The Details You Need To Become Successful In a Variety of Medical Office Careers

The medical office careers decision to pursue a career in one of many employment opportunities available in medical offices across the US is an important step toward securing a stronger financial future and a high level of professional satisfaction.

Medical Office Careers

Medical Office Careers

The medical industry is currently experiencing rapid growth and is in need of individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and desire to work as part of the team that is responsible for coordinating the provision of care process as well as offering administrative oversight and support in an increasingly regulated practice environment.

Demand for medical care in the United States has increased dramatically over the past several years as the population has grown and the number of Baby Boomers entering retirement has intensified.

To help meet the healthcare needs of the public, facilities have been forced to accelerate the expansion of their physical infrastructure, clinical staff, and administrative personnel. While this trend has created several challenging hurdles, it has also resulted in far more job opportunities for individuals who would like to pursue a career as a receptionist, office assistant, secretary, billing and coding specialist, administrative assistant, office manager, or health information specialist.

Nurses & Physicians In The Healthcare Sector

An impending shortage of both nurses and physicians in the healthcare sector has been discussed in great detail within the US over the past several years. While this is a concerning problem, the need for more administrative personnel to help manage the influx of patients entering the medical system has largely been ignored. In recent years, many industry experts have begun to consider improved efficiency in delivery of care as an effective solution to the current healthcare crisis. This approach would require that additional office personnel be added to help facilitate a more streamlined and less costly provision of care process. This would translate into more employment opportunities for those who are interested in working as part of the administrative team.

Types of Employment Opportunities

The Medical office careers offer an extremely diverse set of employment options that allow individuals to focus on an area that is appropriate for their long-term objectives. Entry level positions such as receptionist, secretary, and assistant are great avenues into the industry for those who have little college education and no previous experience.

Other areas that may be of interest include billing and coding, records management, and information technology. Individuals who have completed a college degree and who have experience working in an administrative capacity may have the opportunity to take on more responsibility as a medical office manager, department director, or upper level administrator. Advanced positions are usually offered to employees who have proven that they can manage effectively and who wish to accept the responsibility that comes with a promotion.

Where do Medical Office Personnel Work?

Nearly all establishments that provide medical services to the public employ a variety of medical office personnel. A few of the most common employers include state, local, and private hospitals; community health centers; nursing homes and residential care facilities; government agencies; and doctor’s offices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 19% of the 1 million receptionists work in physician offices, 21% of the 3.9 million secretaries and assistants work in the healthcare industry, 37% of the 186,300 medical records and health information technicians work in a hospital, and 39% of the 315,500 medical and health services managers work in a hospital. These statistics show that the healthcare industry represents around 20% of the total economy and provides a significant portion of the new jobs that are being created. While most medical office careers exist in hospitals, individuals are commonly able to find a job in just about any branch of the medical field.

How Much do Medical Office Personnel Earn?

The earning potential of someone who pursues one of the medical office careers is highly variable depending on a number of different factors including job title, type of employer, geographic location, formal education, training, experience, and managerial responsibilities. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indeed.com, and Salary.com are a few good sources of information that can be used to get a general idea of the median salary of individuals who work in a specific position. Readers are advised to consider their own unique circumstances before coming to conclusions about what their salary might be in any given field. In addition, it is always a good idea to contact potential employers in your area to learn about career openings that are currently available and the level of compensation that can be expected.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Medical Receptionist Salary – $25,990 Medical Secretary Salary – $35,330 Medical Administrative Assistant Salary – $35,330 Medical Records Salary – $34,160 Health Informatics Salary – $34,160 Medical Office Manager Salary – $88,580

Medical Office Careers

Medical Receptionist Salary – $24,000 Medical Secretary Salary – $23,000 Medical Administrative Assistant Salary – $22,000 Medical Records Salary – $22,000 Health Informatics Salary – $66,000 Medical Office Manager Salary – $48,000

Salary Projections

Medical Receptionist Salary – $30,724 Medical Secretary Salary – $35,682 Medical Administrative Assistant Salary – $37,451 Medical Records Salary – $31,516 Health Informatics Salary – $52,537 Medical Office Manager Salary – $60,324

Additional responsibilities may be included in the job description based on the type of facility where an individual works and the needs of the employer. Small offices such as those owned by clinical providers may assign tasks from multiple job titles to a single individual while larger establishments such as hospitals and nursing homes tend to have separate departments that employ several specialists to handle different aspects of operations and management. For those who are new to the industry, it is important to decide which type of medical facility is most appropriate for their long-term career objectives before beginning the job search process. Making this decision early in one’s career can help accelerate the advancement process and ensure that high levels of job satisfaction are obtained.

Education, Training & Certification

Requirements For Office Personnel

Unlike many clinical practice areas of the healthcare industry, medical office careers often have low barriers to entry that make them a good employment option for those who do not want to spend several years of their life completing a college degree or a specialized training program. Medical receptionists and secretaries are generally able to find a job with nothing more than a high school diploma and a few weeks of basic entry-level training. In many cases, employers will provide in-house training that teaches employees about the unique needs of the establishment.

Those who want to eventually take on more responsibility and receive a higher salary may need to complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree and national certification. Individuals who would like to work as a medical records specialist or office manager are often required to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree and a few years of healthcare experience. Administrative assistants who are interested in climbing the corporate ladder often enter the field with a bachelor’s degree and choose to move up the ranks by completing a master’s degree at some point in their career. This approach can lead to a highly competitive salary and lucrative employment opportunities throughout the US.

Industry Growth and Employment Prospects

The healthcare industry is one of the largest and fastest growing employment sectors within the United States. Some of the most important factors contributing to the growth of the medical field include a larger population, an increase in the number of retired Baby Boomers, and the recent expansion of healthcare coverage for millions of Americans who were previously uninsured. The trend towards an expanded healthcare system has resulted in a shortage of nurses, physicians, and administrative personnel. This has created an excellent career advancement opportunity for those who have an interest in one of the medical office careers listed above. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that employment for these professions will increase by 15 – 25% over the next ten years. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all other occupations.