If you love the idea of working in the rapidly growing and rewarding healthcare industry, but you’re not so keen on the clinical side of that equation – you’re in luck! Because there’s a lot more to the healthcare industry than just doctors and nurses. Just like any business, a medical practice, clinic or hospital, requires a team of qualified administrative staff to keep the business operating smoothly. That’s where the Medical Office Administrator comes in. If you’re looking for a career where you’re making a difference in people’s lives without having to perform actual medical duties, this might just be the perfect option for you. Here’s what you need to know about becoming a Medical Office Administrator.
What Does a Medical Office Administrator Do?
Let’s start with what it actually means to be a Medical Office Administrator. All medical facilities must keep accurate and confidential health records for their patients. The Medical Office Administrator is the team member who is typically responsible for managing those records. That means creating the electronic record (EHR), assigning the correct medical and insurance codes and ensuring all information is updated and current. Other duties you can expect include checking patients in, scheduling appointments, communicating with insurance companies, billing personnel and patients. It’s easy to understand why having strong interpersonal and organizational skills can be very beneficial.
What Kind of Training do I Need?
Most medical office administration programs can be completed in 2 years or less with some programs offering a diploma or certificate and others an associate degree. But you can expect program curriculum to typically include training in the following areas:
- Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Medical Terminology
- HIPPAA Compliance
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Computer Skills
Choose Your Work Environment
There are so many different healthcare businesses that require the services of a Medical Office Administrator. You can choose to pursue employment at urgent care clinics, physician’s offices, chiropractors, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and more. And depending on what work environment you decide to pursue, your training program should be able to meet the requirements of that healthcare facility.
How To Become A Medical Office Administrator
To become a medical office administrator, a good first step is to get a good education. Attend a vocational program. There are many benefits to attending a vocational school. They include:
A Complete Curriculum
When attending this vocational program, you will learn what you need to know to start working on day one of your new career. Whether you are in school to be an administrative assistant, bookkeeper, medical office administrator or learn to become one of the many vocational professionals we train, you concentrate on what you need for that profession. We condense the curriculum down to what is important for the job.
Industry Recognized Certifications
You become a medical office administrator with a CMAA or CEHRS certification. Attending our business information systems program will help you earn a Microsoft Office Specialist certification. These certifications are nationally recognized by employers in the industry.
Medical Office Administrator Certifications
CMAA – the National Healthcareer Association offers the CMAA certification to highlight the educational background and experience of medical administrative administrators. Industry surveys have shown that certification is important to employers.
CEHRS – the National Healthcareer Association also offers an electronic health records specialist certification. Mistakes are all too common in medicine, so employers are looking for certified medical office administrator that possess certification showing their attention to security, completeness and accuracy when managing patient data.
Externships
Youi’ll also get 135-hours of real-world experience in our externship program? You will perform real tasks, shadow medical office administrators, and get guidance from supervisors. When applying for an entry-level position, an employer will look for work experience and that is exactly what you will have with the externship from this medical office administrator program.
Career Services
The best part about our vocational programs is the career services that we offer to all our graduates. We follow you throughout your career, offering assistance whenever you have an employment gap. We also prepare you with resume building services, mock interviews and job fairs to meet employers in the community. We pride ourselves in understanding what you are passionate about and working to match you with the job that fits your passion.
Start Your Training
Before you begin training, you’ll need to decide where to get that training. If you’re already working, you’ll need to consider the schedule and program that suits your specific lifestyle. It’s important to strike the best work-life-training balance to maximize your time and reach your goals. If you’re looking for training that offers flexible schedules plus a 135-hour externship that gives you valuable hands-on experience in an actual medical facility, you should check out the program at ICT. ICT’s Medical Office Administration Program’s 135-hour externship helps prepare you for the real world you’ll be working in. The program also features industry recognized certifications (CMAA & CEHRS) that can open doors to even more opportunities.
If you’re ready to join a profession that is not just rewarding, it’s predicted to continue growing at a much faster than average rate adding 29,000 new jobs by 2029*, contact ICT today to learn more. Make today the day you start doing something you love for a living!
*https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
