Medical Office Assistant: Career Choice

Why Choose to be a Medical Office Assistant?

The Job of the Future
The expansion of the health services industry from technological advances in medicine and a growing and aging population will result in an increasing need for medical office assistants.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook foresees the profession of medical office assistants to
be one of the fastest growing occupations through 2014.

The Career
The job of a medical office assistant can be multifaceted depending on the size and location of the practice. In a small practice, the assistant may handle all administrative duties whereas in a larger practice, there may be more specialized administrative positions. Some of the duties of a medical office assistant include answering telephones; greeting patients; scheduling appointments, surgeries, and laboratory services; preparing new patient files, ordering office supplies; preparing purchase orders; handling billing and bookkeeping; preparing and filing medical insurance claims; and arranging for hospital admissions. The result of a trained, efficient, knowledgeable medical office assistant is a smooth, well-run medical practice.

Job Opportunities
Medical office assistants will most likely secure employment in physicians' offices. Some will work in public and private hospitals and in offices of other health professionals, such as chiropractors and podiatrists. Other establishments needing medical assistants include outpatient care centers, public and private educational services, ambulatory healthcare services, state and local government agencies, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and nursing care facilities.

Employment Outlook
Service-oriented positions in the medical field continue to provide about half of the employment opportunities in the United States. People of all ages and men as well as women train to become administrative medical assistants. Rapid growth in the number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities will result in an increasing need of educated medical office assistants. In fact, employment of medical office assistants is expected grow much faster than the average - 27 percent or more - for all occupations through the year 2014.

What You Can Earn
As with many careers, the earning potential of medical office assistants varies depending on factors such as experience, skills and geographic location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical office assistants earned up to $34,650 in 2004. Those working in general medical and surgical hospitals earned higher salaries over those working in other healthcare entities. Advancement opportunities for medial office assistants include becoming office managers or moving into administrative support occupations. With additional education, the opportunities are endless.