Medical Office Administration

What is medical office administration?

Medical office administration is the process of keeping a medical office running smoothly. It requires a strong understanding of medical terminology, language, and a broad knowledge of procedures required in a medical office.

Administrators in a nutshell are highly qualified assistants. They can assist physicians with complex reports (busy work for a physician). Administrators are often called on to keep detailed records of patient histories, help with making sure the office is full of medical supplies, and to have a working understanding of billing and insurance rules.

In order to become a medical office administrator you will need to go through a special training program designed to give you the tools necessary to do the job correctly. Often an Associates or Bachelors degree can help with placement and can lead to a higher starting salary.

This career can be spent working in hospitals or private practices. The work does involved sitting for long periods of time and a lot of typing, so it is important to integrate a quality exercise program outside of work to keep your body in shape for the demands of an office job. It is also a good idea to make sure and always use ergonomic keyboards, and mouse to combat the potential for carpel tunnel syndrome (which can be quite painful).

Starting salaries for positions like this can depend greatly on your level of education and responsibilities, but range from $22,000 and top out at around $40,000. Certification in this profession is usually rewarded with higher salaries.