A medical administration specialist performs administrative tasks and manages files, systems, and day-to-day functions required in healthcare. They must have extensive knowledge of the medical field and may work in hospitals, private practices, or research facilities. Technical aspects of the job include transcribing medical records, applying insurance codes, and managing patient appointments. Proficiency in computer skills and medical terminology is required.
A medical administration specialist is an office administrator who has specialized skills related to the healthcare field. This position was known as a medical secretary, but as secretarial positions evolved into more technical and specialized positions, the official name evolved to reflect the increasing responsibility of the job as well. An administrative specialist in any capacity performs administrative tasks and manages files, systems, and most of the day-to-day functions required of office staff. A specialist in medical administration performs all these tasks, but must also have extensive knowledge of the medical field.
These specialists may work in a hospital, for a physician in private practice, at a medical research facility, or for a state health department. A position’s focus may be on a specific area, such as insurance billing or patient records, depending on the environment in which the person chooses to work. While each position may require specific medical knowledge, the general areas in which a specialist should be proficient are: medical communication and new office technologies that apply to those in healthcare.
Many administrative professionals serve as the communications hub for an office or organization. This means that it is your responsibility to keep track of changes in procedures and disseminate this information to the team. In a medical setting, it is essential for a medical administration specialist to have a working knowledge of medical terminology in order to properly understand and communicate this type of vital information.
The specialist must also understand medical procedures, insurance billing practices, and laboratory procedures and tests. Health information is private and it is important for a medical administration specialist to know what information is especially sensitive. This ensures that patients are not embarrassed or uncomfortable with the mention of sensitive topics in front of others.
Technical aspects of this job may include transcribing medical records, applying insurance codes to computerized billing systems, and managing a patient appointment scheduling system. Some jobs require knowledge of specialized electronic insurance systems, such as Medicaid, and others require advanced skills in conventional office software. Because many physicians attend conferences and lectures to keep up with advances in the medical field, some specialists spend a lot of time doing academic research and preparing presentations.
All medical administration specialists must be proficient on a computer. Everyone should be familiar with the standard operating procedures of a physician’s office and everyone should be familiar with medical terms. More advanced medical management specialists will also have extensive knowledge in one or more medical specializations.
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