Medical Administrative Assistant

Answer 1

Labeled as one of the fastest growing occupation over the next eight years, medical administrative assistants perform the administrative and clinical tasks that keep physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists, and other heath related professional offices running efficiently. The daily duties of a medical administrative assistant vary depending on the size and location of the office as well as the practitioner’s specialty. In small offices medical administrative assistants handle all the administrative and clinical responsibilities, and they usually report to the office manager or the physician. Assistants in large offices tend to focus on one area of expertise and report to department administrators.

There is a distinct difference between a physician’s assistant and a medical administrative assistant. Physician assistants actually examine, diagnose and treat patients under a physician’s supervision. Medical assistants fill out and file patient medical records, arrange laboratory services and hospital admissions, as well as perform daily office tasks like greeting patient’s, answering calls, scheduling appointments, and handling the billing and office correspondence.

Medical administrative assistants usually find themselves handling several duties at once. Most full-time assistants work forty hours a week, but part time evening and weekend positions are also available in most cities, especially in larger hospitals and offices. A number of medical administrative assistants are trained on the job because no formal training or degree is needed, but most assistants enroll in a one or two year program offered by vocational schools or community colleges. These programs cover anatomy, medical terminology, and physiology as well as recording keeping, accounting, transcription, and insurance processing.

There are about 490,000 medical administrative positions in the US. Sixty-two percent of them work in private or corporate medical offices; thirteen percent work in public and private hospitals, and eleven percent of them are employed in other healthcare offices. The remaining assistants work in nursing homes, out-patient care centers, and other healthcare businesses.

Medical administrative assistants average $28,000 a year, but earnings depend on the size and location of the office or healthcare facility. Assistants can earn $35,000 or more in some offices and usually have good benefit packages. Medical administrative assistant positions are expected to increase thirty-four percent over the next eight years.