Administrative Medical Assistant | Education, Roles & Salary

Do you want to learn more about admin medical assistants? Then keep reading this article.

More will discuss who these experts are, their roles, and relevant skills for a successful career. We’ll also outline the steps and essentials of becoming an admin MA. Let’s get started.

Administrative Medical Assistant

An administrative medical assistant is among the most critical positions in the wellness industry. Experts in this field aid in daily duties such as fulfilling front office and customer service tasks.

Organized individuals without medical training but interested in optimizing patient care will enjoy this job. However, interested parties must have the power to multi-task and prioritize.

• Who is an Administrative Medical Assistant?

Admin MAs are healthcare experts who ensure the smooth running of medical facilities. They also assist with patient care alongside doctors, nurses, and other wellness providers.

Sometimes the admin MA sits at the front desk to greet, register patients, and make critical calls. They may also interact with medical staff and perform other office tasks.

Admin MAs are of many types, including medical transcriptionists, clinic admin assistants, and medical assistants.

Others are medical billing and coding technicians, hospital admin assistants, medical records assistants, insurance verification specialists, and executive medical admin assistants.

What does a medical administrative assistant do?

One job responsibility of the administrative medical assistant would be to handle billing and insurance.

These experts have dozens of tasks to perform each day. These responsibilities can vary based on the specific healthcare setting and facility needs.

• Administrative medical assistant job description

Generally, an admin MA schedules appointments, responds to phone calls, and processes insurance payments.

They also check on clients at the front desk, maintain medical records, explain new medications to patients, and remove sutures.

Medical assistant administrative duties include compiling medical records and charts, operating computer software and office equipment, interviewing patients for case histories, sending invoices and bills, caring for wounds, etc.

How to Become an Administrative Medical Assistant

Venturing into this healthcare field can be exciting and rewarding.

People interested in helping others without spending years in school will find this job appropriate. The following steps will lead you to a new and successful career.

• Get The Necessary Education

It would be best to acquire the primary education to be an admin MA. Most employers will only accept applicants with an academic background.

You can take three educational paths to venture into this medical field. They include a high school diploma or GED, a certificate or diploma, and an associate’s degree.

Holding any of these credentials will prove your skills to employers. Some topics you’ll cover in school include anatomy, accounting, computer applications, and ethics.

The administrative medical assistant will be trained in medical terminology, billing procedures, and healthcare insurance.

• Complete Certified Medical Assistant Program

Besides the educational paths listed above, you can also complete a medical assistant program to become a healthcare assistant.

Several administrative MA courses are delivered in-person or online through vocational centers, community colleges, or technical schools. You can finish such programs within a year or two.

They cover topics ranging from anatomy and physiology first to aid.

Meanwhile, you must complete a practicum before earning a clinical support study diploma. This will let you acquire hands-on expertise in a hospital setting.

With that, you can carry out medical tasks like capturing vital data and running laboratory tests.

• Get Certified

Following your formal education, you can explore some professional certifications.

Although only sometimes necessary, having such credentials will build or sharpen your skills. Moreover, some employers may demand it or even fetch you a higher salary.

Many vocational schools and online programs are available to acquire relevant certifications. One of these credentials is Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).

The American Association of Medical Assistants offers it. Another certification you can explore is Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). The American Medical Terminologist Association provides this credential.

• Develop Professional Skills

Most employers across the country look for vital skills in admin MAs.

You’ll need to develop or improve on specific critical skills to make yourself a strong candidate. They include office skills, data entry, patient care, customer service, scheduling, billing, and appointment setting.

You can also acquire transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, Microsoft Office, and computer literacy.

• Get a Job

Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s time to secure a job. You can start by poring over the internet. Several positions are available for administrative medical assistants.

Building a solid network can also make your job search a lot easier. You can contact your instructors, classmates, professors, and other people you know about medical careers.

Work Environments for Administrative Medical Assistants

Admin MAs are experts with vast experience and skills.

Therefore, they can serve in a range of healthcare settings. These include the hospital, clinics, medical offices, outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities.

Other workplaces are rehabilitation homes, nursing centers, and assisted living facilities.

Some experts also venture into particular practices or work behind the scenes. While this is true, you must know one vital fact.

The workplace of administrative MAs can vary depending on the facility where they’re employed. Let’s review these work settings individually for better understanding.

• Medical Offices or Clinics

Working in these facilities can be exciting and rewarding. You’ll strictly operate based on regular business hours. This means you’ll have enough holidays.

Plus, you can concentrate on a particular care area, such as pediatrics or physical therapy. What’s more? You’ll experience a calmer work setting and spend more time scheduling.

• Hospitals

Most executive medical assistants who serve the wellness facilities are in sports medicine and dermatology departments. These sections influence physicians who support patients.

But working in healthcare centers comes with a few drawbacks. First, it entails working unusual hours. Secondly, you’ll encounter patients with various illnesses, severity levels, and emergencies.

• Specialty Practice

We also have experts who don’t enjoy working in healthcare centers or doctor’s offices. Such practitioners manage their clinics without involving larger medical institutions.

Admin medical assistants in private practice may be part of a minor team, but they can provide a more familial atmosphere.

Medical Administrative Assistant Salary

Working in this field of expertise is relatively rewarding. But how much you’ll take home depends on some fundamental elements.

These include your work environment, location, and years of experience. However, you’ll likely receive an annual wage of $ 34,730 to $42,800.

Besides the money and excitement, there are other reasons to be a managerial medical assistant. The work comes with security, advanced technology, insurance, and non-clinical responsibilities.

The study program is effective and can get you a state license quickly.