Back Office Medical Assistant Career

This post presents detailed information on the back office medical assistant career, including how to become one, the various career opportunities available, and the benefits of being a back office medical assistant.

How to Become a Back Office Medical Assistant

A High School Diploma or GED certificate is required to begin a career as a back office medical assistant.

Most employers prefer candidates who have a degree or certificate in medical assisting.

These programs are offered by a community college or vocational school. Administrative experience is advantageous.

As a back office medical assistant, you will perform administrative tasks, such as entering patients’ medical history, symptoms, and vital signs into their chart, and coding patient medical records for insurance and billing purposes.

The role also involves performing basic medical tasks, such as measuring patients’ blood pressure and heart rate.

It is necessary to have excellent interpersonal skills as well as attention to detail to become a successful back office medical assistant.

Back Office Medical Assistant Career Opportunities

Here are various career opportunities a back office medical assistant can access:

1. Medical Assistant

A medical assistant is a person who performs administrative and clinical duties that support the work of a physician or doctor.

As part of the clinical team, a medical assistant assists the physician or doctor in providing patient care.

The medical assistant will help the provider to make sure that proper treatment protocols are followed and that files are organized according to each patient’s condition.

2. Certified Nurse Assistant

A certified nurse assistant is a professional who has received additional training and expertise in the nursing field.

Unlike the medical assistant, who is mainly responsible for administrative duties, certified nurse assistants can administer certain forms of therapy and treatment, such as CPR and minor wound care.

Certified nurse assistants are often associated with hospitals or other healthcare facilities that are part of the health care system.

3. Medical Secretary

A medical secretary generally assists an office manager in all aspects of office management.

This includes, but is not limited to, scheduling appointments and patient consultations, taking messages for the office manager and staff, processing invoices and billings and maintaining accurate records of the practices finances.

4. Medical Billing and Coding

Medical billing and coding professionals specialize in gathering information regarding fees that have been charged for a particular service or product.

This information is then coded into a suitable format so that the business can be billed by insurance companies or by health care providers themselves.

5. Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians help dispensers to stock a pharmacy and ensure that the dispensers have the necessary medications on hand.

They are also responsible for maintaining inventory accountability and ensuring that prescriptions are stored properly.

More Back Office Medical Assistant Career Opportunities

6. Medical Support Personnel

A medical support personnel is a professional who helps to ensure the smooth running of a medical office.

They perform tasks such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and keeping records.

7. Registered Nurse

The registered nurse is a professional who has received specialized training in nursing as well as certification in the field.

Registered nurses are responsible for taking care of patients, from administering medications to performing complex tasks like surgery.

8. Nurse Practitioner

A nurse practitioner is not only a professional caregiver but also an educator.

In fact, nurse practitioners are often required to complete a certain number of hours of continuing education to maintain licensure.

Nurse practitioners are often the first line of medical care and will provide treatment in all areas as well as maintaining patient records.

9. Nurse Coordinator

A nurse coordinator is a professional who oversees care being provided by multiple medical professionals alongside researching new methods of treatment.

The responsibilities of a nurse coordinator include supervising the work of other nurses and ensuring that they stay up to date on all techniques currently in use within the practice.

10. Medical Director

A medical director oversees the operation of a company in the healthcare industry.

They are responsible for ensuring that all employees are trained and current with all relevant regulations and standards, as well as ensuring that ongoing research is being conducted.

Challenges faced by Back Office Medical Assistants on the Job

There are several challenges faced by the back office medical assistant on the job, some of these include:

1. High volume workload

Back office medical assistant have to deal with large volume workload of a number of patients.

They have to answer phone calls, address emails and requests at the same time they are asked to update patient records, record insurance information and receive payments.

This is a lot of work for one individual and can be difficult enough on its own but with the added burden of other tasks it can be overwhelming for some.

2. Dealing with numerous patients at the same time

Back office medical assistants are often required to work with multiple patients at the same time.

This tends to be mentally and physically draining. For this reason, back office medical assistant often make mistakes while they are working at the same time.

3. Maintaining patient records accurately

Back office medical assistants need to keep a record of all patients who have been admitted or discharged from their workplace.

They also need to make sure that every piece of information regarding an individual is accurate.

Over time, errors can creep in and if not corrected quickly, it can cause problems later on when it comes to billing and insurance claims.

Major Benefits of a Back Office Medical Assistant Career

Here are major benefits of working as a back office medical assistant:

1. Excellent job security

Back office medical assistant jobs are considered stable careers, with a low risk of layoffs or downsizing.

This is especially true if you work for a larger corporation instead of a smaller one that is more susceptible to financial hardship.

2. An excellent chance to advance in one’s career

Back office medical assistant careers have the potential to become very rewarding. With time and experience, back office medical assistants can advance through various levels and open up a new realm of possibility for their career.

3. A decent earning potential

Back office medical assistant jobs offer a good salary. The average salary according to indeed  is $41,739 annually. The amount can vary and that depends on the region and the employer.

4. Work environment that is fast-paced

With fast-paced or emergency care facilities available, a back office medical assistant job can expect an exciting and challenging work environment where there is no boredom.

5. Working with a team to provide superior service

While back office medical assistant is a job that must be performed individually, there is also a team effort behind it.

This allows for back office medical assistants to receive support from other employees and learn from each other.

More Benefits of a Back Office Medical Assistant Career

6. Control over the quality of work

Back office medical assistant has the power to do their jobs well and provide quality results.

The control over their work allows them to be proud of what they produce and know that they will not have to deal with criticism or dissatisfaction from their superiors.

7. Flexibility with schedule and hours

Back office medical assistant jobs have various schedules and hours, which allow them to take care of their personal life and still get the job done.

Conclusion

The back office medical assistant career offers huge benefits, including excellent job security, a great opportunity to advance one’s career, and a good earning potential.

A back office medical assistant is responsible for administrative tasks in an area of healthcare administration. They perform patient record keeping, insurance and billing matters and direct treatment issues from an administrative perspective.