Dedicated and skilled administrative professionals are key to the success of any business or organization. They ensure that all institutional endeavors are performed successfully and that day-to-day activities are efficiently executed.
Administrative workers are especially important in the healthcare industry, where they play a major role in the smooth delivery of services. Providing support to doctors, nurses, and others, medical office assistants perform a variety of very crucial tasks, ranging from registering patients to taking care of billing.
Whether your duties encompass a variety of tasks or focus on a few specific ones, specialized training is crucial for success. To find out why, keep reading!
Knowledge of Specialized Medical Terminology is a Must
One of the most notable reasons medical office assistant training is required to work in healthcare administration is the familiarity with medical terminology the sector can require. Medical office assistants, for example, often help patients fill out forms. Where patients do not understand what information a certain form is asking them for, administrators need to have the ability to translate what is written into simpler terms.
Medical transcription is another common task where knowledge of terminology is a necessity. This task requires administrative assistants to write up medical files and reports that later act as reference materials for physicians. Even the smallest mistakes here can have far-reaching consequences in terms of providing proper care, so clear understanding is a must.
Medical terminology is encountered on a daily basis in healthcare workplaces
Medical Office Assistant Courses Teach You How to Best Practice Patient Confidentiality
Medical office assistants also require a deep awareness of the necessity for patient confidentiality. This means that they need to keep all of a patient’s health information private unless the patient provides explicit permission for its disclosure.
Maintaining patient confidentiality is a prime element in the building of trust between a patient and a medical institution. If patients don’t trust their medical environment, then they may possibly withhold information that may be critical to giving them the proper care. Breaches of confidentiality can also leave both you and your workmates open to possible disciplinary or legal action.
Versatile Communication Skills Play a Role in Medical Administration
Another aspect that defines the relationship between a patient and a medical institution is communication. The communication skills required in a healthcare setting differ from those in other office settings.
Medical office assistants – who are often on the front lines greeting patients and talking to them on the phone – may, for example, find themselves needing to calm individuals experiencing emotional stress due to a medical emergency. They may also need to provide medical instructions to someone who has difficulty understanding them.
On top of knowing how to communicate well with patients in a variety of scenarios, medical administrators also need to know how to communicate to the staff they are providing support to, and be detailed, clear, and knowledgeable when discussing complex medical matters.
Healthcare administrators need to be flexible and resourceful communicators
Knowing the Ins and Outs of Insurance Billing Procedures Requires Specialized Training
Another very important task that you will learn about in medical office administration courses is medical billing. Essentially, medical billing manages a facility’s revenue cycle, so it’s a very important administrative duty, and it requires some specialized knowledge about medical regulations and insurance plan policies.
Knowledge of purpose designed medical billing software like ABELMed may also be required to carry out this task as efficiently and accurately as possible. Little mistakes in this area could mean big differences to medical bills and patient satisfaction, so having a fully trained medical office assistant handle the task is crucial.
Are you interested in becoming a medical administrator?
Contact Oxford College to learn about our medical office assistant diploma program!