Medical Office Manager Career
Medical Office Manager Duties
The Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM) conducted their Manager Salary and Benefits survey for 2006 and found that the top seven most common duties of medical office managers and practice administrators were: creating office policies, conducting staff meetings, hiring and firing, employee evaluations, payroll preparation, compliance and accounts payable. We spoke with office managers working in single provider as well as multi-provider offices regarding their duties and found similar results. In addition, many of our respondents felt that managing staff (sick days, time off, tardiness, ADA, FMLA, etc.), billing and collections, Medicare contracts and billing, health insurance contract negotiation (billing and credentialing), physician management, payroll/401k management, and OSHA and HIPA compliance should be included as critical duties frequently handled by a medical office manager or practice administrator.
Become a Medical Office Manager
Medical Office Manager Resources…
The feedback we received from current medical office managers and the health care providers they work for is that an ideal medical office manager will have the textbook office management knowledge or formal education, but will also have the ability to relate to patients and staff and the personality to deal with the situations not addressed in a classroom. Strong communication, human resource skills were at the top of the list as well.
Medical Office Manager Jobs
Getting the job is obviously the an important aspect of becoming a medical office manager, so here are a couple pointers to consider when looking for degree programs and what to consider once you get the interview. As far as degree programs go, an associate degree in medical office management will get you started on the right foot with all the necessary skills you need to be successful and make you much more competitive in the field. If you are looking for a program that will prepare you for a medical office manager position or a management level positions in another area of health care, a bachelors in health care administration from one of our schools will help reach your goals. When preparing your resume and getting ready for the interview, remember to stay honest. Always keep a solid work history and stay on good terms with previous employers, because your references will be checked. You will need to demonstrate your strengths and build a potential employer’s confidence in you during the interview. Remember, that employer most likely has had some bad experiences with employees in the past and is concerned about hiring the right person for the job. The bottom line is to sell yourself and a formal education in medical office management or a bachelors in health care administration is a great feature to start with in an interview.
Hint: A nice strategy to implement during an interview is to explain how you will increase productivity without sacrificing quality.
Medical Office Manager Salary and Benefits
The PAHCOM national 2006 medical office manager and practice administrator survey found that the average compensation package (salary and benefits) for a medical office manager or practice administrator was $69,312. 81% of medical office managers also receive an annual bonus, with the Northeast and West coast having the highest packages respectively. They also found that office managers in orthopedics offices earned the most ($77,621), Internal Medicine ($66,853) and Family Practice ($60,040). To see the complete list, check out the PAHCOM website (www.pahcom.com).
