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For fast-growing careers, health-care is where it's at. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical assistant will be among the fastest-growing occupation through 2016.
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DESCRIPTION
Graduates of AAS in Medical Administrative Assistant transcribe various kinds of dictation, prepare correspondence, and assist physicians or medical scientists with reports, speeches, articles, and conference proceedings. They also record simple medical histories, arrange for patients to be hospitalized, and order supplies. All Medical Administrative Assistants need to be familiar with insurance rules, billing practices, and hospital or laboratory procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties of a Medical Administrative Assistant can include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating, copying and filing patient medical records, completing insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling patient appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping. Graduates of AAS in Medical Administrative Assistant should have good keyboarding and communications skills, including spelling, punctuation and oral communication. Because Medical Administrative Assistants must be tactful in their dealings with many different people, employers also look for good interpersonal skills. The ability to keep things confidential, good judgment, organizational ability, and ambition are especially important for higher level positions. Continuing change in the office environment have increased the demand for Medical Administrative Assistants who are flexible and versatile.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Medical Administrative Assistants constantly interact with others and usually work with professionals in hospitals, laboratories, or in medical offices. Their jobs may involve sitting for long periods. They usually work a standard 40-hour week; however, office work lends itself to alternative or flexible working arrangements if desired.

EMPLOYMENT
Healthcare has become one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and demographics of our society assure this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Graduates of the AAS in Medical Administrative Assistant program have employment opportunities in a variety of healthcare settings including, but not limited to, clinics, insurance companies, government agencies, public health, home health agencies, long-term care facilities, hospitals and dental offices.

ADVANCEMENT
Graduates of AAS in Medical Administrative Assistant can advance to a more responsible position by pro- motion or by specializing in Insurance Billing, Medical Coding, or Medical Transcription. Qualified Medical Administrative Assistants who broaden their knowledge and enhance their skills may be promoted to Office Manager.

*Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2008 (2006-07) Edition