Guide to Medical administration career paths

Industry info, training requirements, and employment outlook for medical administration students

Medical administrators are responsible for making sure that healthcare facilities are operating efficiently. They perform the administrative tasks needed to keep clinics and hospitals functioning, and this allows doctors and nurses to focus on treating the patients. Duties include answering phones, maintaining records, billing insurance companies, and arranging schedules.

Due to the fact that medical administrators have a very broad skill set, they can perform their functions and use their skills in many different settings and for many different positions. They work in hospitals, clinics, and private offices. Aside from being a medical office assistant, a medical administrator can also serve as a medical biller and coder, patient coordinator, or admissions coordinator. They work behind the scenes the majority of the time, but in order to do their job, they also need to interact with doctors, nurses, and insurance companies. Medical administrators work independently for the majority of the time, but they still report to a supervisor or manager.

The profession requires at least a high school diploma. To enter the field, you don’t need to have any experience, as long as you have additional training or a certificate. Most jobs, however, typically require 1-3 years of related experience.

Duties:

The duties of a medical administrator vary depending on the setting that they work in. For example, in a larger medical center, you may have specific duties, such as billing or scheduling appointments. If you work in a smaller office, you may be the only one in charge of all of the administrative tasks.

Some of the duties of a medical administrator include:

• Ordering and stocking supplies
• Processing insurance claims
• Keeping the office clean
• Taking phone calls
• Managing medical charts and records
• Checking in patients
• Using computer software
• Managing budgets
• Coding medical records for billing
• Transcribing medical information for doctors

To prepare them for the job, students will typically learn the following technical skills in their training program:

• Medical terminology
• Customer billing
• Computer proficiency
• Customer service
• Data entry
• Scheduling
• Typing

Traits

To be a successful medical administrator, you need a certain skill set. You will get the necessary training to prepare you for the job; however, a lot of these skills come naturally, as well. For example, you might already have the communication skills needed for the job. Before delving into the career, it’s important to do some research on it, and maybe even shadow a medical administrator, to see if it is a good fit for you.

Here are some skills that medical administrators need

Administrative skills:

Having administrative skills is by far one of the most important skills you need for this job. Administrative skills help you complete tasks related to managing a business. Some examples of administrative skills might include answering the phone and taking patient questions, processing forms for insurance claims, scheduling and managing patient appointments, filing and updating patient records, providing good customer service, and using technology.

Organizational skills:

Having good organizational skills is important because you will be the one in charge of running the office. You will be dealing with hundreds of patient records and bills. It is crucial that you have a good system down for keeping everything organized. It will help you stay on top of everything and it will prevent errors with billing, prescriptions, or diagnoses. Some examples of organizational skills include creating a clean working environment, prioritizing each task, managing appointments, and identifying goals to meet.

Budgeting skills:

Part of running an office involves budgeting. Making sure that the office is always stocked with equipment and supplies and that doctors and nurses have what they need to treat patients is really important. Medical administrators usually have to stay within a certain budget and use their organizational skills to make sure that they don’t overspend.

Data analysis

As a medical biller or coder, you will have to work with complex data at times and use critical thinking skills when looking for errors and interpreting the data. Moreover, you will also have to perform basic math calculations when balancing a patient’s account. Improving your math skills will help you perform your job with more ease.

Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are behaviors and tactics that a person uses to interact with others effectively. This job will require interaction with others for the majority of the day, whether that is with patients, doctors, or insurance companies, so making sure that you are comfortable in a position where you will have to communicate with others is really important. Some examples of good interpersonal skills include active listening, emotional intelligence, teamwork, dependability, leadership, patience, and flexibility.

Communication skills

Having good communication is necessary when working as a medical assistant because you will be communicating with people all day long, whether that is with patients and their families, insurance companies, or doctors. Some examples of communication skills include active listening, friendliness, empathy, and being able to adapt your communication style to your audience.

