Medical Admin Asst.

What To Expect

A medical administrative assistant performs the clerical tasks that are necessary to help keep the offices of health care professionals running smoothly. While some medical assistants assist with clinical duties, those who are employed as medical administrative assistants typically do not tend to these tasks. Rather, their duties generally include updating and filing medical records, making arrangements for hospital and laboratory services and completing insurance forms. Other duties typically performed by medical administrative assistants include greeting patients, answering telephones, and scheduling appointments.

Recommended Qualification

*In order to become a medical administrative assistant, you generally must complete a 1 or 2-year certificate or diploma program. Many employers, however, require their medical administrative assistants to hold an associate's degree in the field.

A good candidate for a career as a medical administrative assistant is someone who is well organized and who has excellent communication skills. Those who are people-friendly and who are interested in a career in the medical field that does not require providing patient care are particularly well suited to this career.