Much of modern medicine is about record keeping with each patient generating records for medical exams, tests, diagnoses, treatment and billing. Doctor’s offices have hundreds of records while hospitals generate thousands of records each year. A medical administrative assistant is responsible for the data entry and filing of hardcopies of all of these records. The assistant may also be responsible for billing and coding insurance claims and keeping the medical equipment inventory.
Training for Medical Administrative Assistants
The training for medical administrative assistants is the same as the training for other medical assistants and usually includes a one to two year course ending in a certificate or associates degree. Most medical assistants take a voluntary certification exam upon completion of their training. Some states may require medical assistants to be licensed, but licensing requirements vary and may not be necessary for administrative assistants who are not required to perform basic clinical tasks. Most medical assistant schools have classes and coursework for both clinical and administrative paths.
Where Do Medical Administrative Assistants Work?
Administrative assistants most often work in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and residential care centers because these facilities generate more records than most doctors’ offices. Some medical administrative assistants may be employed by large medical offices where several doctors share a practice. Since the nature of the work is primarily clerical, assistants who specialize in medical administration often work standard office hours, but some may be required to work evenings.
Duties and Responsibilities
Administrative duties generally include processing hospital admissions, entering medical records into data systems, coding and billing health insurance claims, answering phones and explaining facility policies and procedures to visitors and patients. In medical practices, an administrative assistant may also be responsible for scheduling office appointments and greeting patients. They may be required to inventory and stock medical supplies or assign hospital rooms to patients.
Clinical Assistant vs. Administrative Assistant’
In most medical offices, medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks, but in hospitals and other large facilities most assistants specialize in either clinical or administrative work. Clinical medical assistants perform basic tasks like preparing patients for exams, taking vitals, changing dressings, drawing blood, taking urine samples and removing sutures. They may be required to work shifts. Administrative assistants work in an office environment performing clerical duties.
Opportunities for Advancement
Medical administrative assistants in hospitals and medical facilities have opportunities for advancement to supervisory or management positions especially if they continue their education toward a bachelors degree in healthcare administration or management. Healthcare administration is a rapidly growing field with a shortage of qualified personnel to fill positions which allows those working in the profession to advance quickly into administrative management positions.
Although all medical assistants receive training in both clinical and clerical medical duties, medical administrative assistants choose to specialize in record keeping, data entry and billing and coding. They usually perform no clinical tasks, usually working behind the scenes to keep medical facilities running as smoothly as possible. Trained in medical terminology, insurance billing, medical ethics and medical law, administrative assistants perform duties critical to modern medicine.