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Medical Office Administration Degree: Medical Office Assistant Career Training

Medical office administration degree programs prepare students for employment in a medical office in a variety of specialties, including dentistry, chiropractic, physicians and plastic surgeons. Students learn basic administrative and support duties, and become proficient in medical coding and insurance policies, as well as records management for different types of offices. Medical office training programs can lead to an associate's degree, and some medical office career training programs can be completed online.

Preparing for Medical Office Training Programs

Medical office training programs are well-suited for people who naturally enjoy helping others, like clear guidelines, and have good people and communication skills. Medical office assistants must be able to work equally well alone, or as part of a group. They must also enjoy working with paperwork and on a computer, and must remain proficient with their computer skills. Some medical office training programs include a rigorous hands-on computer component where students can learn advanced Microsoft Office Word processing, database and publishing skills.

Medical office assistants perform a variety of administrative and sometimes clinical tasks, to keep the doctor's office running smoothly. They typically report directly to an office manager, physician or health practitioner, but they cannot perform clinical-level duties, unless they have been State-certified.

Medical office training programs provide students with the skills and in-depth knowledge they need to handle multiple responsibilities in the office, and handle confidential medical information. The majority of medical office assistants are employed by general medical and surgical hospitals, colleges and universities, offices of physicians, outpatient care centers, and offices of health practitioners.

Skills Acquired from Medical Office Training Programs

Medical office training programs provide students with a number of skills and in-depth knowledge in the areas of patient admission and laboratory services, medical records management and general bookkeeping. Some of the fundamental skills acquired from medical office training programs include:

  • Greeting patients
  • Updating and maintaining medical records
  • Coordinating patient admission and laboratory services
  • Billing management
  • Bookkeeping
  • Providing medications
  • Performing X-rays
  • Filling out insurance forms accurately
  • Handling correspondence
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services

Medical office career training programs prepare students for entry-level positions where they can perform basic office management duties and help keep the office running smoothly. Medical office training programs are offered at many two-year colleges, technical schools, and at some online institutions.

Types of Medical Office Assistant Training Courses

Some of the most common courses of a medical office administration degree program include:

  • Database Concepts and Applications
  • Medical Terminology and Body Functions
  • Coding and Insurance I and II
  • Occupational Law and Ethics
  • Office Management for the Professional
  • Spreadsheet Concepts and Applications
  • Records Management for the Professional
  • Word Processing Concepts and Applications
  • Procedures in Computerized Medical Offices
  • Computerized Patient Billing
  • Medical Office Administration
  • Medical Machine Transcription
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Medical Terminology

Some medical office assistant training programs also help the student obtain four Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications at the expert level, and Medical Coding and Insurance Billing certification.

Medical office assistant training courses may be taken at a trade school, or online. Both course formats provide students with the in-depth skills, knowledge and training they need to be successful in all types of healthcare environments. Some courses may specialize in a particular field, such as chiropractic, dentistry or plastic surgery. Students may consider taking continuing education courses and professional development courses as they grow in their careers.

Careers with a Medical Office Administration Degree

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that demand for medical office administrators is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2018. The health services industry is expected to grow at a rapid rate, and offers a number of opportunities for graduates of Medical Office Administration associate degree programs. As of 2010, the earnings of medical assistants ranges from $24,610 to $34,650. Salaries vary depending on the location of the organization, experience of the assistant and training.

Other career options and opportunities for those that hold a medical office administration degree include:

  • Medical Secretaries
  • Medical Transcriptionists
  • Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
  • Dental Assistants
  • Clinical Medical Assistants
  • Dental Hygienists
  • Nursing and Psychiatric Aides
  • Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
  • Pharmacy Technicians and Aides
  • Surgical Technologists

 

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