Working conditions and hours

Typically, medical administrators work full-time; however, they may need to work more than 40 hours per week, if required. Some may also be on call in the evenings and weekends in case of emergencies. It depends on the setting they work in. A medical administrator working in a hospital may need to work more hours than one who is working in a 9 to 5 clinic.

Academic requirements

To become a medical administrator, you will need to obtain a medical office administrator certificate or diploma. The length of the program will vary, but typically you can complete it in less than a year. There are shorter programs available as well, but the classes are accelerated. The longer programs are typically for working adults who need more time to complete their program. In addition, a lot of schools also offer programs online. During the program, you will learn medical terminology, customer service, medical laws, and how to use different technology systems.

Pay

The average hourly wage for medical administrative assistants in the United States is $20 as of 2020. The range typically falls between $18 and $23. The rate can vary depending on factors such as education, years of experience, and certifications.

Job outlook

The job market for medical administrators is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2016 and 2026. This is faster than the average for all occupations. Medical administrators are in demand, and will continue to be, because they are needed to run hospitals and clinics. Most doctors and nurses are not trained in administrative tasks, so administrators are essential to helping them run the business and providing the best care to patients. In addition, the country’s aging population will result in an increase in the need for elderly care.

Going into the healthcare field doesn’t necessarily require a lot of schooling. You can get your degree or certification fairly quickly, and enter a career that will allow you to make a positive impact in the lives of others. Pursuing a career as a medical administrator is an excellent career choice if you want a stable and good paying job in the healthcare field that does not involve hands-on work with patients.

Medical Billing & Coding

Medical billing and coding are two different professions under the umbrella of medical administration. Coding and billing require many of the same skills, but they are two different professions in the healthcare industry. Some medical administrators will do some billing and coding for their job, and others pursue it full-time. Both are essential processes in the healthcare system.

Many individuals choose a medical administrative degree that includes training in billing and coding. In many larger medical centers, medical administrators are hired to just do medical billing and coding, as opposed to smaller offices where they might be required to perform all administrative tasks. The programs that include training for billing and coding are usually longer, but the training gives you more lucrative skills which can open more doors once you start looking for a job.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a high demand for medical billers and coders, and the demand will continue to increase. Employment is expected to grow 11% through 2028. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. The baby boomer population will also drive the demand for medical billers and coders.

There is a lot of potential in the medical coding and billing profession. Individuals who choose to go into medical billing and coding have the opportunity to advance their career with continuing education. Once they obtain more certifications, they can expect to move into senior positions within a few years of entering the field. Moreover, billing and coding specialist is a profession that will continue to be in demand because it is the backbone of the healthcare system.

The average annual salary for medical biller and coder specialists is around $42,9801. The salary varies depending on the state that you are working in, your experience level, and your credentials.

Medical Billing

Medical billers are the technicians who are in charge of managing payments and patient accounts. They also oversee insurance claims for healthcare providers. They typically work in hospitals, primary care facilities, and clinics. The billers are the ones who communicate with patients and help patients understand their charges, and part of their job is to make sure the patients have a good experience.

Some of their duties include:

• Updating patient information and managing patient payments
• Working with insurance companies to file claims
• Creating invoices using filing codes
• Sending out invoices to patients
• Taking care of denied claims

Medical Coding

The medical coders are the ones who work behind the scenes with the medical staff. They are primarily in charge of reviewing the patient’s file and translating everything from that file into universal codes that are required by insurance companies. They have to make sure to use the right code every time. They typically rely on CPT code books to begin translating doctors’ notes into useful medical notes which can then be used further in the process of treating the patient.

Typical duties of a Medical Coder:

• Analyzing medical records and identifying deficiencies in the system
• Assigning codes for reimbursements
• Auditing clinical documentation
• Following coding guidelines and conventions
• Providing training to staff
• Researching and analyzing data
• Reviewing documentation that supports procedures and treatment results

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1., 2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics