What does a medical administrative assistant do? Medical administrative assistants are an integral part of the hospital or physician’s office medical staff. You’re usually the first smiling face and cheerful voice patients interact with when they call or walk into the facility. As a medical secretary, your job description can include:
- Sort mail
- Answer the office phones
- Schedule appointments with patients
- Take care of the billing
- Prepare the medical reports
- Schedule patient consultations and diagnostic testing
- Keep office supplies in check
- File for both office and patient records
To truly succeed as a medical secretary or admin assistant, you should have excellent organizational skills, and be a people person. You’ll need to know how to use a computer and assorted programs and apps. Also, you should be a decent communicator, both verbally and written. Not to mention, a good listener. Be prepared to listen to a patient’s health woes, and the rest of the medical staff’s complaints. Oh and, don’t be a gossip. Discretion is key.
How Long Does Medical Administrative Assistant Training Take?
You’ll need your high school diploma or GED in order to get into a medical administration program. Most employers will expect that you’ve gone through either vocational training or a community college program.
- Certificate programs may take 9 months to 1 year to complete.
- Associate’s degree programs take 2 years to complete.
Once you’re hired, expect a period devoted to on-the-job training. That will last up to three months, depending on the type of medical facility you’re employed with.
Consider becoming a certified medical assistant to wow future employers. With two to four years of experience under your belt, you’ll become eligible to take the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) exam through the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
What is the Salary and Job Outlook?
Administrative Assistant Salary: “The median annual salary for secretaries and administrative assistants was $40,990 in May 2020. The bottom 10 percent earned under $26,880, and the top 10 percent earned over $67,510.” [BLS]
Administrative Assistant Job Outlook: “Overall employment of secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to decline 9 percent from 2019 to 2029.” [BLS]
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