It’s easy to forget that there are more jobs in a hospital than just residents or nurses. A hospital is a complex organism that requires dozens of different professionals to work together in order to give patients the best experience during their stay. One of those jobs is the medical administrative assistant.
Unlike other healthcare careers, medical admin assistant training can be completed in under two years of schooling. Some programs offer associate degrees and others offer certificates. It’s important to note that if you’re unsure on which is right for you, it’s wise to take a look at the market in your area and understand the requirements and median salary (which will vary from place to place).
What does a medical admin actually do?
Medical admin assistants primarily work in the administrative side of the hospital, healthcare facility, or clinic. You may recognise them as the first person you see in the doctor’s office, processing your insurance and signing you into the facility. Their job is to provide dynamic support to facilities across both direct and in-direct patient needs. In addition to these tasks, medical admin assistants often interact with medical devices which specialise in healthcare technology solutions that enhance administrative efficiency.
Typically, responsibilities include:
- Patient check-in and check-out
- Answering phone calls
- Maintaining patient databases
- Tracking medical charts and records
- Socialising lab results to the appropriate physicians and technicians
- Maintaining office standards, supplies, and creature comforts
What does it take to have a successful career as a medical admin?
Overall, a medical admin assistant is going to spend most of their time filing paperwork and communicating with physicians and patients. If you’ve never cared for paperwork or communication, it’s likely that this line of work isn’t for you.
Good medical admin candidates typically exhibit the following soft skills:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Strong interpersonal
- High emotional intelligence
- Attention to detail
- A desire to help those around them
Hard skills are learned through training and in-career experience, but it’s worth noting that not all medical admin training programs are created equal. If you’ve decided that your soft skills and career vision align with a job in healthcare, make sure to look for educational institutions that provide as much training and support as possible.
Do medical admin assistants get paid well?
Medical admin assistants get a median pay of $35.9k a year, or $17.50 an hour. That’s really good, and could increase depending on your location and place of employment.
How does the job market look for medical admin assistants?
As you may have imagined, the expected growth for this position is high at 19% through 2029. This means there are around 140-thousand extra jobs expected to hit the market by the end of 2029. That’s way above the national average for job growth.
Does working as a medical admin assistant make sense?
Ultimately, that’s a decision only you can make. All we can do is present the facts and tell what kind of people are great for the job. If this sounds like something you are interested in, then yes, this could be an amazing opportunity for you to make a lasting career change. With a growing marketing and the ease of education, medical admin assistant jobs are extremely accessible, and that’s what makes them so interesting.
Another great aspect of getting your degree for being a medical admin assistant is its versatility. There are so many different types of healthcare facilities that you can work for. From public hospitals to private dentists, you can find a job that really suits you.
