Medical / Health office administration is a field that handles the front and back-end administrative tasks essential for healthcare facilities to run smoothly. Medical / Health office administrators manage office logistics for practices like scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, billing insurance companies, managing budgets, ordering supplies and supervising support personnel.
The field plays a crucial organizational role for offices ranging from single-doctor practices to large hospital networks by managing daily workflow to maximize efficiency. This allows doctors and nurses to better focus on providing patient care.
Field Overview
Medical / health administrators manage administrative staff, procedures and systems in a variety of healthcare settings, from private practices to hospitals. They are responsible for improving patient healthcare services and office productivity. There is a growing need for this role due to the increasing demand for healthcare technology and business operations proficiency. The salary ranges from $30k to $70k per year based on experience and facility size. This profession is suitable for individuals with excellent organizational and analytical skills who want to support caregivers.
Important Facts About Some Medical / Health Office Administrator Occupations
Here’s a breakdown of statistics for some top Medical / Health office administrator roles courtesy of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help gauge earning potential, job growth outlook and typical education needs:
Health Services Managers
- 2020 Median Pay: $104k
- Job Growth Through 2030: 32%
- Typical Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Records and Health Information Technicians
- 2020 Median Pay: $42k
- Job Growth Through 2030: 8%
- Typical Education: Postsecondary certificate
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
- 2020 Median Pay: $35k
- Job Growth Through 2030: 15%
- Typical Education: High school diploma
Career Options
Here are some specific job titles and career paths to consider within Medical / Health office administration:
- Medical / Health Office Manager: Oversee all administrative operations from budgets and policy to coordinating support staff and office expansion plans as a private practice grows.
- Patient Coordinator: Serves as the central point of contact for patients – confirming appointments, collecting health documentation needed for visits, and escorting patients during appointments.
- Medical / Health Claims Processor: Compile patient treatment documentation and submit to insurance companies, following up on reimbursement status while ensuring accurate billing and coding.
- Medical / Health Secretary: Perform administrative tasks like Medical / Health transcription (converting doctor audio notes into formatted reports); maintain electronic records, and schedule appointments.
Education
A high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum education required for most starting Medical / Health office administration roles like secretaries or assistants. Entry-level administrators may complete short-term training programs through technical schools focused on healthcare paperwork/billing basics and relevant computer programs commonly used in local clinics.
More advanced roles like Medical / Health office or patient service managers typically require bachelor’s degrees spanning healthcare systems, finance/business operations and healthcare regulations – coursework directly relevant to overseeing multi-faceted practice administration. Consider healthcare-focused minors like health information technology to bolster credentials.