How To Become A Medical Office Assistant In Vancouver

Vancouver, BC is one of the most bustling and well-developed cities in Canada, with sky-high property values and overwhelming appeal as a place to live and work. The City of Vancouver, with a sizeable population of over 662,248

 is just one part of greater Vancouver, a metropolitan area consisting of multiple municipalities throughout the Fraser Valley. Greater Vancouver, also known as Metro Vancouver, is home to over 2,426,160 people.  More than 20% of BC’s population is over the age of 65. As this population ages, a strong healthcare system is necessary to meet the demands of the province. In response to sustained pressure on the healthcare system due to COVID, as well as this age-related demographic concern — BC will not return to pre-pandemic levels of healthcare spending. Annual healthcare spending per person in BC now exceeds $8,800 per person, higher than average compared with the national average of $8,563. The need for medical office administrative assistants is anticipated to increase in response to the push to hire nurses, doctors, and other direct patient care support staff. 

Medical Office Assistants (MOAs) play a vital role in Vancouver’s healthcare system; they support healthcare teams by handling administrative tasks and may even assist with clinical duties. Medical Office Administrators are essential in assisting clinical staff by handling administrative work, so these direct patient care professionals have the time to concentrate on giving patients high-quality treatment. 

In this blog article, we’ll delve into the responsibilities of MOAs, the skills and qualifications required, and the opportunities and challenges they face in public and private healthcare settings in the Greater Vancouver Area, from Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster and Richmond to Burnaby, Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam. 

Education & Training Requirements To Become A Medical Office Assistant in Vancouver

Vancouver has hundreds of job opportunities for Medical Office Assistants in both public and private healthcare facilities, including: 

• Community health centres
• Long-term care centres 
• Home care centres
• Cancer centres 
• Ambulatory care clinics
• Immunization clinics 
• Insurance companies
• Chiropractic clinics
• Naturopathic clinics 
• Acupuncture clinics 
• Dental clinics
• Optometry clinics
• And more 

To become an MOA in Vancouver, you must have skills in medical record-keeping, transcription, insurance billing, and standard medical office procedures. Aspiring MOAs in Vancouver are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent, but many employers prefer to hire MOAs with post-secondary education. Obtaining a diploma in Medical Office Administration

 can provide the necessary skills to stand out from other applicants.  

Medical Office Administrator Diplomas Vs Certificates

Those planning to complete an education in Medical Office Administration will have the choice between pursuing a Certificate or a Diploma program. Diplomas, which take 1-2 years to complete, offer an in-depth curriculum that prepares students for work in various medical settings. Diplomas are often viewed more favourably by employers, as they demonstrate greater career readiness. Some Diploma programs, like the one offered by Sundance College, include hands-on training in a healthcare setting through a practicum placement. 

Certificates, on the other hand, are shorter programs that can be completed in just a few weeks or months. While they may provide most of the basic hard skills and knowledge an MOA needs to know, they often lack the theoretical depth offered by Diploma programs, and typically do not include practicum experience. Additionally, Certificate programs may not be eligible for the same financial aid benefits as Diplomas. 

Reasons To Get A Medical Office Assistant Diploma

Earning a Medical Office Assistant Diploma equips you with the specialized knowledge and hard skills needed to excel as an MOA in Vancouver. MOAs perform essential duties

 such as timely billing of the provincial healthcare system, managing confidential records, and assisting patients during appointments. A Medical Office Assistant Diploma prepares you for these duties right from the start in a public or private healthcare setting of your choice.

MOA Diplomas include courses vital to your success in the healthcare system, such as anatomy & physiology, medical transcription, medical terminology, coding & billing systems for public and privately insured medical offices, computer software used in the field, and more. Diploma curriculums focus on practical skills and in-depth knowledge that can be applied in medical settings across the country.

Medical Office Assistants’ Job Outlook And Salary In Metro Vancouver

The job outlook for MOAs in Vancouver is encouraging, with nationwide trends indicating that demand for Medical Office Assistants will exceed supply. From 2022 through 2031, the Government of Canada forecasts 41,100 new medical administrative assistant jobs and only 36,400 applicants.  

What kind of wellness centre suits you best? The skills graduates gain through a Diploma opens up career opportunities in a multitude of areas and different types of medical offices. These skills can be transferred between provinces, different health authorities, insurance companies, opticians’, chiropractors’ and offices; and myriad private wellness centres, like women’s health clinics, occupational therapists’ offices, and rehabilitation centres; providing even more options for aspiring MOAs. 

