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The medical office specialist field continues to be one of the fastest growing job opportunities in health care. A career as a medical specialist is both rewarding as well as challenging. Job responsibilities of a medical specialist can include maintaining records, ensuring conformity with regulatory agencies, performing administrative functions, serving as a receptionist, scheduling appointments, corresponding with vendors, filing, and ordering supplies.
One major aspect of being a medical specialist is medical billing and coding. Increased scrutiny of medical records by government agencies such as Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance companies, will continue to provide ample room to grow in this field. Various health care organizations are constantly hiring skilled medical billers and coders. Other demographic trends are converging to greatly increase employment opportunities in this field as Americans (especially baby boomers) continue to age. They require increased medical care, and this leads doctors to open new practices, or expand existing ones. The ongoing prevalence of chronic diseases such as asthma, obesity, diabetes and the need for patients' continual monitoring during treatment is yet another reason for doctors to need more assistance in the office.
Salaries in this field vary according to work experience, education, and training. Several institutions offer associate and bachelor degree programs in this field. Furthermore, after a three-month certification course, one can also apply for accreditation as an Accredited Record Technician or Certified Coding Specialist.
A medical office assistant is responsible for a number of administrative duties such as information security, record keeping and other duties apart from tasks associated with medical billing and coding. A successful medical biller should have a general knowledge of anatomy and medical terminology. Transcription of medical reports, medical coding, billing and bookkeeping are some additional skills required. A medical specialist can work in a variety of places, including doctors' offices and clinics, hospitals, medical laboratories, nursing homes, and dental offices. Since some medical assistants deal with the public, it is important to be well groomed and have good interpersonal and communications skills.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that (as of 2008) there were almost half a million positions in medical assisting, with 62% working physicians offices, 13% in public and private hospitals, and11% in other health practices. The BLS also reports that medical assistants in rural areas performed both front- and back-office duties, while those in cities tended to be more specialized in their functions. Most medical assistants work 40-hour weeks, but part-time or evening/weekend work is also possible. With growth in this field predicted to be faster than average, getting certified in this field can lead to a career that is both financially secure and stable.
medical coding training at home.