A Medical Administrative Assistant (MAA) is an important part of a health care team who is in charge of keeping the medical office running smoothly. Medical administrative assistants work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmaceutical companies, government health agencies and a variety of other medical settings. An MAA creates office efficiencies that can help medical professionals to see more patients. As the population ages, healthcare jobs such as this one will rise in demand in the years to come.
The majority of the job involves performing administrative duties such as filing records, purchasing supplies and equipment, admitting patients, account and insurance billing but office assistants are also responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments and assisting with examinations.
Important skills for the job include having good understanding of medical language, being able to perform general office procedures and possessing good communication skills since a Medical Administrative Assistant must be able to communicate accurately with medical professionals and patients.
MAA’s must also be well organized by nature, be a team player, be adaptable to changing technology and be proficient with computer technology and medical software have advanced problem solving skills, be attentive to detail, and have discretion since they have to ensure privacy and confidentiality of patient information at all times.
Skills are things that you can do and they can be taught and learned. As we discuss some of the skills needed to work in an office, remember that even if you don’t currently possess all of these skills, you can learn them through our courses. As you learn new skills, practice them! Use them in your everyday life and practice using them as you answer the phone, meet new people, and interact with others in all types of situations. Important skills for the job include having a firm understanding of medical language, being able to perform general office procedures and possessing good communication skills since a MAA must be able to communicate accurately with medical professionals and patients.
MAA’s must also be well organized by nature, be a team player, be adaptable to changing technology and be proficient with computer technology and medical software have advanced problem solving skills, be attentive to detail and have discretion since they must ensure privacy and confidentiality of patient information at all times.
Do you think you have what it takes? Start your Medical Administrative Assistant online courses at Ashworth College.