Careers in the healthcare industry have enviable benefits. A broad field, talent is in demand for clinical and non-clinical roles. Whether you’re a people person with an aptitude for direct care or an organizational genius with business sense and a client-focused attitude, there’s a seat for you at the table. If you’re interested in medicine but thrive on planning, coordination, and management, consider becoming a medical office administrator.
Why Do People Get into the Healthcare Sector?
People are drawn to the healthcare field for personal and practical reasons, including:
A Passion for Science and Medicine
Healthcare is a research-driven field, attracting people with a strong interest in medicine and technology. The opportunity to learn more about the human body and cutting-edge treatments is often too much for the scientifically inclined to resist. Even if you didn’t do well in science class but are still curious medicine, you will still find working in a medical office interesting.
A Sense of Service
Medicine is a noble profession that involves serving others and contributing to the well-being of individuals and communities. Many people are motivated to enter the healthcare field because it offers a sense of purpose and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of friends, families, and neighbors.
Flexibility
The healthcare field offers a wide range of job options, from hospitals and clinics to research institutions, and public health organizations. This allows people to choose careers that align with their interests, skills, and lifestyle preferences.
What Does a Medical Office Administrator Do?
Medical office administrators provide logistical and clerical support to clinical professionals. They manage many of the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities and private practices.
Responsibilities include:
Scheduling
Medical office administrators manage appointment schedules. They juggle healthcare providers’ calendars to ensure that appointments are booked accurately and efficiently. Effective scheduling optimizes the use of time, equipment, and personnel, allowing healthcare providers to see the maximum number of patients while prioritizing urgent cases and maintaining quality care standards.
Front Office Management
Ambassadors of first impressions, medical office administrators are frontline contacts for patients and visitors in healthcare offices. They answer the phone, greet patients, handle check-ins and check-outs, and provide general guidance about the office and its services.
Patient Registration
Medical office administrators manage the patient registration process. They verify insurance coverage, confirm demographic data, review consent forms, and create the superbill, a form providers use to keep track of services rendered for billing purposes.
Billing and Coding
Medical office administrators provide administrative support for the billing department. Duties may include assistance with claims, collection of co-payments, reconciling credit card receipts, and collections.
Recordkeeping
Healthcare providers rely on accurate and accessible records to make informed treatment decisions. Medical office administrators organize and file paper records, manage electronic health records (EHRs) and handle record requests from patients and healthcare providers, all while safeguarding sensitive information in compliance with patient privacy laws and other applicable regulations.
Communication
Medical office administrators coordinate communication between patients, healthcare providers, administrative staff, and other medical professionals. Whether they deliver the mail, arrange meetings, or make phone calls, they keep everyone on the same page.
Patient Relations
Patients who feel respected and cared for are more likely to have a positive perception of their healthcare team. Medical office assistants often serve as patient advocates. They manage concerns and complaints in ways that prioritize the patient’s satisfaction.
Clerical Support
Medical office administrators provide clerical support for the clinical and administrative teams. They sort the mail, write correspondence, prepare meeting minutes, order supplies, and assist with special projects or events.
Compliance and Regulatory Management
Healthcare facilities are subject to regulations at the local, state, and federal levels. Failure to comply can result in serious legal and financial consequences. Medical office administrators partner with the clinical team to manage regulatory and ethical issues related to environmental safety, patient privacy, and patient rights. Compliance with the law is not only a legal requirement but also an ethical obligation that facilities must embrace to provide high-quality care and a safe working environment.
Why Should I Choose a Career in Medical Office Administration?
There are hundreds of worthwhile occupations, many from within the healthcare industry. But a career in medical office administration has perks too good to ignore, including:
Personal Fulfillment
Medical office administrators are a critical part of the healthcare team, contributing to the overall delivery of quality care. Although it’s a non-clinical role, it’s equally important. You’ll feel good about yourself by doing good, knowing that you’re helping vulnerable people navigate challenging experiences while empowering the clinical team to focus solely on what they do best—practice medicine.
A Supportive Work Environment
Wellness is a team effort. Medical office administrators work closely with other healthcare professionals, from doctors to practice managers, toward a common goal. Your input is sought after and valued. This type of interdisciplinary collaboration fosters a welcomed sense of mutual support not found in every industry. If you feel like no one has your back in your current job, you’ll welcome the camaraderie.
Career Stability
Healthcare is a growing industry with an ever-increasing need for skilled professionals. As the population ages, the demand for medical services is expected to rise, providing long-term job security, even during economic downturns.
Workplace Diversity
Medical office assistants are employed in a long list of healthcare settings, so you can choose to work in environments that suit your preferences. If you like a busy, fast-paced atmosphere bustling with activity and people, apply to work at a hospital. If you prefer a relaxed, home-like environment, you’ll be right a home in a small clinic or doctor’s office.
Opportunities for Advancement
Medical office administration offers opportunities for career advancement. With experience and additional training, you can grow into higher-level administrative roles, such as practice manager or office manager. Or you can choose a specialty based on your interests and experience. More than one medical office administrator has moved into the billing and coding, health information management, or electronic health records (EHR) management fields.
Professional Support
Medical office administrators enjoy support and recognition from several professional organizations. These groups advocate for the interests of their members at the industry and policy levels. They represent their members’ concerns, promote professional standards, and influence decisions that affect their careers.
Professional organizations, such as the Association for Healthcare Administrative Professionals (AHCAP), are a wealth of information and resources, providing education opportunities and certifications. Certification is the gold standard for competency within a field and can make or break career growth. Being a Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional (cHAP), an AHCAP credential, shines on a resume.
Equitable Work-Life Balance
Some doctors and nurses have considered abandoning their hard-won careers because of overtime and on-call obligations. Burnout in some healthcare jobs is a problem. However, most medical office administrators can count on Monday through Friday schedules with weekends off. And many positions are flexible, allowing busy people to balance work with other personal or family commitments.
Transferable Skills
Not all skills are relevant in a changing world. However, medical office administrators have a unique blend of logistical, communication and customer service expertise that’s priceless in any field. Today’s adults might change careers two, three or even four times in a lifetime, so if you decide to move on from the healthcare field, you won’t have to build a resume from scratch. What you learn today will be usable tomorrow.
How Do I Become a Medical Office Administrator?
A great way to become a medical office administrator is to enroll in a technical school program. You could take the long route and get a bachelor’s degree, but technical school students graduate in months, not years, prepared for the same jobs as their college-educated peers.
The curriculum is comprehensive but career-focused, you won’t waste time on elective courses that won’t strengthen your skills as a medical office administrator. And it prepares you for industry certifications that make you a more valuable job applicant. Technical school education is the fastest route out of the classroom and into the field.
Final Thoughts
Quality healthcare is a partnership between clinical and administrative professionals, not all heroes wear scrubs. As a medical office administrator, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a secure and rewarding career while putting your talents to use in serving your community.
Want to Learn More?
All healthcare facilities, from hospitals and physician’s offices, to rehab centers, clinics, and every other type of medical practice, rely on skilled Medical Office Administrators to function. At Interactive College of Technology, we’ll train you on a wide range of medical administrative practices and processes. Plus, you’ll get real-world experience through a 135-hour school externship in an actual healthcare facility. You’ll also interact with people from all walks of life, making your daily routine anything but dull.
So, let’s take the first step together! Contact us now to learn more.
