Medical Office Administration Careers
Medical office administrators are essential members of healthcare provider workplaces. Whether they work in a physician’s office, specialized clinic, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or a hospital, medical office administrators keep documentation and processes in order. Ultimately, they help ensure that a medical office is organized and runs smoothly.
If you want to help people who want to live healthier and happier lives without providing clinical services, medical office administration may be right for you.
What Medical Office Administrators Do
Medical office administrators are tasked with non-clinical work in healthcare facilities. Depending on the size and nature of the workplace, they typically engage in day-to-day work like scheduling appointments, answering patient questions, money handling (including billing), tracking and reporting the flow of funds, and other administrative duties. Some medical office administrators manage a team, while others don’t.
Medical office administration overlaps with health information management, billing and coding, and clinical medical assisting, but these aren’t the same jobs.
Medical Office Administration vs. Health Information Management, Billing and Coding
While both health information management, billing and coding (HIMBC) specialists and medical office administrators may spent a lot of their time on the paperwork aspects of medical office work rather than in the front office interacting with patients, there are differences in these roles. Medical office administrators may communicate about billing and with insurance companies, but HIMBC specialists handle the in-depth issues that come with those aspects of healthcare services.
Medical Office Administration vs. Clinical Medical Assisting
Clinical medical assistants (CMAs) can engage in some healthcare work, such as taking medical histories and vital signs, surgery preparation, and phlebotomy, in addition to performing office duties. Typically clinical medical assistants focus on direct patient care or patient-facing tasks over office administrative duties.
Where Medical Office Administrators Work
Medical office administrators work in all healthcare settings, including general practitioners’ offices, hospitals, specialty clinics, and nursing homes.
How Much Medical Office Administrators Earn
As of 2023, medical office administrators earn a median salary of $40,650 per year ($19.54 per hour), ranging from $31,900 to $58,340. The amount you can earn as a medical office administrator varies depending on the number of hours worked, location, type of facility, and amount of experience.
Job Demand for Medical Office Administration
Medical office administration jobs are expected to grow by 5% between 2023 and 2033.
What Traits Do Medical Office Administrators Have?
To be a good candidate for a medical office administrator job, you need to be organized, detail-oriented, and able to thrive in a fast-paced work environment. You should have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being comfortable on the phone.
As a medical office administrator, you need to be able to go with the flow, as no two days or patients are alike. Patience and kindness are key.
Starting Your Medical Office Administration Career at Blue Cliff College
Getting your medical office administration diploma at Blue Cliff College can set you up for success in your career. Our program is entirely online without set class times, so you can balance earning your diploma with your existing life.
In addition to our flexible online coursework, Blue Cliff College students have access to career services that can help them prepare for interviews, write a resume, and access other help as needed.
Please note that Blue Cliff College doesn’t guarantee employment upon graduation.
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