Metro Vancouver currently has almost 400 job opportunities on Indeed for Medical Office Assistants (MOAs) in both public and private healthcare facilities throughout Vancouver. These include inpatient care facilities within Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health authorities, with almost a quarter of these opportunities advertised for these health authorities alone. Search open MOA positions in Metro Vancouver

 on multiple job boards through Job Search on Google to better refine your search. 

Job opportunities for Medical Office Assistants include work in clinics, personal care homes, Connections rural health transportation, and hospitals. MOAs employed in hospitals are often called Hospital Unit Clerks and focus on clerical work. Your employer, salary, and benefits may vary depending on whether you work as a Unit Clerk at a hospital or an MOA in a private or public outpatient healthcare setting — which can benefit from large healthcare budgets. 

The hiring initiative for nurses, physicians, and other direct patient care support workers, has resulted in an increased demand for medical office assistants. Like other provinces, BC’s healthcare expansions are planned in response to concerns about demographics (including an aging population), public health emergencies, delivery of care, and compensation of the workforce — which includes medical office administration. MOAs are an important part of the operation of a health unit or medical clinic, so they are factored in most budgets. 

How Much Can A Medical Office Administrator Make In Vancouver?  

In Vancouver, the provincial minimum wage is $16.75 per hour, for an annual salary of $32,552. MOAs in Vancouver earn an average of $22.95 per hour or $47,736 per year. 

Your employer’s pay scale, availability of full-time hours, local demand for MOAs, and whether you work for Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health or other nearby health authorities will determine your starting wage.  The high average wage, reflecting the top 10% of salaries in BC’s lower mainland, including Metro Vancouver, offers $35/hour or an annual salary of $72,800.  

To get a better idea of your starting salary starting out, it’s helpful to know the type of healthcare setting in which you’d like to work. Research the position and employer you’re interested in or ask your professional network about new and upcoming opportunities! 

Skillsets Required of MOAs in Vancouver 

Medical Office Administrators need a combination of hard and soft skills to excel in their roles. Hard skills include technical abilities such as record-keeping, transcription, and billing. For example, an MOA working in Vancouver must know how to use a BC Services Card and specialized software to bill public health insurance for medical services. They must also have knowledge of British Columbia’s health insurance codes and official medical terminology. 

Soft skills are also of vital importance for an MOA’s success. Strong organizational skills allow for managing data entry, patient records, and other tasks requiring attention to detail. Excellent communication skills and the ability to create a welcoming environment for staff and patients are also crucial for providing high-quality healthcare or wellness services. Soft skills like these are not only essential to making medical offices run but they’re easily transferable to other roles and career paths.

What Jobs Can Medical Office Administrators Get Promoted To? 

A medical office administration diploma makes a wide range of career options in the healthcare sector possible. From your first, vitally essential employment position, there are always locations to begin your start and career routes to follow with practical skills and knowledge that may be utilized in different settings and areas. You might begin by working as a:

• Medical Transcriptionist 
• Medical Billing Clerk 
• Medical Scheduler 
• Hospital Unit Clerk 
• Patient Coordinator 
• And more 

Experienced MOAs can advance to senior positions with important employers like Fraser Health, Interior Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, and Vancouver Island Coastal Health authorities or private health and wellness clinics. With the right educational background and years of experience, an MOA may seek job opportunities such as:

• Medical Office Manager 
• Clinic Manager 
• Medical Office Trainer 
• And more 

Why Becoming An MOA In Metro Vancouver Is A Rewarding Professional Journey 

There are numerous job opportunities for Medical Office Assistants in Vancouver. With the appropriate skills and qualifications, you could embark on a fulfilling career in the healthcare sector that has plenty of opportunity for advancement. Choosing to become an MOA in Vancouver is a gratifying career choice that supports both the healthcare system and wellness providers. MOAs and Hospital Unit Clerks are in high demand to keep the healthcare field running efficiently, making them popular career paths. 

While a degree is not necessary to become an MOA, many employers prefer candidates with specialized post-secondary education and practical experience. Sundance College offers a Medical Office Administration Diploma that includes a 5-week practicum placement, providing students with valuable workplace experience and practical skills. 

Sundance College also offers the option to study online, allowing you to earn your Diploma from your home in Vancouver or anywhere in BC. The education, training, Career Services support, and practicum experience gained through Sundance College can help you get hired as an MOA in cities across Canada. Contact us to learn more about earning your Diploma and starting your career in less than a year.