What is an Administrative Medical Assistant?
Contents
- What is an administrative medical assistant?
- The duties of an administrative medical assistant
- The skills needed to be an administrative medical assistant
- The education and training required to be an administrative medical assistant
- The job outlook for administrative medical assistants
- The salary of an administrative medical assistant
- The benefits of being an administrative medical assistant
- The challenges of being an administrative medical assistant
- 10 things you didn’t know about administrative medical assistants
- 5 tips for becoming a successful administrative medical assistant
An administrative medical assistant is a professional who provides administrative support to a medical office. These individuals may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Their duties may include scheduling appointments, handling billing and insurance paperwork, and maintaining medical records
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What is an administrative medical assistant?
An administrative medical assistant is a back-office medical professional who performs both clerical and clinical tasks in a doctors office, hospital or other healthcare facility. They might keep patient records, schedule appointments and perform billing and insurance tasks. Many administrative Medical assistants also take patients vital signs, prepare them for exam and assist the physician during the exam.
The duties of an administrative medical assistant
An administrative medical assistant is a back-office medical professional whose duties include filling out insurance forms, coding and billing, handling correspondence, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, maintaining Medical records and other administrative tasks.
The skills needed to be an administrative medical assistant
An administrative medical assistant is responsible for performing a variety of administrative tasks in a medical office. These tasks may include scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and handling billing and insurance paperwork.
To be successful in this role, you will need to have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work well under pressure. You will also need to be proficient in a variety of computer programs, such as Microsoft Office and various medical billing software programs.
The education and training required to be an administrative medical assistant
An administrative medical assistant is a medical professional who provides administrative support to physicians and other medical personnel. They are responsible for tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling medical records billing and coding insurance forms, and handling patient inquiries.
Most administrative medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some positions may require postsecondary education or training. Many community colleges and technical schools offer certificate or diploma programs in medical office administration that can prepare students for this career.
The job outlook for administrative medical assistants
Employment of medical secretaries is projected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. An aging population and extended periods of health insurance coverage should continue to spur demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians and other health practitioners.
As the number of newly insured patients grows, medical practices are expected to hire more administrative medical assistants. In addition, technological advances should lead to increased demand for medical secretaries in specialties that require specific knowledge of certain software applications, such as electronic health records (EHRs).
The salary of an administrative medical assistant
The median salary for an administrative medical assistant is $34,800 per year. Salaries can range from $28,000 to $41,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
The benefits of being an administrative medical assistant
As an administrative medical assistant, you will be responsible for managing the administrative tasks in a medical office. This can include tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling patients’ insurance paperwork, and billing patients. While the job may seem daunting, there are many benefits to being an administrative medical assistant.
One of the biggest benefits is the potential to earn a good salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an administrative medical assistant was $33,610 in 2018. The top 10% of earners made more than $47,880, while the bottom 10% earned less than $23,540. This means that there is potential to earn a good wage if you are skilled at your job.
Another benefit is the potential for job security. The healthcare industry is growing rapidly, and there is a projected increase in demand for medical assistants. This means that there should be plenty of jobs available for qualified candidates in the future.
Lastly, working as an administrative medical assistant can be very rewarding. You will be helping to keep a medical office running smoothly and will be playing a vital role in patient care. This can be a very fulfilling career for those who enjoy helping others and working in a fast-paced environment.
The challenges of being an administrative medical assistant
An administrative medical assistant is a medical office worker who specializes in handling the non-clinical aspects of running a healthcare facility. They play a vital role in ensuring that the office runs smoothly and efficiently, but the job is not without its challenges.
One of the biggest challenges facing administrative medical assistants is keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of healthcare. With new laws and regulations being introduced on a regular basis, it can be difficult to stay up to date on all the latest changes. This is compounded by the fact that many administrative medical assistants also have other responsibilities, such as managing patient records or scheduling appointments.
Another challenge facing administrative medical assistants is the increasing use of technology in healthcare. While this can lead to more efficient and effective operations, it can also be difficult to keep up with all the new software and devices that are being introduced. Additionally, many healthcare facilities are moving towards paperless operations, which can require administrative medical assistants to learn new skills, such as electronic health record keeping.
Despite these challenges, being an administrative medical assistant can be a rewarding career. It offers the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of patients and their families, as well as be a part of a team of dedicated professionals
10 things you didn’t know about administrative medical assistants
1. They handle insurance paperwork and other financial tasks
2. They maintain medical records
3. They schedule appointments and assist with patient medical histories
4. They often work closely with nurses and physicians
5. They may handle billing and coding
6. They may handle laboratory tasks
7. They may order supplies
8. They often serve as a liaison between patients and physicians
9. They may provide customer service
10. They often have an Associate’s degree or certification
5 tips for becoming a successful administrative medical assistant
Medical assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They may schedule appointments, take and record patients’ medical histories and vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, assist physicians during examinations, and instruct patients about medication and diets. They also may perform basic laboratory tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, sterilize medical instruments, authorize prescription refills, and telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy.
With the aging of the large baby-boom generation and an increasing emphasis on preventive care, the demand for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2024. Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. job prospects should be excellent especially for those who have formal education in medical assisting or experience with electronic health records (EHRs).