Medical administrative assistants keep daily operations running smoothly at hospitals and clinics across the country by maintaining appointment schedules, processing bills, updating patient records, and performing other essential tasks. Some job listings refer to the role as medical office assistant, medical secretaries, or medical receptionist, but no matter what you call them, medical administrative assistants are important to providing high-quality patient care.

Where Medical Administrative Assistants work in Washington

In Washington, medical administrative assistants work in:

• Hospitals and medical centers: Nearly every hospital needs administrative pros to maintain their operations, and New Mexico hospitals like San Juan Regional Medical Center are no exception.
• Healthcare networks: Large healthcare systems in Washington employ administrative assistants across multiple departments and locations, providing opportunities for career growth and specialization.‍
• Private medical and dental practices: Smaller medical offices rely on administrative assistants to assist patients and handle front-desk responsibilities.

Typically, medical admins in Washington are required to work under the supervision of a physician, and cannot perform medical tasks. That still leaves plenty of responsibilities that Certified Medical Administrative Assistants can handle, including:

• Assisting and directing patients: Ensuring proper patient flow throughout the clinic and helping patients fill out paperwork.
• Billing and insurance: These assistants are entrusted with billing patients’ insurers accurately and promptly, ensuring providers get paid and patients receive the care they need.
• Maintaining patient records and schedules: Confirming patient appointments and recording any services performed is a key part of the workday for Medical Administrative Assistants.‍
• Patient communication: As the person usually picking up the phone and greeting in-person guests, Medical Administrative Assistants are often the first point of contact for a new patient.

In Washington, there's no state mandate requiring medical administrative assistants to hold official certification. However, while not mandated by the state, certifications like the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) can enhance a candidate's qualifications and job prospects. According to the NHA, 84% of employers require or encourage certification for medical administrative assistants.

To be eligible to take the CMAA exam, you’ll need to have a high school diploma or GED and meet one of these two requirements:

• Completed a Medical Administrative Assistant training program in the last five years.
• Performed one year of supervised work in a Medical Administrative Assistant field within the last three years, or two years of supervised work experience in a Medical Administrative Assistant field within the last five years.