First of all, what is a medical administrative assistant? It is a type of allied health career, and some of the main tasks of a medical administrative assistant include keeping organized records, organizing appointments, coordinating with insurance companies and corresponding with patients and their families. Medical administrative assistants are usually spervised by an office administrator, although in a small office they may work directly for a physician. In order to work medical administrative assistant jobs, you’ll need some medical assistant training. Fortunately, you can get the training you need from the comfort of your own home by enrolling in an accredited online school.
If you are interested in becoming a medical administrative assistant, here are the steps you should take:
- Know what it takes. First, it’s important that you assess yourself to see if being a medical office assistant is truly the type of job for you. An effective medical administrative assistant should be very organized and systematic, and should have good computer skills. You should also have good interpersonal skills, as dealing with people will be a part of your regular work routine.
- Start in high school. It’s best to start as early as high school to equip yourself for a career in the allied health field. Take subjects in health and mathematics, as well as the sciences such as biology and chemistry. If there are any offered electives in recordkeeping, computers and office skills, it’s best that you take these as well to prepare you for future medical secretary work.
- Volunteer at hospitals. Volunteering at hospitals during your free time will help you be acquainted with the type of work environment the hospital has to offer. It will also be an added boost to your resume, plus you will have the chance to create a network of contacts in the healthcare industry that will point you in the right direction of medical office jobs.
- Complete a post-secondary education program. You can opt to get a four-year bachelor’s degree, but the usual route is through a two-year associate’s degree or a one-year diploma program from a local community college or vocational school. Many programs go under the name, “medical administrative assistant training,” though other alternatives would be to take allied health courses such as medical billing and coding. Inquire during your application as to what program they have that will lead to a career as a medical administrative assistant.
During your medical office assistant training, expect your coursework to include anatomy and physiology, as well as medical transcription, terminology and clinical procedures. Office procedures, such as keyboarding, accounting, insurance processing and recordkeeping are usually included. Make sure that the program you enroll in is accredited. - Undergo an internship program. Most accredited medical administrative assistant programs include an internship period, which will allow you to obtain hands-on experience in an actual work setting.
- Get certified. Though certification is not a requirement, it will help open up more doors for you as a medical administrative assistant. National certifying bodies such as the American Association of Medical Assistants and the National Healthcare Association offer certification to those qualified. If you are certified, it will most likely help you qualify for more medical office jobs.
- Obtain experience. Know that the best way to succeed as a medical administrative assistant is through hands-on experience. Once you’ve landed a job at a hospital, they may require you to obtain additional training, at their own expense, so you will learn the specific procedures and systems in that setting. You may also work under the close supervision of a registered nurse, until you’ve gained enough experience to work on your own.
- Consider the job outlook and salary expectations. The median salary for a medical administrative assistant is $25,000 and the range is $24,000 to $34,000. Salary depends greatly on education level, experience and the area of the country where you are employed. The overall job outlook for medical assistants is very good with an expected growth increase of around 30% in the next ten years. That figure includes all medical assistants: clinical and administrative. If you are willing to do other tasks along with your administrative duties you will be in high demand.
These are the steps towards becoming a medical administrative assistant. The bottom line here is to hone your skills at becoming organized and systematic, and you’ll be able to succeed as a medical administrative assistant.