Medical Office Professionals Are in Demand Across the U.S.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for many healthcare workers across the world. In the United States, many places have dealt with an influx of patients. As a result, facilities need more medical office professionals to handle daily administrative tasks.
Even after the pandemic ends, experts expect the demand to continue. They project the medical office professional employment to rise by 19% by 2029. Here is what you need to know about the steadily growing career.
What Is a Medical Office Professional?
Sometimes known as medical assistants or secretaries, a medical office professional provides support for a busy physician. The job entails performing administrative functions in a hospital, clinic, doctor’s office, and other healthcare facilities. In a small practice, you might find the clerical staff to be only one person. Sizable healthcare facilities will have an increased administrative team.
These individuals are knowledgeable about a wide range of medical terms. They can set, confirm, and cancel patient appointments. If you decide to become an assistant, you will answer the phone and emails as well as complete insurance forms.
Medical office professionals constantly keep the rest of the healthcare staff informed of administrative affairs. They are the first people a patient sees when they walk through the doors. It is vital for the clerical staff to be kind and courteous to make a positive first impression.
What Are the Qualifications?
Some people may think you need to spend several years in post-secondary school to work as a medical office professional. However, this type of job does not require you to have a college degree.
You should have at least a high school diploma to become a medical office professional. Many employers prefer further education through a trade or vocational school such as Career Technical Institute. To become a sought-after employee a certificate program is ideal. You may also choose to become a National Certified Medical Office Assistant.
Why Healthcare Facilities Need Trained Professionals
More and more healthcare facilities are hiring medical office professionals. They are aware of how essential the clerical staff is in the day-to-day operation of clinics, especially during the pandemic. In 2020, 35% of employers reported that their assistants had more responsibility than the year before. Some additional reasons include:
- More time for patients. Physicians would like to dedicate more time to patients. A lot of healthcare practitioners come across the challenge of not having enough time. A medical office professional relieves the workload by taking over the daily tasks. Doctors can have a little more time treating a patient’s condition.
- Improve the quality of service. Hospitals and clinics need medical office professionals to streamline services to be more effective in providing patient care. Patient care is an administrative and clinical ordeal. By delegating phone calls and invoicing to these staff members, healthcare facilities can maximize the potential of their team. Doctors will be able to focus on core operations while handling COVID-19 cases.
- Better reputation. A person seeking medical help desires a clinic or office they can trust, especially during the pandemic. Since a physician can dedicate more time to patients, someone can leave the clinic satisfied. The patients can improve the office’s reputation through word of mouth, resulting in more clients.
- Trained Professionals. Medical office staff has the training to be working in the healthcare sector. They can assist patients with meal plans and schedule personal calls for follow-ups. While healthcare facilities are busy with COVID-19 patients, they can rest knowing they have someone with the necessary training working for them.
The Benefits of Becoming a Medical Office Professional
Hospitals, clinics, and offices still need the help of medical office professionals as they try to manage COVID-19 cases. How can someone benefit from starting a medical assistant career? There are different reasons why becoming a medical professional is suitable for you. The benefits are:
- Work anywhere. You can find employment at a hospital or a general practice. Perhaps, you want to work as a medical office employee in a specialized clinic. Also, you can find employment anywhere in the United States. Unlike a license, a certificate is recognized across the country.
- Time goes by quickly. Several careers may involve moments of downtime. Employees likely become bored as they wait for the end of their shift. A medical office professional may find that most of their workdays are busy. There is a high chance you will not get bored as you wait for your next task. Before you know it, the day is over.
- Flexible schedules. Most medical office professionals work 40 hours a week. Hospitals and other facilities stay open during the night and holidays. You can devise a schedule that works for you if you decide to go full-time. Work hours are regular as well. You will not need to operate around a constantly changing weekly schedule.
Most training programs allow you to become certified within one to two years. A three-minute quiz can help you determine if a medical office professional career is right for you.
Sign-up for a Medical Office Training
At Career Technical Institute, you can find a medical office training program to help you start your career. A person living in Washington D.C. can receive both classroom and hands-on training. You will have the chance to become an expert in medical billing, medical coding, and office processes.
Our program teaches students the fundamentals of Microsoft Office and other advanced computer software. You will learn health insurance processing and gain an understanding of medical vocabulary. The medical office program introduces Health Electronic Records as well. We also offer online courses for those living across the country, except for California.