Between the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-advancing landscape of healthcare technology, the role of the Medical Administrative Assistant is changing. Medical Administrative Assistants work within different health care practices, including in public health clinics, private offices or provincial Health Regions. As a Medical Administrative Assistant, you’ll be responsible for a number of duties, including patient scheduling and billing, medical transcription, obtaining and updating patient medical histories and more.
If you’re preparing to enter this career path, it’s important to choose a program which will equip you with the skills necessary to keep up with the trends influencing medical administration today. Medical Administrative Assistants are learning new technologies, and the scope of their roles is changing as the industry adapts. Below, discover three trends which are shaping medical administration.
1. Use of Multiple Digital Health Platforms
After completing your medical administration program, you’ll be responsible for entering patient data into databases, where their information can be stored, updated and referenced for future use. Traditionally, medical administrative assistants would have to gather data from many different sources, calling the offices of medical professionals, insurance companies and more to obtain a complete patient profile.
However, with advancements in technology, interoperability has made it possible to collect different kinds of healthcare and insurance information from multiple platforms seamlessly. With interoperability, the data from different systems like self-registration systems, health apps, online bill pay platforms and more can be merged, creating more complete patient records.
2. Virtual Care and Telehealth Are More Common
One lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is the existence of virtual care, remote patient monitoring and telehealth in many medical practices. This type of care means that providers are checking in with patients via videoconferencing tools, and using technology such as biometric sensors to make the virtual consultation as effective as possible.
As a Medical Administrative Assistant, this type of care will alter your role in a few ways. You’ll be scheduling more virtual appointments, working with patients and providers to determine the right technology for the visit, and addressing any concerns that patients may have about their virtual appointments. While this will mean more patient communication, it may also reduce the amount of in-person appointments.
3. Supply Chain Issues Will Grow
Unfortunately, one issue you’re likely to encounter as a graduate of medical administration college is supply chain stagnation. Ever since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has created shortages of vital medications, due to spikes in various illnesses, a monopoly on brand-name drugs, and a shortage of the very materials needed to manufacture these drugs. As a Medical Administrative Assistant, you can expect these issues to change the approach to or methods of care within the office where you work.
Prepare for the Changing Field With a Medical Administration Program
Along with changes in technology and healthcare systems, the expectations for Medical Administrative Assistants are changing. Instead of prior experience in the field, employers are seeking those who possess training in the technical aspects of the role–those who are able to navigate and adapt to new technologies. With training at Saskatoon Business College, you’ll build skills in state-of-the-art technologies, equipping you with the tools to excel in any Medical Administrative Assistant role. If you think you’d be a good fit for a medical administration role, start exploring your options with SBC today.
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