What does a Medical Office Assistant do?
Medical Office Assistants work in the front desk or office area of a healthcare provider to manage communications with patients, insurers and medical staff. Their role is to keep track of patient information and organize office records to ensure that all patients get prompt care and provide the correct payment information for their accounts. Medical Office Assistants interact with patients by helping them fill out intake forms, calling to remind them about appointment times, working out payment schedules and explaining next steps to process a referral or fill a prescription. They file medical paperwork and record interactions related to each file.
Medical Office Assistant skills and qualifications
Medical Office Assistants should be self-motivated with a desire to help others, and they need a strong set of skills and qualifications to successfully handle their job duties. Some of their most essential skills include:
- Customer service skills and telephone etiquette
- Familiarity with medical terms and technology
- Understanding of law and ethics pertaining to medical practices
- Basic accounting and math skills
- Strong computer, data entry and office management skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Empathy and compassion to give support to patients
- Attention to detail and problem-solving skills
Medical Office Assistant salary expectations
A Medical Office Assistant makes an average of $14.69 per hour in the United States. This amount may vary depending on a candidate’s level of education and experience.
Medical Office Assistant salary expectations
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Common salary:
19.36 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
8.95 -33.60 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Medical Office Assistant education and training requirements
Individuals need a minimum of a high school diploma or GED to become Medical Office Assistants. However, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have earned an associate degree or completed a medical assisting program. Organizations also look for applicants who have obtained the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant certification offered by the National Health Career Association. Some Medical Office Assistants need less education and can learn their duties on the job, but most employers prefer candidates to have a working knowledge of topics like medical terms and codes, laws and ethics and practice and malpractice specialties.
Medical Office Assistant experience requirements
The amount of experience candidates need to become Medical Office Assistants varies based on the size of the medical facility and the duties they would be required to do. A smaller clinic may hire applicants with minimal experience in customer service or office management, while larger organizations may require candidates to have experience in a similar position. Externship experience with any medical office while pursuing certification is acceptable as well.
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