Medical Office/Admin Assisting Programs in Texas
If you’ve always wanted to work in healthcare, but have shied away from the industry because of the length of time required to train for positions like doctors and nurses, you might want to look into becoming a medical administrative assistant in Texas. Nationwide, health care is enjoying rapid growth regarding employment numbers, particularly in some areas of Texas.
A recent article published by Forbes reveals health care has undergone “unrivaled” gains in available jobs with hotspots in Texas, such as in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area where over a fifth of the population is employed in the industry.
Further, statistics compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggest that available employment in medical office assisting in Texas is the highest in the nation with nearly 78,000 residents employed as medical secretaries as of May 2013. Texas features several metropolitan areas that boast some of highest “employment per thousand jobs” for medical secretaries anywhere in the nation. There are many jobs in the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas, as well as in other locations.
About Texas Medical Office Assisting Programs
As you explore different medical office assistant programs in the state, you’ll notice that most programs offer an associate’s degree, certificate, or both options. In most cases, obtaining a certificate will take less time than an associate’s degree, and you may find employment success with either program length. Most education opportunities exist at online schools, career institutes, and community colleges.
Many medical administrative assistant programs in Texas are career-oriented in that students are meant to head right into the workforce after graduation instead of pursuing further education. Some of the career skills you may learn in a medical admin assistant program include insurance coding, communication, writing, and medical terminology.
After you graduate, you should be able to handle front desk duties, schedule appointments, verify insurance, and handle patient check-in and check-out. You should also know how to handle some basic health care items like helping patients fill out their medical history, as well as asking some basic questions for pre-testing of new patients.
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers a variety of certifications that may help you find a job. Many students choose to become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. Depending on the program you choose, you may also qualify to become a Billing & Coding Specialist or Electronic Health Record Specialist.
Further, you may wish to investigate membership, continuing education, and events from organizations like the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) or the Texas Association for Healthcare Financial Administration (TAHFA). Moving into higher positions within your medical facility may be easier when you gain additional skills and membership with these and other organizations.
Career Outlook and Benefits for Medical Office Assistants in Texas
If you earn a certificate or associate’s degree in medical office assisting, you may experience a swift job search with new facilities opening up around the state to offer Texas residents health care. For example, an urgent care facility recently opened in Humble with open positions for medical admin assistants, as well as related positions like medical front desk and billing specialist. In addition to emergency care offices, other places where you might find employment include nursing homes, schools, hospitals, and the offices of physicians.
If you’re looking to get your foot in the door of the health care industry, an administrative medical assistant program could be your ticket to steady employment and a rewarding job. Just as a doctor or nurse might, you get to work with patients and help improve their lives through medical care. Contact the Texas medical office assisting programs to learn more about how to get started.