Medical Administrative Assistant: Diploma Summary

About this article
A medical administrative assistant diploma is the first step on the way towards a career in an administrative support position in a healthcare environment such as a hospital, physician's office, nursing home, or other medical facility. Typical coursework includes anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and medical coding. Read on to learn more.
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What is a Medical Administrative Assistant Diploma?

A medical administrative assistant diploma instructs the student in the skills and tasks specific to administrative support positions in a healthcare facility. Medical administrative assistants need to be versed in medical terminology and coding as well as being able to process medical documents and insurance forms and accurately administer medication to patients. A basic understanding of medical practice, pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology is also part of a medical administrative assistant diploma. Typical coursework for a medical administrative assistant diploma includes:

  • Basic Anatomy and Physiology
  • Medical Terminology
  • Medical Coding
  • Medical Office Management
  • Healthcare Law and Ethics
  • Pharmacology
  • Interpersonal Communication

Why Get a Medical Administrative Assistant Degree?

A medical administrative assistant degree prepares the graduate for an entry-level position as administrative support staff in a healthcare facility. Duties for this occupation include interacting with patients on the phone and in person, processing forms and bills, clerical office work and other administrative support duties.

Job Outlook for Medical Administrative Assistants

The accelerating growth of the healthcare industry in the coming years will necessitate the need for administrative support staff. Such positions are the number one fastest-growing career in the nation in terms of demand for employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (www.bls.gov), predicts that demand for medical administrative assistants will grow much faster than the national average until at least the year 2014.

Salary and Compensation for Medical Administrative Assistants

According to the BLS, the median income for medical administrative assistants in 2004 was around $25,000.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • BS in Health Care Administration
      • BS in Health Care Administration
  • Online Programs Available
    2. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA - Health Services
      • Doctor of Health Administration
      • PhD - Health Services
    Master's
      • MSOL - Health Services
      • Master of Health Administration
      • MSCY - Healthcare
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

    Program Options

    Master's
      • Master of Health Administration
      • Master of Health Informatics
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
    Master's
      • MBA: Health Care Management
      • Master of Healthcare Admin
      • Master: Management/Health Care Mgmt
      • Master of Health Informatics
      • Master of Health Informatics - Health Information Management
    Bachelor's
      • Master of Healthcare Admin
    Associate's
      • Associate of Science in Health Science
      • Associate of Science in Health SciencePreprofessional
    Certificate
      • Medical Billing and Coding Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Penn Foster

    Program Options

    Certificate
      • Career Diploma - Virtual Assistant
      • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding
  • Online Programs Available
    6. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • DBA: Healthcare Management
      • PHD: Health Sciences: Healthcare Leadership
    Master's
      • MS: Healthcare Administration
      • MS: Healthcare Administration: Healthcare Law & Compliance
    Certificate
      • CERT: Medical Office Assistant
      • CERT: Healthcare Management
      • GRAD CERT: Healthcare Management
      • CERT: Health Sciences
  • Western Governors University

  • Florence, KY

    Southwestern College

Featured Schools

Grand Canyon University

  • BS in Health Care Administration

What is your highest level of education?

National University

  • DBA - Health Services
  • Doctor of Health Administration
  • MSOL - Health Services
  • Master of Health Administration

What is your highest level of education?

Wake Forest University - School of Professional Studies

  • Master of Health Administration
  • Master of Health Informatics

Which subject are you interested in?

Purdue Global

  • Doctor of Health Sciences
  • MBA: Health Care Management
  • Master of Healthcare Admin
  • Associate of Science in Health Science
  • Medical Billing and Coding Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

Penn Foster

  • Career Diploma - Virtual Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Medical Billing and Coding

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • DBA: Healthcare Management
  • MS: Healthcare Administration
  • CERT: Medical Office Assistant

What is your highest level of education?

Southwestern College