The Administrative Medical Assistant: Job Description and Career Outlook

If you’re considering a career as an administrative medical assistant you’re in luck. This field is expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years.

But what does an administrative medical assistant do, exactly? In this blog post, we’ll give you a complete job description, as well as an overview of the career outlook for this exciting field.

Checkout this video:

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Job Description

The administrative medical assistant is responsible for the administrative tasks in a medical office. They might work in a hospital, clinic, or physician’s office. The medical assistant is responsible for answering phones, scheduling appointments, taking patient histories, and occasionally helping with billing. They might also be responsible for maintaining medical records and handling correspondence. Some administrative Medical assistants also take on clerical tasks such as transcribing dictation, preparing reports, and handling the scheduling of hospital admissions and laboratory services.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Career Outlook

Whereas medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks, administrative medical assistants typically only perform the administrative tasks. These professionals typically work in the front office of a medical facility, where they are responsible for handling incoming calls, greeting patients, scheduling appointments, coding patient information, organizing Medical records and handling billing and insurance claims. Many administrative medical assistants also have experience with electronic health records (EHRs).

While the job description for an administrative medical assistant may vary depending on the employer, most positions requires at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have completed a postsecondary medical assisting program, which can last anywhere from 9 months to 2 years. Upon completing a training program, administrative medical assistants must pass a certification exam administered by either the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

The career outlook for administrative medical assistants is positive, as these professionals are expected to see employment growth of 23% from 2019-2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due in large part to an increase in the number of aging baby boomers who will need more medical care as they age. In addition, as more and more physicians opt to employ administrative medical assistants in their practices in order to free up their time so they can see more patients, this will also contribute to job growth.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Duties and Responsibilities

The administrative medical assistant is responsible for performing a variety of office and clerical duties in support of the medical staff of a healthcare facility. Duties may include answering telephones, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, maintaining medical records billing patients, and transcribing medical reports. The administrative medical assistant may also be responsible for handling correspondence, ordering supplies, and maintaining the appearance of the office.

Most administrative medical assistants have completed a postsecondary training program in medical office administration or a related field. Some states require certification for employment as an administrative medical assistant. Although certification is not required, it may improve job prospects.

Administrative medical assistants typically work in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. They generally work Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Some administrative medical assistants may work evenings or weekends to accommodate the needs of their employer.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Skills and Qualifications

In order to become an administrative medical assistant, you will need to possess certain skills and qualifications. Most importantly, you should have excellent communication skills, both written and oral. You should also be proficient in the use of computers and have basic knowledge of Medical Terminology In addition, it is important to be detail oriented and organized, as well as able to work independently. Finally, it is also beneficial to have experience working in a medical office setting.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Salary and Benefits

The median annual salary for medical assistants was $34,800 in May 2017.1 The middle 50 percent of medical assistants earned between $31,040 and $39,120. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,590.1

Most medical assistants worked in physicians’ offices in 2017; about 16 percent worked in hospitals; and about 9 percent worked in outpatient care centers.1 Medical assistants also worked in other settings such as chiropractors’ offices, educational services, and government agencies. A small number were self-employed.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Training and Education

Administrative medical assistants need to complete a postsecondary educational program to enter the occupation. Although no formal education is required, most administrative medical assistants complete a 1-year certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree program in medical assisting. Some programs take as little as 9 months to complete, but most last 2 years or longer.

A small number of programs lead to a bachelor’s degree in medical assisting, which typically takes 4 years of full-time study to complete. These programs generally include coursework in business administration and management, in addition to courses specific to the medical assisting occupation.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Job Opportunities

The administrative medical assistant is responsible for providing clerical and administrative support to medical staff in a healthcare setting. Duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing and insurance processing, and other office duties as needed. The administrative medical assistant must be able to work well under pressure and handle a variety of tasks simultaneously.

The job outlook for the administrative medical assistant is good. With the expansion of the healthcare industry, there is a growing need for qualified individuals to fill this important role. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Advancement Opportunities

The administrative medical assistant is a position that offers opportunities for career advancement. Many medical assistants start out in entry-level positions and move up to higher-level positions such as office manager or medical records coordinator. Some medical assistants also move into other related healthcare fields such as nursing, physical therapy, or health administration.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Work Environment

The administrative medical assistant occupies a position in the front office of a medical facility, such as a hospital, outpatient clinic, or physician’s office. The administrative medical assistant is responsible for maintaining the efficiency of the office by performing various clerical tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, managing correspondence, and handling patient billing and insurance matters.

The administrative medical assistant must be able to work effectively with patients, doctors, and other staff members. He or she must be organized and detail-oriented, with good communication and customer service skills. Medical Administrative Assistants must be proficient in computer applications relevant to their field, such as scheduling software and healthcare databases.

The majority of administrative medical assistants work in doctor’s offices; however, many also find employment in hospitals and clinics. The work environment is usually fast-paced and can be stressful at times. Administrative medical assistants typically work full time during regular business hours; however, some positions may require evening or weekend hours.

The Administrative Medical Assistant: Job Outlook

The administrative medical assistant is a medical office professional who performs a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the office running smoothly.

Most administrative medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some have completed postsecondary training programs. Many states regulate medical assistants, and some employers prefer to hire those who are certified.

Administrative medical assistants typically work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They usually work full time, and their hours may vary depending on the needs of the facility.

The job outlook for administrative medical assistants is good. Employment is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations between 2018 and 2028, due to the increasing demand for healthcare services as the population ages.