Medical administrative assistants can be found working in a variety of healthcare facilities, and the demand for electronic health record specialists will only increase as electronic health records become more standard. Job opportunities can be found in doctors’ offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and many other types of healthcare facilities. The Medical Administrative Assistant will efficiently and effectively fill the demands of the healthcare field that have dramatically increased with the expansion of health care coverage brought about by the Affordable Care Act and the Meaningful Use incentives brought about by the use of the Electronic Health Record.
An increasing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities will also need support workers, particularly medical assistants, to complete both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work mostly in primary care, a steadily growing sector of the healthcare industry. Medical assistants take and record patients’ personal information. They must be able to keep that information confidential and discuss it only with other medical personnel who are involved in treating the patient.
Electronic health records (EHRs) are changing some medical assistants’ jobs. More and more physicians are adopting EHRs, moving all their patient information from paper to electronic records. Assistants need to learn the EHR software that their office uses.
- National Center for Competency Testing
- Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)
- Insurance and Coding Specialist (NCICS)
- National Health Career Association
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
- Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)
- Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS)
Required Courses:
- BIOL 115 Human Structure & Function I (4)
- BOTE 171 Medical Terminology (3)
- BOTE 211 Business Communication (3)
- HIT 107 Customer Service Strategies in Health Care Setting (3)
- HIT 176 Intro Health Information TEch (4)
- HIT 177 Job Readiness (1)
- HIT 178 Electronic Health Records (3)
- HIT 180 Pathopharmacology (3)
- HIT 182 Medical Language Applications (4)
- HIT 184 Basic ICD-10-CM Coding (3)
- HIT 185 Basic CPT Coding (3)
- HIT 222 Medical Transcription (4)
- HIT 270 Medical Office Simulation I (2)
- HIT 272 Medical Office Simulation II (2)
- HIT 274 Patient Access Certification (2)
- HIT 277 Medical Office Procedures (3)
- HIT 281 Medical Law & Ethics (3)
- HIT 282 Medical Billing/Insurance (3)
- HIT 286 Medical Admin Assistant Cert (2)
- HIT 290 Patient Access Internship (2)
- HIT 291 Medical Admin Assistant Internship (2)
- Gen Ed Electives (9)
Total Required Credits: 68
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As a result, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.
In May 2016, the median annual wages for Medical Assistant was $45,310 Industry.
Most medical assistants work full time. Some work evenings, weekends, or holidays to cover shifts in medical facilities that are always open.
