What Kind Of Hours Do Medical Office Administrators Work?

The growing healthcare industry offers a wealth of career options. Maybe you’ve considered working in healthcare, but you’ve been put off by the prospect of having to work long hours, making it harder to find time for family responsibilities and a personal life. If that’s the case, then the role of medical office administrator is one you should take into consideration. Read on to find out more about what medical administrators do and the kind of schedule you can expect in this occupation.

What Do You Do in a Medical Office Administrator Job?

Medical office administrators have an important role to play in facilitating everything that takes place in modern hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, and other healthcare facilities.  Physicians and nurses are specialists in patient care, but they may not be adept at or motivated to handle administrative duties. As a medical office administrator, you handle the everyday activities that keep the facility running.

Medical office administrators are more than simply office managers; they also need specialized skills related to the healthcare industry, like knowledge of common medical terminology .

As a medical office administrator, you’ll be a point of contact for patients in non-clinical matters, and work behind the scenes and interact with patients, physicians, and insurance companies. Common day-to-day tasks include:

• Answering phone calls
• Responding to emails and online inquiry forms
• Scheduling patient appointments
• Billing
• Managing insurance claims
• Updating electronic health records

Can You Work in Healthcare Without Long Hours?

Many medical personnel in a hospital may be required to work substantially more extended hours than the typical 40-hour week due to emergency conditions or unanticipated events. These emergencies are rare. Clinical workers, particularly those who interact directly with patients, such as medical office administrators, are usually on a more regular 40-hour work week.

However, working in healthcare can give administrators more flexibility, depending on where they work. For example, medical office administrators might split up their weekly routine in several ways. There are two typical schedules: three 12-hour or five 8-hour shifts each week. Picking a favorable shift can minimize the long working hours.

How Can You Get a Job in Healthcare Without a Degree?

Many jobs in the healthcare field require lengthy and expensive formal education. However, the role of medical office administrator offers surprisingly low educational requirements for such an exciting and active career.

If you have a high school diploma or equivalent, you can get the training you need to apply for medical office administration jobs in less than a year with a program like the one offered by Interactive College of Technology (ICT). You will gain knowledge of medical terminology, patient relations, commonly used software, medical billing and coding, and medical ethics and legislation (including patient record privacy). Combining this specialized training with some basic computer skills and office job experience can set you up for a long and stable career.

Becoming a Medical Office Administrator

Medical office administration offers you the opportunity to enter the growing healthcare field without unattainably costly educational requirements or the need to work a punishingly long schedule. Enroll in ICT’s medical office administration program to start your journey on this rewarding career path.