Medical Office Specialists work hard to ensure that operations run smoothly, regardless of the healthcare setting that they are in.
After professional medical training, Medical Office Specialists rely on their medical, administrative and relational knowledge to effectively coordinate different tasks. Posessing strong organizational skills they deal with duties ranging from billing to measuring vital signs, taking patient health histories and scheduling appointments.
If you’re interested in a career as a Medical Office Specialist, you’ll be qualified to explore a few different types of office environments after completing your training. Depending on where you find employment, your responsibilities may vary, so it’s important to find the right fit for you.
When you complete a Medical Office Specialist program at the Manhattan School of Computer Technology, you’ll be equipped with the confidence and skill set to work in a number of healthcare settings, from doctor’s offices to public clinics and more. Below, discover five potential work environments to explore as a future Medical Office Specialist.
1. Medical Office Specialist Careers in a Physician Office
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 57% of Medical Office Specialists find employment in the offices of physicians. Within this sector, there are a range of different types of physicians that Medical Office Specialists may choose to work for, from Pediatricians to Dermatologists to Neurologists. Physicians and their assistants will rely on Medical Office Specialists to prepare for each appointment, as these offices are typically fast-paced, with many different patients scheduled for appointments on a daily basis. Within these offices, professionals in Medical Office Specialist careers will handle a majority of front desk services and patient intake responsibilities, while coordinating communication between patients and physicians.
2. Nursing and Long-Term Care Homes
Another potential work environment to explore as a Medical Office Specialist is a Nursing/Long-Term Care home. Here, Medical Office Specialists will be responsible for monitoring the vital signs of residents in the home, providing physicians or nurses with assistance in conducting patient treatments, examinations, and medication distribution. Depending on the particular structure of the home, Medical Office Specialists may also help patients with bathing, changing, and providing meals, in addition to updating and maintaining patient medical charts.
3. Hospitals
As 15% of Medical Office Specialists also work in hospitals (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), you might consider finding work in these settings after completing a Medical Office Specialist program. Within hospitals, Medical Office Specialists may be in charge of patient intake for specific departments, such as Cardiology, Medicine, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and more. Medical Office Specialists working in hospitals will handle coordinating patient prescription orders, communicate between lab technicians and patients regarding lab results, greet patients and other visitors, and more. If you thrive in fast-paced, hands-on environments, working in a hospital could be right for you.
4. Dental Practices
Medical Office Specialists can also find employment in various oral health offices, including the offices of dentists and orthodontists. Here, Medical Office Specialists will schedule and coordinate patient appointments, process insurance and billing, stock and maintain inventory, and more. One of the most important tasks that a Medical Office Specialist takes care of within dental practices is to ensure that examination rooms are sterilized and prepared for the next patient. In between appointments, they’ll replace various dental instruments, and review patient medical files to gather the necessary supplies.
5. Outpatient Care Centers
Outpatient care centers, including urgent care centers, ambulatory care centers, and community health clinics are those which carry out consultations, examinations and procedures for patients without requiring overnight stays. These include chemotherapy, bloodwork, diagnostic imaging, and more. As a Medical Office Specialist, working in outpatient care centers involves coordinating appointments, which can change rapidly based on emergency situations or patient needs. Additionally, Medical Office Specialists will handle the processing of invoices, billing and insurance claims, while managing patient intake. If you’re interested in a dynamic, community-focused role, outpatient care could be right for you.
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