.

Medical office assistants are usually required to have at least a high school diploma, although some positions may require postsecondary education or certification. Many medical office assistants have previous experience working in a healthcare setting.

The median annual salary for medical office assistants was $34,800 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The top 10 percent of earners made more than $50,160, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $24,980.

Education

The education for a medical office assistant usually consists of a certificate or diploma from an accredited program, which takes about one year to complete. Many community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools offer these programs. Some online programs are also available.

Certification

In order to work as a medical office assistant, certification is not required in all states, but many employers prefer candidates who have completed a postsecondary education program and/or have received certification from a professional organization such as the Association of Medical assistants (AAMA). Some states have certification programs for medical assistants. Certification generally requires the completion of an accredited medical assistant program and passing an exam.

Career Outlook

medical office assistants, or MOAs, are responsible for a variety of administrative duties in healthcare settings. They play an important role in keeping medical offices running smoothly and keeping patients and staff organized and informed.

The career outlook for MOAs is positive, with an expected job growth of 23% from 2016 to 2026.* This is much faster than the average for all occupations, so now is a great time to consider becoming an MOA.

There are many reasons why the demand for MOAs is growing. One reason is an aging population that needs more medical care. Another reason is the increasing number of women in the workforce who needChildcareand other assistance to balance their work and family responsibilities. And as more people have health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act they are using more medical services, which creates more jobs for MOAs.

If you’re interested in a career as an MOA, you can find programs at community colleges, technical colleges, and some universities. Most programs take about one year to complete and offer both classroom and clinical instruction. After completing a program, you can earn certification from organizations such as the National Healthcare Association or the American Association of Medical Assistants. Having certification can improve your job prospects and earnings potential.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [Medical Assistants](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm), on the Internet at [https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants#tab-6) (visited January 24, 2019).

FAQs

Q: What does a medical office assistant do?
A: A medical office assistant is a healthcare professional who provides administrative and clerical support to a healthcare facility. They are responsible for tasks such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records and billing patients.

Q: What are the duties of a medical office assistant?
A: The duties of a medical office assistant vary depending on the size and type of healthcare facility they work in. However, some common duties include answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and billing patients.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a medical office assistant?
A: To be a medical office assistant, you will need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. However, many employers prefer candidates who have completed an accredited medical office assistant program.

10 Reasons to Become a Medical Office Assistant

Medical office assistants are in high demand. They are the front line of the healthcare industry, and they play a vital role in keeping the medical office running efficiently. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider becoming a medical office assistant:

1. Medical office assistants are in high demand. There is a shortage of qualified medical office assistants, and the demand is only expected to grow.

2. Medical office assistants play a vital role in the healthcare industry. They are the front line of the medical office and are responsible for keeping the office running smoothly.

3. Medical office assistants are trained to handle a variety of tasks. They can work in many different areas of the medical office, including reception, billing, insurance, and patient scheduling.

4. Medical office assistants have excellent job security. Once you have been trained and certified, you will be able to find a job in any number of medical offices or clinics.

5. Medical office assistants make a good salary. The median salary for medical office assistants is $35,000 per year, and those with experience can earn even more.

6. Medical offices are usually located near hospitals or other healthcare facilities. This makes it easy to find a job in an area that you are interested in working in.

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5 Reasons to NOT Become a Medical Office Assistant

Medical office assistants are in high demand. They perform many important administrative duties in doctors’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

If you’re considering a career as a medical office assistant, here are five reasons why you might want to reconsider:

1. The job market for medical office assistants is saturated.

There are more medical office assistants than there are available positions. This means that competition for jobs is fierce and it can be difficult to find employment.

2. Medical office assistants are often underpaid and undervalued.

Despite the important role they play in healthcare facilities, medical office assistants are often paid relatively low wages. In addition, their contributions are often undervalued by employers and patients alike.

3. The work of a medical office assistant can be stressful.

Medical office assistants must deal with the constant demands of patients and physicians alike. They may also be required to work long hours, including nights and weekends. This can make the job quite stressful.

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