Medical Office Assistant Duties and Responsibilities

As a medical office assistant, your duties and responsibilities will vary depending on the size and type of medical practice.

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Job Description

The Medical Office Assistant is responsible for a variety of clerical and administrative duties in support of the operations of a medical office, clinic or other healthcare facility. These responsibilities may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records handling billing and insurance matters, and providing general office support. The Medical Office Assistant position requires excellent customer service skills as well as the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Medical Office Assistant is responsible for providing administrative support to the medical staff and patients of a healthcare facility. Duties may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, verifying patient insurance, filing and retrieving Medical records managing correspondence, and assisting with patient billing. The Medical Office Assistant must be able to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment. They must have excellent communication and customer service skills.

Skills and Qualifications

Medical office assistants are responsible for a variety of duties in medical offices and clinics. They may answer phones, schedule appointments, file insurance forms, prepare patient medical histories and update records. They also may assist physicians with examinations and take patients’ vital signs. To perform these duties, medical office assistants need excellent customer service, interpersonal and multitasking skills. Most medical office assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some jobs may require postsecondary education or training.

Education and Training

In order to become a medical office assistant, you will need to complete an accredited program. These programs typically take between one and two years to complete and can be found at community colleges, technical schools, and online institutions. During your education, you will take courses in medical office procedures, medical billing and coding, Medical Terminology and computer applications. You may also be required to complete an externship at a local medical facility in order to gain hands-on experience.

Salary and Job Outlook

Employment of Medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more Medical Assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.

In addition, as technological advances in medicine occur, medical assistants will play an expanded role in providing basic care and performing administrative tasks. Medical assistants are expected to assume greater responsibility for patient education and care as physicians shift their focus from providing direct patient care to managing larger numbers of patients.
The median annual wage for medical assistants was $34,800 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,880, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,540.

Career Paths

Medical office assistants are administrative professionals who support the daily operations of healthcare facilities. Their duties vary depending on the size and type of facility they work in, but they typically handle tasks like scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, billing patients, and handling medical records

While medical office assistants do not need to be licensed or certified, completing a postsecondary education program can give them the skills they need to be successful in this field. Some medical office assistants may also choose to pursue certification through a professional organization like the National Healthcareer Association.

Certification

In order to practice as a medical office assistant, you must have certification from an accredited institution. The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) credential, which requires passing an exam. To be eligible to sit for the CMAA exam, you must have completed a medical office assistant program that has been accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Job Opportunities

Medical office assistants are in charge of performing a variety of tasks in order to support the smooth running of a medical office. They typically work in doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities. Their duties and responsibilities vary depending on their employer’s needs, but there are some core tasks that are common to most medical office assistant job descriptions.

Some medical office assistants may be responsible for greeting patients and scheduling appointments. They may also answer phones, process insurance forms, file medical records, and perform other clerical tasks. In some cases, medical office assistants may also be responsible for more clinical tasks such as taking patient vital signs or administering injections.

The most successful medical office assistants are those who are able to juggle many different tasks at once and who have excellent customer service skills. If you’re interested in a career as a medical office assistant, be sure to check out our complete guide to job opportunities in this field.

Pros and Cons

As a medical office assistant, you will have a wide range of duties and responsibilities. You will be responsible for handling patient records, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, and performing a variety of other administrative tasks. You will also be responsible for providing customer service to patients and their families.

Pros:
-Wide range of duties and responsibilities.
-Will have the opportunity to work with a variety of people.
-Can be a very rewarding career.

Cons:
-May have to work long hours.
-May be required to work weekends and holidays.
– May be required to work in a stressful environment.

FAQs

Are you considering a career as a medical office assistant? Here are some frequently asked questions about the duties and responsibilities of this important role.

What does a medical office assistant do?
A medical office assistant is responsible for providing administrative and clerical support to medical staff in a healthcare setting. Duties can vary depending on the size and type of facility, but may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing and insurance tasks, and assisting patients with general inquiries.

How do I become a medical office assistant?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as requirements can vary depending on the employer. However, most medical office assistant positions will require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may also require postsecondary education or certification from an accredited program.

What skills do I need to be a successful medical office assistant?
To be successful in this role, you will need strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and the ability to multitask efficiently. Additionally, you should be proficient in using common computer applications such as Microsoft Office.