Medical administrative assistant jobs may be the perfect fit for someone who has the detail-oriented characteristics of a typical administrative assistant along with a desire to help others. Medical administrative assistants are often the first person a patient sees when arriving at the doctor’s office or hospital. They play a critical role in setting the tone of the patient’s experience.
Medical administrative assistants also leave a lasting impression on patients. Their professionalism, organization and patience reflect on the medical practice as a whole. Whether they are helping the patient schedule an appointment, taking a medical history or helping patients with billing questions, medical administrative assistants have the ability to make or break the patient’s impression of the medical practice as a whole.
Medical administrative assistant jobs can vary greatly depending on the needs of the employer. They are often employed in physician offices, hospitals, dental offices and outpatient care clinics.1
Common duties in medical administrative assistant jobs include:
- Taking patient medical histories
- Establishing and maintaining patient charts
- Answering phones
- Scheduling appointments
- Preparing bills
- Performing basic bookkeeping
- Completing insurance forms
- Accessing electronic health records
- Performing medical coding and billing2
What is the job outlook for medical administrative assistants?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster-than-average job growth for medical administrative assistants from 2014-2024. There is a predicted 23 percent growth in the number of medical administrative assistant jobs that will be available by 2024.3
This growth could be attributed to several factors, but it is likely due in part to the needs of the aging baby boomer population. As baby boomers age, they need medical care at unprecedented rates, resulting in a medical offices and hospitals needing more trained personnel to aid in providing efficient service.
What training is required to become a Medical Administrative Assistant?
Though some positions may offer on-the-job training, training through a medical administrative assistant program like the one offered at Helms College shows employers that you have the necessary background knowledge to jump right in and a dedication to stay in the field long term. Going through formal training allows you to apply to a wider variety of medical administrative assistant jobs and puts your application to the top of the stack.
At Helms College you will receive training in everything from the fundamentals of health care to medical coding and billing. This ensures that graduates are trained to step in a variety of ways.
Course work includes:
- Health Care Fundamentals
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Introduction to Computers
- Administrative Procedures
- Electronic Health Record
- Medical Coding & Billing I
- Medical Coding & Billing II
- Career Fundamentals
- Externship
The 132-hour externship requirements allow students to receive hands on training in the field while also making professional connections that could lead to jobs upon graduation. All graduates leave the program with 42 credit hours of specialized training that will set them apart from other applicants.
Why Helms College?
Helms College is a small nonprofit college designed to help students reach their goals no matter what your circumstances may be. We provide tutoring, computer classes, and assist students with obtaining a GED. Classes are also provided to assist students who are learning English as a second language.
Helms College focuses on a few specific degree programs to ensure that each student is getting a quality education. By specializing in the health service industry, as well as the hospitality/culinary industry, Helms College hires the best instructors and focuses on high-quality education.
Whether you have long dreamed of a career in health care or are just considering a career change, reaching out to Helms College can be the first step in a very rewarding journey. Start here to learn more about the medical administrative assistant program, and apply now if you are ready to start down the path to a new career.