Degree Programs

Job Titles
Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Office Administrative Assistant

Occupation Description
Perform duties utilizing specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties include scheduling appointments, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

Specific Work Activities

• Assist doctors or medical scientists with reports, speeches, and articles.
• Prepare correspondence and transmit by mail or electronic equipment.
• Record medical histories for charts or referrals.
• Keep track of and order medical supplies.
• Maintain files of medical records and correspondence, including paper and computer files.
• Perform other clerical, bookkeeping, and receptionist duties. May answer telephones, order supplies, schedule patient appointments, and process invoices.
• Interview patients to complete insurance and other related forms.
• May arrange for patients to be hospitalized. May refer patients to labs or to other health care providers.
• Stay informed of medical terminology, insurance rules, and hospital and lab procedures.

• Have a high level of social contact. Work closely with doctors and patients, but also spend time working alone.
• Sometimes deal with unpleasant, discourteous, or angry people.
• Deal directly with patients, insurance companies, labs, and other health care providers.
• On occasion are placed in conflict situations. Patients may feel they are waiting too long, or may be confused by insurance paperwork.
• Are moderately responsible for outcomes and results. Help doctor's offices run smoothly and efficiently, which in turn improves patient care.

• Are sometimes exposed to disease or infections when interacting with patients.
• Occasionally are exposed to distracting noises. This may be from medical equipment or office machinery.
• Always work indoors.

• Must be sure that all details of the job are done and their work is exact. Errors could create serious problems for doctors or patients.
• Repeat the same physical activities, especially typing on keyboards.

• May work part time or full time.

Advancement
Medical office assistants generally advance by being promoted to other positions with more responsibility. Some become office managers. Medical office assistant experience can also lead to jobs as sales representatives for drug companies or for manufacturers of computer software.

Major Employers
Doctors' offices and clinics
Hospitals
Dentists' offices
Offices of other health practitioners

Program Course Requirements for AA degree

Program Course Requirements for Certificate

Overview
Medical office assistants perform office duties that use their knowledge of medical terms and procedures.

A medical office, like any other office, is a complex operation. Patients come in and out all day. Phones must be answered and appointments made. Doctors and nurses need patient charts and files pulled and re-filed. Charts must be updated and maintained. Office inventory must be monitored and restocked. Bills must be processed. Phew! Somebody should be put in charge of all this. This is where medical office assistants come in.

Medical office assistants record patients' medical histories for charts or referrals. They keep track of and order supplies. Office assistants often organize and store all medical files on the computer. They may print paper copies of some types of files, such as patients' charts.

Medical office assistants use a variety of office equipment to do their work. They make constant use of personal computers. They use computers to prepare letters and reports and may send these items through e-mail. They also use fax machines and photocopiers.

Many medical office assistants have scheduling duties. They may interview patients to complete medical histories or insurance forms. They also may schedule patients' appointments. In addition, they may arrange for patients to be hospitalized or referred to other healthcare providers. To perform many of these duties, office assistants must stay informed of insurance rules and hospital and lab procedures.