A medical administrative specialist serves a key role in medical office, clinic and hospital settings. This multi-skilled practitioner is competent in medical records management, insurance processing, coding and billing, management of practice finances, information processing, and fundamental office management tasks. A medical administrative specialist is very familiar with clinical and technical concepts required to coordinate administrative office functions in the healthcare setting.
Nature of the Job
Must have a sincere desire to help people and a willingness to learn the complexities of the health care industry.
Medical Administrative Specialists work most of their time in the “front” office of a physician office, clinic or hospital.
A medical administrative specialist must be outgoing, patient, and have an attention to detail. Also, must be willing to learn new procedures, laws and insurance filing forms.
Some of the duties performed by a Medical Administrative Specialist:
- Set appointment times
- Greet patients
- File and pull charts
- Handle insurance information
- Assist new patients with paperwork
- Know word processing
- Know bookkeeping
- Type medical correspondence
- Transcribe medical dictation
- Understand and know insurance coding information
- Scheduling hospital admissions
- Types case histories
- Fill out and submit insurance medical forms
- Collects and records payments
- Must know medical terminology
Education Requirements:
Must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. with acceptable training. Many colleges, career schools and technical schools offer medical administrative assistant, medical office assistant, or medical secretary programs. Graduates from these programs will receive either a certificate or diploma depending on the program.
Graduation from a school that is accredited makes it easier to apply for certification.
Certification/Licensing:
Each individual state decides the scope of practice for medical administrative specialists. Most states do not have licensure laws, but many states do have a scope of practice for medical administrative specialists or medical assistants.
Certification by a recognized organization enables Medical Administrative Specialists to be promoted faster, earn a higher pay and great respect. Employers prefer to hire experienced workers and many prefer certified applicants who have passed a national examination, indicating that the medical administrative specialist meets certain standards of competence.
Working Conditions
Medical Administrative Specialists deal with the public on a daily basis and must be neat and well groomed. Their working conditions are in well-lighted and very clean environments. Most work a 40-hour work week depending on where employed, and may work nights and weekends.
Employment/Employment Outlook
The job outlook for medical administrative specialists is excellent. The field is expected to grow much faster than average, which means an increase in 36% or more between 2000 and 2010. The health services industry is expected to expand because of technological advances in medicine and the aging population.
Estimated Earnings
Earnings vary depending on experience, education and skill level. .
- Average starting wage is approximately $8.00 - $10.00 a hour
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