Medical Office Assisting Programs in New Mexico

Like many places across the United States, a strong force in job growth in New Mexico comes from the health care sector. The state has dealt with higher-than-average unemployment rates in recent years. However, recent data published by The Taos News suggests education and health services were the main industries responsible for 3.7 percent job growth from January 2014 to January 2015.

Medical office assistants are an essential part of the growing healthcare field. You may want to look at training in New Mexico if you possess good communication skills and have an interest in the business of running a medical or health facility. You can find a listing of all the available programs in the state to become a medical assistant on this webpage. Contact those you are interested in, from the list below, to learn more.

As a medical office assistant, you will have multiple duties that depend upon your attitude and people skills. Coordinating administrative needs like patient appointments and insurance issues requires knowledge of healthcare, but you also need to know how to handle a variety of clerical duties in the office while simultaneously treating patients cordially and with respect.

New Mexico Medical Admin Assistant Programs

Most medical office assistant training programs in New Mexico will prepare you to find a job at the entry level with minimal training required in programs like Medical Office Assistant, Certificate of Completion. Sometimes, you can earn credits that will help you earn additional certificates in related areas like Office Technology, as well as toward an associate’s degree in a variety of related industries.

Some of the classes you might see in your program include Business English, Records and Information Management, and Medical Transcription. Other topics you’ll cover include those in financial literacy, various computer programs like MS Outlook, and proofreading and editing. Your role as a medical secretary requires knowledge of standard administrative duties, but programs also teach you what to expect working in a heath care environment like a hospital or private practice.

Even though the programs that lead to degrees and certificates for a medical admin assistant tend to be brief, it’s still important to seek out scholarships and aid to help you pay for school. The school you choose to attend may have scholarships, and you’ll want to work with the school’s financial aid office to see if you qualify for federal student loans.

In addition, you’ll want to explore the scholarships gathered by the New Mexico Higher Education Department, which handles financial opportunities for all majors. Further, you may want to look at the Allied Health Loan For Service Program, which is also administered by the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

As you approach graduation, you’ll want to make an appointment to take the test to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) through the National Health Career Association. Certification isn’t mandatory to work as a medical office assistant, but you may find more positive responses to your resume if you’re certified when you apply for jobs.

Careers and Job Outlook for Medical Secretaries in New Mexico

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean wage for medical secretaries working in New Mexico was $29,730 as of May 2013. Those at the high end of the earnings scale were able to enjoy wages of $38,180. The highest concentrations of jobs were found around the Albuquerque area where wages were also slightly higher than the state mean at $31,040.

During your job search, you may want to check out the resources of New Mexico Health Resources, Inc. The NMHR is a private and non-profit organization tasked with helping locate career opportunities for health professionals in New Mexico. The organization also helps with loan repayment programs, stipends, and scholarship opportunities.

Facilities where you may find jobs include the offices of physicians and dentists, hospitals, outpatient care centers, and the offices of various health practitioners. In addition, you may also find work in diagnostic laboratories or medical research labs. Nationwide, more medical secretaries work in the offices of physicians than all other industries combined.

Reach out to the schools you see listed on this site to get program details about how to enter this rewarding career as soon as you can.