What Does a Medical Administrative Assistant Do?

<p>Medical administrative assistants perform general administrative duties specific to the healthcare industry. General responsibilities may include answering the phone, greeting patients and visitors, ordering supplies, sorting mail, bookkeeping, and creating invoices. Tasks that might require specialized knowledge include updating and maintaining patient medical records, processing insurance forms, scheduling patient appointments or medical procedures, and coordinating lab services. They may also assist physicians or medical personnel with various tasks, including transcribing dictation, writing correspondence, or preparing reports and presentations. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td>Required Education</td><td>No formal education is necessary to work as a medical assistant, but most assistants have a high school diploma, and many do complete some form of postsecondary education. Some jobs may require assistants to pass an exam or complete an accredited program.</td></tr> <tr><td>Training</td><td>Many medical assistants receive on-the-job training once they begin work. This training can take a number of months to complete.</td></tr> <tr><td>Certification</td><td>Certification is not required, but it is preferred by employers and can help applicants get a job.</td></tr> <tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td>Dental Assistants, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, Medical Transcriptionists, Pharmacy Technicians</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WorkEnvironment">Work Environment</h3> <p>Medical administrative assistants are employed in a variety of settings and their job duties vary depending on the employer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, <i>www.bls.gov</i>), over 58% of medical assistants worked for physicians' offices in 2021. Others work for hospitals, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, dentists, outpatient care facilities, and long-term care facilities. </p> <h3 id="section---SalaryInfoAndJobOutlook">Salary Info and Job Outlook</h3> <p>The BLS reported that medical assistants, including medical administrative assistants, earned a median salary of $37,190 a year in 2021. Those employed by agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities earned the most money in 2021, averaging $52,970 annually. Other high-paying employers included professional and commercial equipment, outpatient care centers, electronic shopping houses and insurance carriers, per the BLS. The Bureau indicated that the employment of medical assistants were projected to increase by 16% between 2021 and 2031.</p>