A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who helps doctors and nurses provide patient care. Medical assistants work in all kinds of settings, from hospitals and urgent care facilities to family practices and specialist offices. Medical assistants often are cross-trained to perform both administrative and clinical duties. Prism Career Institute trains medical assistants at its campuses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Learn more about this career path in the growing field of healthcare.
Responsibilities of a Medical Administrative Assistant
Medical administrative assistants typically work in the front office or reception area of a facility. Unlike a clinical medical assistant, who primarily focuses on helping doctors perform tests and procedures, medical administrative assistants specialize in the many organizational and clerical tasks required to keep a healthcare office running smoothly.
If you enjoy working in an office setting but still want to interact with patients, a career as a medical administrative assistant could be a great fit. Administrative medical assistant responsibilities might include:
Greeting Patients
Often, a medical administrative assistant is the first person a patient sees when they walk in the door. They greet patients, get them signed in, and show them where to wait to see their doctor. When patients feel nervous about an appointment or a procedure, this friendly and welcoming face can help put them at ease.
Scheduling Appointments
Medical administrative assistants keep office operations running smoothly, and scheduling appointments is an important aspect of this role. Medical assistants need to make sure patient appointments are scheduled appropriately and efficiently. They may call patients to remind them of upcoming appointments, or schedule follow-up visits with patients on their way out of the office. They must ensure that appointments are spaced out correctly, so doctors have enough time with each patient and that patients are paired with the correct providers.
Patient Communications
Many medical offices now offer an online portal where patients can pay their bills, see upcoming appointments, and send messages to their providers. Medical assistants can help facilitate patient care by coordinating communication between patients and their doctors. They also answer phones, return messages, and mail statements and bills to patients.
Medical Billing and Coding
Most medical offices use a standardized system of five-digit alphanumeric codes to label medical procedures. Accurate documentation is crucial so insurance companies and patients are billed correctly. These healthcare professionals help compile medical records and bill insurance providers accordingly. They also process patient co-pays and contact patients when procedures are not covered by insurance.
For individuals interested in this career path, the potential for job opportunities is very good. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that employment of medical assistants will grow between 2020 and 2030.
Skills Medical Administrative Assistants Need
In the busy environment of a healthcare facility, each day brings new challenges. As a medical assistant, you’ll need a diverse skill set to succeed in an administrative role. Here are some of the skills that employers typically look for:
- Computer literacy: Medical administrative assistants should be comfortable using the computer each day, as well as the office phone, printer, and copier. They’ll need to become adept at the software their employer uses for scheduling appointments, logging patient medical records, and processing payments.
- Customer service: Medical administrative assistants need to be polite and professional. When dealing with billing issues such as unexpected charges, patients may become frustrated or upset. Medical assistants need to maintain their composure and deal with patients in a kind and understanding way.
- Attention to detail: Working in a front-office role means regular multitasking – you may be covering the phones, signing in patients, and communicating with colleagues. Because you’re handling private patient information, staying organized and detail-oriented is important for ensuring each task is done correctly.
Employers also will be looking for someone who is a team player. Ensuring that a medical office runs smoothly requires teamwork between the medical assistants, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
Learn About Medical Assistant Programs
Whether you want to work as a medical administrative assistant or a clinical medical assistant, Prism Career Institute is here to help. We provide students with the comprehensive preparation they need to pursue a career in healthcare. Prism Career Institute offers medical assistant programs taught by experienced instructors at our campuses in Philadelphia, PA, as well as Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ. Many students can complete the program in as little as ten months, and financial aid is available to those who qualify. To learn more about Prism Career Institute, contact us today.