The medical office can’t be handled by nurses and doctors alone. Patients coming through the door need to be fielded and organized through a process that involves several additional staff members.Â
A key role is the medical office administrator, who not only serves as a kind and friendly face to patients as they walk into the office, but also keeps things drumming along smoothly through a combination of sharp time management, thorough record keeping, and effective communication skills. The office administrator becomes the backbone of the bustling medical establishment by keeping things well organized and structured. Without this additional step of patient management, a doctor’s office would be at risk of becoming a chaotic experience for all involved!
Wondering if medical office administration is the right fit for you? To help you decide, let’s take a closer look at the role.
What Exactly Does Someone with Medical Office Administration Training Do?
The first person a patient sees when they walk through the door of a medical building is typically a medical office administrator. The responsibilities of this medical office staff member can vary from one medical centre to the next. However, they usually include creating and organizing patient records and medicare details, scheduling patient appointments, answering phones, and more. Â
By taking care of these very important details, the medical office administrator becomes key to steering the workflow of the medical office and helping doctors and nurses offer the best care possible to patients in a timely and organized manner.
What Personal Traits Do You Need for this Role?
It takes an empathetic and patient individual to deal with sick patients all day long. A person coming through the doors of a medical office is usually there because they feel unwell, or a family member isn’t well. They will likely be distressed and need a kind and compassionate voice of reason as their first point of contact. Taking medical office administration training helps equip students with the skills needed to effectively communicate with patients from the moment of their arrival, which can help the rest of the appointment run more smoothly for everyone.
The medical office administrator must be honest and trustworthy, due to the nature of dealing with sensitive, private medical details of each patient. They must be driven and focused to keep the rhythm and structure of the office organized like a well-oiled machine. They must be a great communicator and team player in order to successfully relay information to nurses, doctors, and other staff members. They should also have an interest in anatomy and physiology, as there will be a need to understand and use medical terminology throughout the day.
Where Can a Grad of Medical Office Administration School Get Employed?
Through a medical office administration course, a trainee will have learned a vast array of new skills pertinent to the role–from creating and maintaining medical databases to diagnostic testing and patient preparation to medical transcription, sharpened keyboard and Microsoft Office applications know-how, and much more. They will also usually have received a good deal of practical real-world experience through an externship.
A graduate of this type of program will have the qualifications to pursue work as a medical office administrator, but may also find work as a medical office assistant, medical secretary, medical billing specialist, or medical transcriptionist.Â
Professional training for the role can lead to many different employment opportunities, with the hiring managers of medical offices on the lookout for prospective hires with the right qualifications and practical experience. After graduation, you might decide to work in a doctor’s office, at a specialty clinic, at a hospital, or at another facility that employs medical office administrators.Â
Are you looking for a rewarding and challenging career in a fast-paced environment where you can make a difference to patients’ lives?Â
Get the training you need through medical office administration school to become a fully qualified medical office administrator!
