In the healthcare industry, medical administrative assistants are part of the foundation for successful operations. Healthcare providers like hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, doctor's offices and other healthcare centers depend on medical administrative assistants to complete care instructions and organize procedures. A skilled medical administrative assistant handles office tasks essential for offering enhanced patient care.
What is a Medical Administrative Assistant?
An administrative assistant with a specialty in healthcare undertakes the day-to-day operations of a busy medical practice. Scheduling patient appointments, managing critical claims, updating medical records and many other tasks fall under the heading of an administrative assistant. Applying industry best practices of customer service, a skilled medical administrative assistant helps patients enjoy a streamlined care experience. Certified medical administrative assistants (CMAA) offer general office support to keep patient care on schedule and above the basic standard of care.
How to Become a CMAA
There are several paths to becoming an administrative assistant with a healthcare specialty. Both certifications and degree programs help prepare you for this expanding career opportunity. A diploma program could have you ready to begin your job search in as few as 10 months. The program prepares you to seek certification with the National Healthcareer Association, making you eligible for entry level positions. An associate degree in health science with a medical administrative assistant concentration can also put you on path to becoming a CMAA. While a longer program, earning an associate degree may improve your career options. Students could complete an associate degree in as few as 19 months.
Benefits of Pursuing a Career as a CMAA
As a CMAA, you can enjoy a career in the healthcare industry. No office can run successfully without someone to manage office tasks. Scheduling, organization, reordering supplies, handling claims, providing customer service, dealing with complaints, answering phones and many other tasks form the basis for a smoothly running office environment. CMAAs perform the day-to-day tasks that allow doctors and nurses to offer quality healthcare. As a CMAA, you need to fully understand workflow in a medical office setting, understand the privacy rights of patients and provide quality customer care. Healthcare offers stable employment and many new job opportunities for essential personnel. CMAAs definitely count as essential for any healthcare provider.