Can you see yourself working as a medical office assistant? Or more importantly, do you know what the job entails?
In a nutshell, a medical office assistant ensures that the administrative duties of the office are running smoothly and in the right order.
This is a very important role because it ensures that there is no backlog of patients in the office and any items or documents can be accessed easily by the doctor. In short, you make the job easier for the doctor.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the tasks that you would be involved in on a daily basis.
What Does a Medical Office Assistant Specifically Do?
You might have an idea of some of the duties of an MOA, but you may find that there is more to the job than you may expect.
Check in Patients at the Front Office Desk
Each day you will see different people seeking treatment, and you will be the first person in the office to welcome them. Some of them may be in so much pain that they may not be receptive to your genuine greetings, while some may be in a hurry and want to go in first. You’ve got to keep everyone as content as possible until they are seen by the doctor.
Update and Create Health Records
You may be required to interview patients and get their medical histories before the appointment, which makes the doctor’s work easier. For the regular patients, you would update their medical history ahead of their appointment, if applicable.
Administrative Duties of Management
Since you are at the heart of the management of the clinic, it is your responsibility to ensure that everything in the office is being carried out smoothly.
This ranges from handling financial records to restocking medical supplies, both crucial aspects of the job.
Insurance
As a medical office assistant, there will be instances where patients are covered by an insurance company and want to be treated. It is your role to ensure that the insurance is valid. One of the most important aspects of the job is ensuring that the clinic is reimbursed the money by the insurance company.
You are also needed to submit the forms to the company and ensure that they have been filled out correctly. There are processes that you are supposed to carry out to show the procedures that the doctor did and enter the codes. Remember that any wrong information entered may mean the clinic is not reimbursed properly, so accuracy is essential.
Scheduling appointments
As a medical office assistant, scheduling appointments correctly is vital to the flow of care. Ensure you have not allocated two patients at the same time, and coordinate the appointments so a patient isn’t scheduled when the doctor is out for lunch or in a meeting.
Need to Learn the Skills to Be an Effective Medical Office Assistant?
As you can see, not only are there many duties of a medical office assistant, but each involves important details that make a big difference in the way an office is run. If you want to have a successful career as a medical office assistant, your first step is a strong education.
At Academy of Learning College, we help students through our reputable, hands-on training to learn the necessary skills to get work in their chosen fields, and we also provide flexible schedules to allow for students to balance their family life and current jobs. Learn more about our medical office assistant course in British Columbia, and book an appointment with us to discuss your needs. Let us help you reach your potential today!