The modern medical office needs more than just a doctor. Support staff is required to keep patients healthy and records up-to-date and in order. Medical assistants, medical transcribers, and medical billers and coders are all important members of the medical office team.
The medical assistant’s job includes performing clinical and administrative tasks that vary depending on the size of the office. These duties can include taking patient’s vital signs or even assisting the physician during examinations. Medical assistants also help keep medical records up-to-date, answer phones and greet patients.
Medical transcribers receive recordings from doctors and transcribe them into files or personal notes. Billers and coders deal specifically with the complex medical and insurance billing systems. They make sure that the insurance companies and the medical office are in good communication.
Medical offices look for applicants who have completed medical career training programs to prepare them for medical assisting, medical transcription, and medical billing and coding. These programs can be found at many vocational/technical schools, community colleges or junior colleges. Medical assistants will need to pass a state licensing exam. Employers also look for applicants who have strong people skills, good organizational skills and positive attitudes.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004 the average medical assistant salary was $25,000 a year, medical transcribers made an average of $13.40 an hour, and medical billers and coders made an average of $24,000 a year. Get started in a medical career today with medical transcription training, medical billing and coding training and medical career training!
