How to Get a Job as a Medical Admin Assistant

To ensure you have all the qualifications and skills necessary to help you get a job as a Medical admin assistant, you should graduate from a program specializing in this field. Many technical and vocational colleges offer programs leading to a diploma as a Medical Administrative Specialist. In order to gain admission to these colleges, you should hold a high school diploma. You will also need to pass Basic Math and English tests. The coursework for such a program will include keyboarding and basic computer skills as well as courses in communication, using advanced software and medical terminology. In order to fully understand the medical terminology, you will also need to take courses in anatomy and physiology, the procedures followed in a medical office and in transcribing the reports and letters of the physicians.

When you get a job as a medical admin assistant, you will have a variety of roles and responsibilities depending on whether you are the only person in the office or if there are others, in which case you will probably deal with only one physician or fulfill specific duties. Some of the duties of this position include:

• Billing patients and posting payments
  
  
  
• Transcribing reports
  
• Processing insurance claims
  
• Scheduling appointments and maintaining patient files
  
• Arranging meetings and conferences
  
• Answering telephone calls, taking messages and returning calls

The process of entering patient information into the files is usually done electronically, so in this position you need to be able to access files and upgrade information. This information will also need to be backed up in some way just in case the system crashes.

In order to get a job as a medical admin assistant at a hospital, more than likely you will have to start off in an entry-level job, especially if you are a recent graduate. Then you can work your way up by taking courses to receive additional qualifications and certificates. Then when job openings occur for more advanced positions you will have be able to meet the requirements of the position in education and experience. Such promotions could occur within the same office, such as being promoted to a managerial position. Some people who start out as medical administrative assistants become sale representatives for large pharmaceutical companies as they increase their qualifications.

One way you can advance when you get a job as a medical admin assistant is to meet the requirements for a CMMA certificate and have the title of Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. To achieve this certification you have to pass a test from the National Healthcare Association. It is perfect for those who handle the duties associated with in patient admissions, front office duties in a medical clinic and for those dealing with finances in their job. This exam consists of a series of questions about anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and the proper procedures to employ when billing patients and processing insurance claims. With such a certificate, you should not have any difficulty obtaining a position in this administrative field.