What Are the Duties of a Medical Office Administrator or Manager?
Medical office managers oversee most of a practice's administrative functions. As a medical office manager, you could work in a private physician's office; you could also work in a dental practice or even a podiatrist's office. Keep reading to learn more about this health care profession.
Job Responsibilities
Job duties include supervising employees, ordering office and medical supplies, handling client accounts, and communicating with insurance companies. For some offices, you might make sure all doctors' licenses are up to date. Other responsibilities could include administering payroll, collecting patient information, or scheduling appointments.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMedicalOfficeAdministrators"> Important Facts About Medical Office Administrators</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Median Salary (2023) </td><td> $68,211*</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031) </td><td> 28% growth (<i>for all medical and health services managers</i>)**</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Attention to detail, clear verbal and written communication, problem solving ability, technical and analytical ability, computer competency, interpersonal</td></tr>
<tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Human resources manager, insurance underwriters, social and community service managers</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Sources: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---SkillsAndQualifications"> Skills and Qualifications</h3><p>A June 2019 search of <i>Monster.com</i> job posts showed that some employers prefer medical office managers with bachelor's or master's degree, while others may hire applicants who only hold some form of post-secondary certification. You may need one to five years of office management experience in order to qualify for some positions. A few employers seek applicants with previous medical experience, such as licensed practical nurses or paramedics.
</p><p>A solid grasp of popular software programs, like Quickbooks, Microsoft Word, and Excel, may be necessary as well. A good understanding of collections, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and insurance coding tasks is equally important, in addition to having customer service and patient advocacy skills.
</p><h3 id="section---EducationAndCertification"> Education and Certification</h3><p>Some colleges offer either an associate's degree program or a certificate program in medical office administration. Associate's programs include general education courses, in addition to core classes in coding, clinical techniques, ethics and laws, transcription, medical terms, and computer software. Diploma or certificate programs in medical office administration cover many of the same core topics and often take less time to complete.
</p><p>If you'd like to obtain medical office manager certification, the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) offers the Certified Medical Manager credential. In order to qualify for the credentialing exam, you need to have at least three years of experience in health care, along with at least 12 credit hours that relate to health care and management. You also have to be a PAHCOM member.</p>