Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Medical Assistant
The need for healthcare employment has never been higher! In order to keep patients healthy and safe, workers are required both on the front lines and in the background.
But if you are interested in becoming a medical assistant, then you should know everything you need to know about the profession. The article focuses on presenting the nitty-gritty and essentials of becoming a medical assistant.
So, without further ado, let’s give it a read!
What is a Medical Assistant?
The people who perform administrative tasks in a medical facility are known as medical assistants, also known as medical secretaries, medical office assistants, or medical office managers.
A career as a medical assistant can be ideal for you if you have strong interpersonal and communication skills, are organized and are interested in enhancing the healthcare experience for both patients and practitioners.
Direct patient and medical staff interaction are possible in this rewarding entry-level healthcare vocation. There is nothing stopping you from starting this exciting new career because medical assistants are also the ones who ensure that things are operating well. Convenient online programs are readily available.
What are the Daily Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant?
Following are some of the day-to-day operational activities and responsibilities of a MAA
- Take messages, answer the phone, and/or transfer calls
- Take care of incoming and outgoing mail as well as faxes
- Keeping and gathering data in medical records and charts with accuracy
- Arranging staff meetings
- Medical billing
- Appointment-setting for patients
Are MAA and Medical Assistants the Same Thing?
Some duties are shared between the two roles, although there are some significant distinctions-
- Health sciences and therapeutic tasks including monitoring vital signs, administering injections or drugs, and assisting doctors with patient examinations are more heavily emphasized during medical assistant training
- Medical assistants will receive more in-depth training in organizing medical records and charts, making appointment schedules, and invoicing and filing insurance
How to Become a MAA
There are primarily two ways to become a medical assistant: a certification or diploma program or an associate degree program. An associate degree program will make you eligible for higher salaries and positions whereas a diploma will get you entry-level job. But at the same time, an associate degree program will cost you higher and take more time than a certification or diploma program. You need to choose the path as per your requirements.
The Importance of Medical Assistants
Medical offices depend heavily on the work of medical assistants. Additionally, and perhaps more crucially, they give their patients great customer service that exudes both expertise and compassion.
A patient will frequently speak with a administrative assistant when they initially contact a medical facility. They set the tone for a patient, and the first impression they leave helps to build a good working relationship.
What are the Duties of Administrative Assistants?
Despite the fact that their responsibilities vary based on their job location, they are typically in charge of-
Customer Support
Without efficient customer support, it is really difficult to run a business. A medical assistant support customers in the following ways-
- When patients arrive for their appointments, the front desk staff welcomes them and checks them in
- Answering customer phone calls
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Gathering and documenting crucial data about the patient’s medical background and symptoms
Administrative Tasks
- Managing & coordinating co-pays
- Writing and responding to mail on the practice’s behalf
- Putting together medical records and charts
- Entering data about patients’ medical information, medical billing, coding, insurance, and obtaining diagnostic results into the practice’s computer program
- Tracking inventory
- Purchasing office supplies
- Arranging for office maintenance & equipment upkeep
Salary of Administrative Assistant
Assistants frequently serve as patients’ first point of contact with the medical practice where they work, therefore their professionalism, expertise, and talents are highly regarded. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants get average annual pay of $39,000, or $18.75 per hour.
This will vary depending on the area in which the person works, the level of responsibility that particular person has, and the length of time they have worked in the industry.
Connect with VA.care for Reliable Medical Assistant
Workload-heavy administrative chores can significantly increase your workload. Why not assign someone else to some of these tasks?
Your administrative responsibilities, such as responding to emails, scheduling appointments, monitoring databases, performing CRM updates, and more, can be handled by a virtual administrative assistant.
To run your healthcare business in the most efficient way, then don’t forget to connect with VA.care and get the services of a professional medical administrative assistant.