How Long is a Medical Administrative Assistant Program and What do You Learn?
Did you know you could train to be a Medical Office Administrative Assistant in less than a year? A career training program can teach you about healthcare delivery systems, medical office administration, medical billing and coding, and the regulations and guidelines that govern the industry. Your program can also prepare you to sit for a national certification exam, which can help you stand out from the competition during a job search.
What is a Medical Administrative Assistant Training Program Like?
A Medical Office Admin Assistant training program teaches what you need to know to perform the responsibilities of an Admin Assistant in a medical office. It can take about 40 weeks to complete a training program. Because its curriculum can be taught online, you may want to choose that delivery method for flexibility and convenience. Among the topics you can expect to cover in your program are:
Healthcare Delivery System
Making sure patients get the services they need is a complex and multi-layered process. Your training program will teach you about the interrelationships between healthcare system components including people, facilities, resources, and providers. You learn about the history of healthcare, how the system has changed over time, and current trends. You also explore health information systems and learn about the importance of safety and security for patients and their data.
Medical Terminology
Learning medical terminology is essential for a Medical Administrative Assistant student because it forms the foundation for understanding the language used in healthcare settings. You can’t work in a healthcare environment if you don’t understand the language. Doctors and nurses use vocabulary that you may not be familiar with that explains specific illnesses, conditions, and treatments. Throughout your training, you’re introduced to pathophysiology and pharmacology, which teaches you about the various systems in the body, how they can be treated, and the correct terminology for them.
Healthcare Compliance and Regulatory Issues
There are strict laws and guidelines that govern what medical professionals can and cannot do. You learn about HIPAA compliance regulations, which compels you to keep patient information private and protected. You learn about the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, and the overall importance of documentation and the rights and responsibilities of each medical professional.
Medical Billing and Coding
An important part of healthcare administration is billing and coding. Your program should teach you how to update medical records and submit insurance claims. You become familiar with the ICD-10, an industry manual that lists the medical codes for all symptoms, injuries, illnesses, and procedures. That manual helps you accurately code medical records and enter the correct information on insurance forms. Your program should prepare you to use the software that allows you to submit and track insurance claims.
National Certification Exam Prep
The curriculum should prepare you to sit for the National Healthcareer Association’s Medical Administrative Assistant certification exam. You might take a class that focuses on test prep. It could include a review of the knowledge and skills that you learned in your previous courses, along with a practice test to hone your test-taking strategy.
What is a Medical Office Administrative Assistant?
As a Medical Office Administrative Assistant, you handle the administrative responsibilities of a medical facility so physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers can focus on patient care. You assist patients with their paperwork, file insurance claims, process payments, and update the patients’ medical records. You place orders with vendors to ensure the office and medical supplies are well stocked, answer phone calls and emails, and keep the waiting room clean and tidy. When patients need to see the doctor, you schedule their appointments and send out reminders.
Once you complete your training, you can seek employment at healthcare facilities. This includes walk-in clinics, private practices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. Typically, you can work a regular nine-to-five schedule in these settings. However, if you work in a hospital, you might work more irregular hours than in a clinic or private practice.
Are you ready to build a healthcare career? Charter College offers a Certificate in Medical Office Administrative Assistant that can prepare you for an entry-level job in a healthcare facility. The program can be completed online in as few as 10 months. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.