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Career Development Denise Alexander, BS, MA
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Do you look forward to your doctor’s appointments? You might if you really like your doctor and expect good news about your health, or you could be nervous about what it will be like.
Regardless, a skilled medical office assistant (MOA) can make the experience better. The MOA is usually the first person you’ll interact with at the doctor’s office and can set a positive tone for the whole appointment. Some of the attributes that make for a successful MOA include:
Good organization skills, patience, stamina and a love for the job are all beneficial for handling fast-paced medical office administration. If you have these skills or would like to learn, then it could be a good career for you.
While the exact job description, hours and responsibilities for MOAs can vary according to the position and location, here is what day-to-day work could look like behind the desk of a medical office assistant.
Many medical office assistants work regular full-time business hours, although they may have to work the occasional weekend or holiday. MOAs usually arrive before the clinic or facility opens for the day to make sure everything is in order when patients start arriving.
Their general schedule can vary a lot from day to day, so MOAs typically review the list of appointments, patient forms and billing statements in the morning to help them prioritize tasks and understand what to expect. They also check all email and phone communications for urgent requests from physicians or patients.
Before patients arrive, they also ensure that waiting rooms are cleaned and prepared for appointments. They also occasionally take inventory of supplies and restock as needed.
Once patients arrive, much of an MOA’s day will revolve around ensuring the office runs smoothly. In between taking phone calls, scheduling appointments, helping patients at the front desk and updating records, medical office assistants may have to assist in the exam room to gather more patient information or paperwork. MOAs are different from medical assistants since MOAs serve the medical office needs of an organization.
After patients have left, MOAs may choose to stay later to prepare for the following day. Preparing for the next day is helpful so there will be less to do the next morning. Good organization skills, patience, stamina and a love for the job are all beneficial for handling the fast-paced medical office administration.
BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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