If you have a knack for organization, the ability to work well with a team, and a genuine interest in helping people, pursuing a career as a medical office assistant may be a good option for you. Not only does this job provide an entry-point to working in the healthcare industry, professionals trained in this role are in high demand — and the need for more medical office assistants is expected to increase over the next several years. Here are four reasons why now is a great time to join to pursue a career as a medical office assistant.
The profession is growing
The number of healthcare careers is growing across the industry, and the role of medical office assistant is definitely part of this trend. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of medical assistant jobs will increase 23 percent between 2014 and 2024, much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations (7 percent), resulting in a total increase of 138,900 jobs.
The role of medical office assistants is changing
As the baby boomer population continues to age — and therefore requires more medical attention — healthcare facilities are increasingly relying on effective medical office assistants to help day-to-day activities run smoothly. From performing clerical and organizational duties, to providing quality customer service so patients feel well cared for, medical office assistants are an important part of the healthcare field.
The work medical office assistants do is important
In addition to the increased demand for healthcare from baby boomers, there are also a lot of changes in patient needs due to healthcare reform, adoption of new technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs) and other factors.
Now more than ever, healthcare facilities need trained, qualified medical office assistants to perform duties such as:
Recording patient history and personal information
Scheduling patient appointments
Entering patient information into medical records
Working with EHR software
Filling out insurance forms
Coding patients' medical information
Answering phone calls and providing quality customer service
Working in healthcare can lead to fulfillment
Perhaps most importantly, the role of medical office assistant can be a very fulfilling career. Studies have shown that people who do work that benefits society show higher levels of job satisfaction across the board. Medical office assistants are part of a larger team whose goal is to provide patients with quality care — and their role is a crucial part of the patient care process.
Ready to start your path to a career as a medical office assistant?
Want to read more stories like this?
