Important Factors Used to Determine Pay Rate

Location, education level, and amount of experience were previously mentioned as great influences on the pay rate for medical receptionists. An often overlooked factor is the type of subcategories a medical receptionist is qualified in. Some licensures and certifications offer more than just the basics of medical knowledge and delve into more complicated professional arenas such as dental receptionist or medical assistant training. The broader an available skill set an individual possesses, the more valuable he becomes. In order to balance budgets and cut costs, medical offices are constantly looking for employees that can pull double duty. Since these individuals are qualified to handle a more difficult and varied work load, they command a higher salary.

Starting Medical Receptionist Salaries

Novices to the field of medical receptionist should expect wages to be low regardless of the region the job is located in. Often times a high school education is all that is required to get this position; this results in an inordinate amount of qualified applicants as compared to the number of openings available. Such a set-up mimics the commerce supply and demand law. Since supplies of qualified applicants are basically limitless and the demand for receptionist jobs is limited by economic factors, employers can benchmark pay at lower rates because the position is highly sought out. With such a high number of potential employees, employers know the odds of finding someone willing to work at or slightly above minimum wage are greatly increased. Expect entry level and low experience salaries to be in the neighborhood of $7.36 – $13.37 per hour.

Average Salaries as Related to Healthcare Sector

Assuming a full-time work schedule at 40 hours per week, the average medical receptionist earns somewhere between $9.37 and $16.21 per hour. Once the particular area of healthcare is specified, the natural variations in the price range are clarified. Medical receptionists employed by general physicians’ offices earned roughly $12.72 an hour which is quite similar to the overall average. Interestingly enough, medical receptionists employed by dentists, hospitals, and medical laboratories tended to have wages higher than average, while their cohorts employed by long-term care facilities, optometrists, and mental health practitioners reported below average wages.

It is highly regarded that education and occupation backgrounds are the greatest influences on medical receptionist salaries. While this is true, one must also consider location, industry, and certifications as equally important wage determining influences.

Am I Well-Suited for the Job?

Several personal attributes and academic skills need to work in harmony for one to be a successful and effective medical receptionist. The person holding this title is usually considered the face of the company because he greets and interacts with every patient, insurance liaison, vendor, pharmaceutical representative, and several other types of visitors that enter the establishment. For this reason, medical receptionists need to have a fun, energetic personality that can easily adapt and manage any situation that arises. The educational background of this particular career varies tremendously from the complete lack of formal education to a medical receptionist licensure/certification from an accredited vocational or technical college. Regardless of educational background, one must have proficient administrative skills in order to land a medical receptionist job. Core competences include typing, scheduling, switchboard mastery, and basic computer skills.

What is the Expected Salary?

Average salaries are mainly based on two points: geographic location coupled with level of experience. As in most fields, newcomers without any type of medical or administrative training earn the least while veterans with a well-rounded collective of educational, administrative, and medical experiences earn the most. The following statistics are the national average of all medical receptionist jobs based solely upon years of experience:

Years of Experience       =     Hourly Rate
Less than 1 year              =     $7.36 – $13.37
1 – 4 years                        =     $8.13 – $14.59
5 – 9 years                       =      $9.01 – $15.75
10 – 19 years                   =      $9.19 – $17.30
20 years or more           =     $9.83 – $18.45

What is the Availability of Medical Receptionist Jobs?

There are literally tens, if not hundreds, of thousands medical receptionist jobs available nationwide and these can be found in a variety of cities ranging from small towns to mega-metropolises. There isn’t really a lack of positions, the trick is finding, applying, and receiving an invitation to interview. Most job seekers search newspaper classifieds, community job postings, and online boards in hopes of finding an opening. Few people consider using a temporary staffing agency as a way to gain experience or create networking relationships. More often than not, these temporary jobs turn into permanent positions; even if this doesn’t happen, the employee has added another layer of occupational experience to his resume. Since the computer age dawned, fewer and fewer job seekers actually visit local healthcare providers to make job inquiries; don’t discount this approach. Yes, it is time consuming but usually results in leads that otherwise may have been overlooked because of inadequate advertising. Get creative with your job search and you will be amazed at the opportunities that will be uncovered.

Overall, a medical receptionist job is perfect for those that are a jack-of-all -trades. General medical knowledge, a pleasing disposition, and acute administrative skills are all that is required to start a job that will launch your career within the healthcare industry.

Over the last several years, the need for all types of medical facilities has dramatically increased with the growing population and the amount of aging baby boomers. Due to this recent demand, the number of hospitals, private practitioners, and clinics in need of qualified personnel has reached a critical level. Most of these practices will require someone to work the front desk in order to field incoming calls and manage patients; these employees are called medical receptionists. A medical receptionist job description can vary from business to business for several reasons, but typically revolves around a few key elements.

A Typical Medical Receptionist Job Description is all but a universal standard. The duties and responsibilities can be divided into two main categories: administrative needs and interpersonal capabilities. Both of these components are vital to the successful completion of assigned tasks.

