A medical administrative specialist is a type of office administrator who specializes in the field of medicine. This position used to be known as a medical secretary, but as secretarial positions have evolved into more technical, specialized positions, the official name has evolved to reflect the job’s increasing responsibility. In any capacity, an administrative specialist performs clerical tasks and manages office files, systems, and the majority of the daily functions expected of office workers. All of these tasks are performed a medical administrative specialist, who must also have extensive knowledge of the medical field.
These professionals may work in a hospital, for a private practice doctor, in a medical research facility, or for the state health department. Depending on the environment in which one chooses to work, a position’s focus may be on a specific area such as insurance billing or patient records. Though each position may require specific medical knowledge, medical communication and new office technologies that apply to those in the health field are two areas in which a specialist should be proficient.
Many administrative professionals serve as the office or organization’s communication hub. This means they are responsible for staying up to date on changes in procedures and disseminating this information to employees. In order to understand and properly communicate this type of vital information in a medical setting, a medical administrative specialist must have a working knowledge of medical terminology.
Medical procedures, insurance billing practices, and laboratory procedures and tests must all be understood the specialist. Because health information is private, it’s critical that a medical administrative specialist understands what information is particularly sensitive. This ensures that patients are not embarrassed or unsettled when sensitive topics are brought up in front of others.
Transcribing medical records, applying insurance codes in computerized billing systems, and managing a patient appointment scheduling system are some of the technical aspects of this job. Some jobs require advanced skills in mainstream office software, while others require knowledge of specialized electronic insurance systems, such as Medicaid. Because many physicians attend conferences and lectures to keep up with medical advances, some specialists devote a significant amount of time to academic research and presentation preparation.
Computer skills are required of all medical administrative specialists. All employees must be familiar with standard operating procedures in a medical office, as well as medical terminology. Medical administrative specialists with advanced training will have extensive knowledge in one or more medical specialties.