Medical Administrative Assistant

A Medical Administrative Assistant should be familiar with and be able to efficiently use communication technology typical in a modern medical office. Basic secretarial skills are a necessity, as are field specific skills and an awareness and fluency with laboratory procedures.
 
Duties performed by a Medical Administrative Assistant may include any combination of the following:
 

• Appointment scheduling
• Client billing / collections and insurance
• Handling payroll
• Medical records management
• Preparation of forms
• Receiving and directing patients
• Recording patient vital signs
• Transcribing medical records
• Using medical software

Students are not required to, but may choose to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). To become a CMAA, an individual must pass a certification examination sponsored by the National Healthcare Association. The exam is tailored for individuals whose responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
 

• Medical Front Office – Administrative Assistant
• In-Patient Admitting Clerk
• Medical Receptionist
• Medical Financial Bookkeeping
• Medical Accounts Receivables

Over the past several years, federal rules of reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare have changed, and medical billing has increased in complexity. As a result, there has been a need for increasing numbers of specially trained office staff in the medical field.
 
Medical Administrative Assistants can use their knowledge of medical and office terminology and procedures to work in a variety of jobs, including (but not limited to):
 

• Admitting and Discharge Clerk
• Executive Medical Administrative Assistant
• Hospital Admissions Coordinator
• Insurance Clerks
• Medical Office Managers
• Medical Records Manager
• Patient relations representative
• Receptionists
• Transcriptionists

Graduates of ACH’s Medical Administrative Assistant program can choose to work in a variety of locations, including (but not limited to):

• Chiropractic offices
• Clinics
• Dental offices
• Hospitals
• Medical billing and insurance companies
• Nursing homes
• Physician offices
• Veterinary offices

Overall employment for Medical Administrative Assistants is expected to grow by 12% from 2010 to 2020, and Medical Administrative Assistants who work in California earn a mean wage of $34,660 to $37,150, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2012.

High-school diploma, a recognized equivalency diploma or passing an ability-to-benefit (ATB) test & satisfactory completion & passing of a nationally recognized, standardized capacity-to-benefit (CTB) test, qualification questionnaire & personal interview with administration.