Medical administrative assistants play a vital role in healthcare settings. They perform front-office duties and help manage the daily workflow in a healthcare facility. They are also known as medical receptionists or medical office assistants.

Where Medical Administrative Assistants Work in Montana

In Montana, medical administrative assistants find employment in various settings, including:

• Hospitals and Medical Centers: Major employers include Billings Clinic, St. Peter’s Health, and Providence hospitals.
• Specialty Clinics and Outpatient Facilities: Clinics focused on areas like cardiology, women’s health, and telehealth rely on admin support.
• Private Practices and Group Practices: Smaller medical offices across Montana depend on administrative staff for smooth patient flow.‍
• Rural and Community Health Clinics: Clinics that serve remote communities often hire medical administrative assistants.

A medical admin assistant’s duties will depend on what type of office or healthcare setting they work in, but common responsibilities include:

• ‍Scheduling appointments: They are responsible for confirming, canceling, and rescheduling appointments.‍
• Maintaining patient records: It is important to keep medical records up to date so that patients can receive the best care possible. ‍
• Making and answering phone calls: They are usually the first people that patients speak to when calling a medical office. ‍
• Directing patients in the waiting room: This helps ensure proper patient flow in the waiting room and throughout the clinic.‍
• Communicating with patients: They are involved in communicating important information to patients, such as billing and scheduling details. ‍
• Working with billing and insurance: Paying for healthcare is often a complicated and stressful process for patients. Administrative medical assistants can help patients understand what their insurance plans will and will not cover.‍
• Keeping the office organized and stocked: Not having adequate supplies can be inconvenient and, in some cases, disastrous, so this is a more important job than it might seem.‍
• Helping patients fill out paperwork: Sometimes, patients have trouble filling out all the required paperwork during their visit, and a good medical administrative assistant can help.

Montana does not require certification for medical administrative assistants. However, obtaining the CMAA credential is highly recommended.

Certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills needed, which makes you a more competitive job applicant and helps you earn a higher starting salary. According to NHA, 84% of employers require or encourage certification for medical administrative assistants.

To qualify for the CMAA exam, you must meet these criteria:

• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have completed a medical administrative assistant training or education program, like Stepful’s, within the past 5 years

or

• Have one year of supervised work experience in the field within the last three years, or two years of supervised work experience in the field within the past five years