Medical administrative assistants are essential in maintaining the efficiency of healthcare facilities. They handle front-office duties, manage daily workflows, and ensure smooth patient experiences.

Also commonly referred to as medical receptionists or medical office assistants, these professionals are employed in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and private practices.

Where Medical Administrative Assistants work in New York

Medical Administrative Assistants in New York are essential team members across a range of healthcare settings:

• Hospitals and medical centers: Large systems like Northwell Health, Mount Sinai Health System, and NYC Health + Hospitals hire administrative assistants to support patient intake, scheduling, insurance verification, and medical records.
• Specialty clinics and outpatient facilities: Clinics in fields like cardiology, OB/GYN, and neurology often employ administrative staff to manage appointments and coordinate care.
• Private practices and group offices: Smaller clinics throughout the state rely on medical administrative assistants to run the front desk, handle patient communication, and maintain office organization.
  

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From busy hospitals to neighborhood clinics, New York offers strong job opportunities for medical administrative assistants statewide.

A medical administrative assistant’s duties may vary depending on the healthcare setting, but typically include:

• Scheduling appointments: Confirming, canceling, and rescheduling patient visits
• Assisting with paperwork: Helping patients complete necessary forms during their visits
• Communicating with patients: Providing information on billing, scheduling, and other inquiries
• Maintaining patient records: Ensuring medical records are accurate and up to date
• Handling phone communications: Serving as the first point of contact for patients calling the office
• Managing the waiting room: Directing patient flow to maintain an organized environment
• Organizing office supplies: Keeping the office well-stocked and orderly‍
• Processing billing and insurance: Assisting patients in understanding their insurance coverage and handling billing procedures

Medical administrative assistants in New York are not required to have a specific license. Nonetheless, although a license is not required, many employers in the healthcare field prefer or even require candidates to have a certification.

Certification indicates that a medical administrative assistant has met specific standards of knowledge and skills in their field. According to the NHA, 84% of employers require or encourage certification for medical administrative assistants.

To be eligible for the CMAA exam, you must have a GED or high school diploma and:

• Have completed a medical administrative assistant training or education program, like Stepful’s, within the last five years
• Have one year of supervised work experience in the medical administrative assistant field within the last three years, or two years of supervised work experience in the medical administrative assistant field within the last five years