Administrative and clerical support is required in all types of medical offices; therefore healthcare administration professionals are required at long-term care facilities, clinics, hospitals, and other types of healthcare offices.
If you are interested in working in the field of medical office administration, then read this informative guide. It will help you learn about different Medical Office Degrees being offered in the U.S.
What Is Medical Office Administration?
Medical office administration encompasses all of the support and managerial roles that provide administrative services in a healthcare or medical setting. Professionals working as Medical Office Administrators are responsible for front office duties, such as maintaining records, filing and billing, and ordering equipment and supplies.
What Can You Do with a Medical Office Administration Degree?
After completing a Medical Office Administration degree, individuals can launch their careers as Admitting Clerks, Medical Receptionists, Medical Office Assistants, Medical Secretaries, Medical Administrative Assistants, Front Office Managers, and Medical Clerks.
Now let’s shed light on the career prospects in this field. The employment figures presented in this section have been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medical Assistants
These professionals perform clinical and administrative duties under the supervision of a physician. Administrative duties usually include coding and billing, maintaining medical records, and scheduling appointments. Clinical duties usually include administering medications, preparing patients for doctor’s examinations, recording medical histories, and taking vital signs.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $34,800 | 23% | $35,720 | California | 96,850 |
| Alaska | $45,630 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Receptionists
Since the income data of Medical Receptionists is not published on BLS, therefore we will use the employment data of the broad category, identified as ‘Receptionists.’ These professionals are responsible for greeting visitors and clients, escorting visitors to their destinations, answering phone calls, and confirming appointments.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $30,050 | 5% | $31,250 (Receptionists and Information Clerks) | New York | 95,590 |
| District of Columbia | $40,050 |
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
These professionals perform secretarial duties such as recording reports and medical charts, billing patients, and scheduling appointments. Since the job outlook figure for Medical Secretaries has not been published on BLS, we have used the job outlook data for the broad category, identified as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. The remaining data mentioned in the table below is specific to Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | State with the Highest Salary, 2019 |
| $36,580 | -7% (Secretaries and Administrative Assistants) | $38,090 | California | 95,120 |
| District of Columbia | $46,020 |
What to Expect from a Medical Office Administration Degree?
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Medical Office Administration prepares candidates to land entry-level office positions in the healthcare industry. The program’s curriculum incorporates several modules such as Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, Administrative Skills for the Medical Office, Insurance Claims, Processing and Adjudication, Medical Terminology, Keyboarding, and Ethics and Professionalism.
The Diploma program in Medical Office Administration trains students to work as entry-level healthcare administrators in public and private facility settings. To obtain the diploma, program participants have to complete the required coursework, a case study research project, and a medical office administration internship.
A Medical Front Office Certificate program helps individuals develop important medical front office skills. Students enrolled in this program have to study the following topics: Medical Terminology for Office Administration, Business Communication Applications, Fundamentals of Computers, Advanced Word, and Intermediate Keyboarding.
How to Choose a Medical Office Administration Degree?
Individuals are advised to consider many factors before shortlisting a Medical Office Administration program. They should look at the program’s curriculum, the duration of the program, the reputation of the program, and the cost of the degree.
Medical Office Administration Degree Admission Requirements
To get into a Medical Office Administration program, candidates have to send the required documents to the school’s admissions office. They have to submit their personal statement, CV, recommendation letters, transcripts, and the admission application form, along with an application fee.
For detailed information regarding the admission criteria and requirements, you should consult the school’s admission office.