Medical Office Assistant: You are the smiling face and friendly welcome that patients receive when they enter a doctor’s office. You are an integral member of the health care professional team, always ready to lend a helping hand.
As a support to both doctors and patients, your role as a Medical Office Assistant is focused on providing exceptional patient care and ensuring the smooth operation of the medical office, whether that be in a doctors’ office, hospital, laboratory, clinic, or other medical setting.
Skilled Medical Office Assistants perform these duties in a professional and respectful manner, always remembering that a primary responsibility is to create a positive atmosphere for those who are feeling unwell.
The role of a Medical Office Assistant combines both direct and indirect patient care responsibilities. Let’s take a closer look:
Patient Care
The Medical Office Assistant is the face of the office and acts as the Medical Receptionist. You greet and register patients at the front desk and are responsible for answering the phone and responding to emails in a professional way.
As the Medical Office Assistant, you are in charge of patient check-in and, if necessary, assisting patients with the completion of any required documentation. You also schedule appointments and clarify the type of medical assessment needed by asking each patient a brief list of questions. Finally, it is the Medical Office Assistant’s job to gather and update patients’ records accordingly.
Administrative Duties & Correspondence
The Medical Office Assistant is responsible for many important administrative duties. Most of the files you handle are sensitive in nature; therefore, medical administration is a big responsibility, and you need to prioritize confidentiality out of respect for the patients you are helping.
Some of the administrative responsibilities a Medical Office Assistant carries out include:
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Billing patients and third parties
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Transcribing and updating correspondence, such as exam notification letters or third-party forms and letters
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Sending tissue and fluid samples to labs for analysis
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Recording, compiling, and reporting sensitive patient information
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Corresponding with external specialists to schedule referrals
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Printing prescriptions for patients
Patient Assessment
As a Medical Office Assistant, you play a direct role in patient care. It is your job to lead patients to exam rooms and instruct them on how to prepare for the doctor. Sometimes the Medical Office Assistant will need to weigh or measure a patient. Other times, you will need to take the patient’s temperature or blood pressure. This type of work requires a great deal of professionalism and respect for the patient. It is your responsibility to make the patient feel comfortable while also preparing them for the doctor’s examination. Sometimes the Medical Office Assistant will need to explain the impending medical procedure to the patient. A firm grasp of medical terminology is important in moments like these.
Office Management
Finally, a Medical Office Assistant is responsible for running the office. This role is an important one, because medical offices are busy places with high patient traffic and a need to replenish office equipment regularly. You manage and maintain inventory and provide a clean and sterile environment to keep both patients and staff safe.
How to Become a Medical Office Assistant & What Program to Choose
The first step is to complete a post-secondary program if you wish to become a successful Medical Office Assistant. Sundance College offers an online Medical Office Assistant Diploma program that provides both a comprehensive classroom education and a workplace practicum. Practicums are designed to prepare students to enter the workforce as confident professionals with on-the-job experience. The completion of a practicum is sure to set you apart from other candidates in the job market.
Look for a program that provides you with the medical, technical, and medical administration skills that are required for you to succeed in the health care field. Additionally, choose a college that offers professional Career Services and an accelerated program so that you can begin your career as soon as possible. At Sundance, our students complete their program within one year and enjoy instructor-led classes which prepare them for future success.
Get Started!
At Sundance College, we are dedicated to our students’ success. We work together towards one common goal – supporting our students on their journey to a new career and a brighter future. To find out more about Sundance College’s Medical Office Assistant program click here.