Medical Office Manager Job Description
If you’re interested in a management position in the healthcare field, a medical office manager job could be right for you. This position includes several responsibilities that help keep medical offices and other healthcare facilities operating efficiently. Growing demand for medical services managers means you can expect to find plenty of job opportunities available in the coming years.
What Is a Medical Office Manager?
A medical office manager handles the daily responsibilities involved in keeping doctor’s offices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities running. While doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals perform clinical functions, medical office managers cover the non-clinical side of operating a medical office.
Job Responsibilities of Medical Office Managers
Medical office managers have a wide range of responsibilities to handle or oversee on a day-to-day basis. Some of these responsibilities involve focusing on customer service, while others involve interacting with or collaborating with clinical staff. Some of the main responsibilities medical office managers have on a regular basis include:
● Managing finances for the medical office or facility
● Overseeing day-to-day operations
● Supervising patient and staff schedules
● Supervising the patient registration process
● Organizing and maintaining medical records and staff records
● Improving customer service and patient satisfaction
● Planning, implementing, and overseeing office policies and procedures
● Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA and HIPAA regulations
● Planning staff meetings for clinical staff, non-clinical, and administrative staff
● Conducting interviews and hiring medical office staff
● Training medical staff and conducting performance reviews
Common Employment Settings for Medical Office Managers
Medical office managers work in a medical office or healthcare facility, such as physician offices, nursing home facilities, hospitals, and outpatient care centers. They typically spend their entire workday on site, although they may occasionally attend meetings, conferences, or events in other locations.
Hospitals are the largest employers of medical office managers. In fact, state, local, and private hospitals employ roughly 33 percent of medical services managers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Physician offices employ around 12 percent of medical services managers, while nursing and residential care facilities employ roughly 10 percent combined. The government employs around 9 percent of medical services managers, and outpatient care centers employ another 7 percent.
Medical office managers in physician offices and similar settings often work during typical weekday office hours. Those working in facilities that are open around-the-clock, such as hospitals, might be expected to work weekends and evenings. In some cases, medical office managers remain on call, so they can be reached immediately if an emergency occurs.
Career Outlook
Job growth for medical office managers through 2030 is expected to be around 32 percent, according to the BLS. This is significantly higher than the expected job growth of 4 percent for all occupations. BLS predicts roughly 51,800 openings for medical and health management positions per year, which include medical office managers.
This solid career outlook is partly due to an expected rise in demand for healthcare services in general as people in their late 50s through 70s grow older. With many staying active as they age, this is also expected to lead to an increased need for healthcare. This higher demand for healthcare services should result in the need for clinical healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities. Medical office managers will be needed to run these facilities.
Another reason for this strong career outlook is an expected rise in employment in health practitioner offices, as some of the services that hospitals provide shift to these facilities. Medical office managers will be needed to oversee medical staff and maintain staff records. Medical office managers are also expected to be in high demand as the use of electronic medical records becomes more widespread. These managers will be needed to organize and maintain these records.
This job outlook information provides an idea of what to expect in terms of available positions for medical office managers now and in the near future. However, it should not be regarded as guaranteeing employment, a specific job title or a certain salary.
What Can I Do with My Medical Services Management Degree?
Having a Medical Services Management degree can provide you with the education needed to become a medical office manager. These managers typically need to have an associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as healthcare administration or business administration. Since medical office managers handle non-clinical tasks and responsibilities rather than clinical ones, a medical degree is not required.
Bryant & Stratton College can help you achieve your career goals in medical office management with a medical services management bachelor’s degree program. This degree program provides you with the knowledge needed for a successful career as a medical office manager, such as project management and communication skills. Through this degree program, you’ll also learn about policy regulation and challenges found in medical services settings. You’ll gain experience collaborating with clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals in order to provide quality services, as well.
Keep in mind that this degree can also help you build a career in other healthcare leadership positions, such as medical department manager or benefits coordinator. When you earn a medical services management degree, you’ll develop a wide range of skills that you can use in any healthcare management or leadership position, including customer service skills, writing skills for creating policy and procedure documentation, presentation skills, and problem-solving skills.
Additional Training/Requirements
Additional training and requirements for medical office managers vary depending on the facility type and state you work in. If you work as a manager in a nursing home, note that each state requires licensing for nursing home administrators. Exact requirements vary by state, but may include having a bachelor’s degree, passing a national licensing exam, and doing a state-approved training program. In some states, previous experience working in a healthcare facility is required for licensing.
Working as a medical office manager does not require certification, but you can choose to become certified. For example, you can earn the medical management certification from the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management. Becoming certified as a medical manager indicates that you have met a professional organization’s standards for excellence, often by completing an application and passing a written exam.
Medical office managers have the option to advance their careers, such as moving up to an executive position in a healthcare facility. This typically requires an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree.
If you’re looking for more information on becoming a medical office manager, please contact Bryant and Stratton College. We can provide you with more details on our online medical services management bachelor’s degree program, which can help you gain the education you’ll need for this kind of career.