Medical Office Assisting Programs in Oklahoma

Do you enjoy working with people? Are you interested in a career in health care? If so, then you may want to consider training to become a medical administrative assistant in Oklahoma. Through a certificate or associate’s degree program, you’ll find yourself eligible to work in a variety of healthcare environments like hospitals, private practices, and medical clinics. You’ll act as the liaison between several groups within the health care environment including facility staff, various third parties, and patients. Contact the schools below to learn more about how to become a medical office assistant in Oklahoma today.

Some of the responsibilities you’ll face as a medical secretary include handling the administrative operations within a healthcare facility, performing check-in for clients, and submitting paperwork for insurance claims. Good communication skills, a pleasant demeanor, and proficiency in organization will help you thrive in a variety of healthcare environments. As an essential part of the staff, you may get to enjoy a variety of benefits like medical coverage, life insurance, and paid time off.

Medical Office Assistant Programs in Oklahoma

The State of Oklahoma features several colleges where you can earn a certificate or associate’s degree as a medical assistant. In addition to cultivating good writing and communication skills, these programs will also teach you essential medical terminology and duties specific to a health care office. Some of the classes you may take are Medical Language, Medical Office Basics, and Medical Insurance, Accounting, and Law.

If you’re unsure whether to choose an associate’s degree or certificate program, your previous work experience may influence your decision. If you’ve already worked in an administrative environment, you may want to choose a certificate program because of its brief duration that should last anywhere from a few months to a year. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a career change or don’t yet have relevant work experience, you may want to choose the associate’s degree path.

An associate’s degree or certificate as a medical administrative assistant is something that employers want to see when they hire new faces. The demand for new medical secretaries should help you secure employment even if you don’t have significant work experience. Gaining your Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (CMAA) through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is highly recommended. Also, after you secure employment, it’s important to consider continuing education, which is also available through the NHA.

Connecting with various state health care associations may also provide opportunities for work. For example, you may want to begin reading publications from the Oklahoma Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, particularly if you’re interested in becoming qualified for work at the management level in a healthcare environment.

Careers and Job Outlook for Medical Secretaries in Oklahoma

As you begin your job search, you’ll want to expand upon the traditional title of Medical Admin Assistant. Other search terms that will help you find related work in Oklahoma include Healthcare Administrative Assistant, Medical Secretary, and Medical Records Clerk. You’ll find that there is a high demand for administrative staff who understand specifically what needs to occur in a health care environment.

According to data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are around 6,670 people employed as medical office assistants in Oklahoma. The median wage in the state for medical secretaries was $28,640, which is higher than the average per-capita income of $24,208 as reported by the United States Census at the end of 2013.

The role of a medical secretary is more than answering the phone and taking appointments. You also need to know medical terminology and how to coordinate daily activities for doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, and all other health care staff. The specialized knowledge required of medical secretaries is why training and certification are so valuable.

Request program information the schools offering medical admin assistant training in Oklahoma to get started today.