Administrative Needs

The largest portion of a medical receptionist’s workload is administrative duties. Since most medical offices heavily rely on computerized technologies, basic knowledge of computers and applicable software is required. The ability to prioritize and juggle simultaneous responsibilities coupled with outstanding communication skills is a must. Most key responsibilities include:

• Organization and Promptness – maintaining a well-supplied office that is fully operational at the beginning of each business day
• Scheduling Competency – supply appointment times for patients, book doctor and staff meetings as directed, make other appointments with business associates as necessary
• Switchboard Operations – display a professional degree of phone etiquette and know how to use a multi-line phone system
• Communication Abilities– sustain efficient oral and written communications among other staff members, practitioners’ offices, laboratories, insurance companies, and other industry contacts
• Technological Standards/Keyboarding Skills – utilize computers and other office equipment to complete, scan, file, and fax documents in a timely manner
• Medical Background – be familiar with medical terminology along with common healthcare policies and procedures

Interpersonal Capabilities

Often times, the medical receptionist is the first person with which a patient comes into contact. It is imperative that the receptionist be welcoming and easygoing in order to effectively aide customers with all their questions, needs, and concerns. Do not discount the importance of a smiling face and a welcoming attitude – this is what will keep patients calm and business flowing smoothly. Highly valued and sought after personality traits include:

• Pleasant Disposition – has a tendency to maintain an agreeable mood and mental outlook
• Dependability – must be punctual and maintain a good attendance record
• Positive Attitude – remains calm and functions well in stressful situations, maintains a pleasant tone and voice level, and voices concerns in an appropriate manner at proper times
• Self-Knowledgeable – can realistically determine what one is capable of accomplishing, can voice when workload becomes too heavy, and asks for help before a situation spirals out of control
• High Energy Level – takes the initiative to complete assigned tasks and takes pride in their impeccable work ethics

Mastering the above administration skills and possessing the innate qualities specified will adequately prepare anyone for a job as a medical receptionist.

Medical Office Assistant: Job Description

What exactly does a medical office assistant actually do? This position is accountable for numerous tasks within medical offices; the exact responsibilities will vary across establishments due to size, location, and specialty. Regardless of the specific circumstances, the position usually includes administrative and clinical duties.

Typical Administrative Responsibilities

• Initial Patient Contact – greeting and directing patients.
• Switchboard Operation – proper use of multiline phone system for in-house and public communications.
• Maintaining Electronic Records – transcribing paperwork and communications including: insurance verification and authorization, scheduling patient appointments, processing insurance claims and billing, hospital and laboratory communications, medical billing and coding, insurance coding and collections, light accounting and bookkeeping, and in-office correspondence.
• Maintaining Business Protocols – patient confidentiality, HIPPA procedures, and OSHA guidelines.
• General Office Assignments – keyboarding, basic computer applications, print/copy/fax machines, etc.

Typical Clinical Responsibilities

• Patient Preparations – obtaining medical histories, asking follow-up questions in relation to previous visits, taking metabolic measures and vital signs, readying patient for examination, and assisting physician, or other medical professional, during examinations.

Keep in mind that workplace size strongly influences the number of tasks for which a medical office assistant is responsible; typically, the smaller the workplace, the more resourceful and well-trained an employee should be since he is required to handle more of a workload.

Medical Office Assistant: Requirements

This position mainly concentrates in general office services since typing skills, computer aptitude, and organization are the main responsibilities. Also, experience in the health insurance field or billing and coding is important; medical office assistants often act as a liaison between their office and insurance companies. A background in these areas lessens the likelihood training is necessary and boosts an employee’s work value. As reception work is usually included under this title, it is important to have a friendly disposition and excellent communication skills. It is important to note that a licensure or associate’s degree is not required, but is highly recommended as a way to increase an employee’s net worth and to open doors en route for other medical specialty careers.

Medical Office Assistant: Career Advancement Opportunities

Although it is not necessary to become certified as a requirement for employment, passing the National Medical Office Assistant Certification exam provides a competitive edge and is a great addition to any resume. Beginning as a licensed medical office assistant provides the training and background required for career advancement.

Career Paths that Require Certification

• Coding Specialist/Coding Technician – completes a coding billing course and is certified by either the American Health Information Management Association or the American Academy of Professional Coders
• Health Information Specialist – transcribes data from insurance and client financials to aide practitioners in planning patient care
• Insurance Claims Analyst – reviews and audits insurance claims provided by hospitals, medical offices, and other healthcare institutions
• Medical Billing Specialist – interprets the coded medical report in order to bill insurance companies
• Medical Coder – utilizes diagnoses and procedure codes in order to bill patients and gather research data
• Medical Records Clerk – works inside a medical records department categorizing and retrieving medical records

All in all, a position a medical office assistant is a great job that may lead to a successful career within the medical realm. The healthcare system is expected to continue its high growth trend; therefore, an occupation within this field will provide job security and advancement opportunities in an uncertain market.