Entry-Level Jobs in Healthcare Administration
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in medical records and healthcare management are growing at a significant rate. Yet, because positions in these fields often require advanced degrees and several years of experience, you may be unsure of how to get your foot in the door. Though higher education and tenure can certainly help further your career, there are three common entry-level jobs in healthcare administration that you can obtain with an associate degree.
Administrative Coordinator
Of all the professionals in healthcare administration, administrative coordinators are likely the ones you’re most familiar with. These professionals function as the “face” of the facility. Administrative coordinators answer phones, verify insurance benefits, and bill clients and insurance companies. In other words, they are responsible for most of the day-to-day administrative duties in doctor’s offices and hospitals. So, if you are brand new to the healthcare industry, working as an administrative coordinator could be a great way for you to learn how medical facilities operate.
Office Manager
Already have prior healthcare or management experience? Consider pursuing a position in office management. Office managers are the link between upper management and the rest of an organization’s employees. In small practices, office managers may work under a single physician, while in larger facilities, they may take direction from a full executive team. Office managers are in the unique position to see how decisions made behind the scenes directly affect patients and staff members alike.
Executive Assistant
If you’d like to work your way up to upper management, it is wise to first spend some time as an executive assistant. Executive assistants work closely with c-suite executives to help ensure that each of their projects is seen to completion. This position requires high-level organization and communication skills, but it is an excellent way for aspiring executives to gain real-world experience while completing their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Land One of These Entry-Level Jobs in Healthcare Administration
Though the positions listed above are often deemed “entry-level,” they still require a basic understanding of medical terminology, electronic medical records, and medical coding and billing. If your knowledge in any of these areas is lacking, contact EBI’s Vestal campus at (607) 729-8915 or check out EBI’s medical office technologies degree program to learn how you can obtain the education you need to begin a career in healthcare administration.
Non-Clinical Healthcare Careers
Healthcare careers are both rewarding and in demand, but the idea of working with blood, needles, and sick patients turns many people away. Even more hands-off specialties like pharmacy require an extensive scientific background and the responsibility of patient care, which can be a deterrent to some. Fortunately, there are several non-clinical healthcare careers that can be just as prosperous and fulfilling as their more traditional counterparts. Read on to learn about three that may be a good fit for you.
Patient Advocacy
Known as the liaisons between patients and clinical professionals, patient advocates manage the communication process from the time a patient calls in to make an appointment to the time they check out at the end of their visit. While working with patients, the main goal of a patient advocate is to ensure that the patient understands their treatment, their right to privacy, and their financial liability. However, patient advocates do much more behind the scenes. These professionals manage medical records and sometimes verify insurance benefits for patients, as well.
Medical Operations
Like most management professionals, medical operations managers are responsible for overseeing both individual employees and the processes that they follow. Professionals in this role are sometimes called office managers or front desk supervisors as they govern the administrative side of healthcare facilities. Even so, the level of authority given to medical operations managers varies from practice to practice. At small doctors’ offices, medical operations managers may make most of the decisions, while at larger facilities, they may function as a layer of middle management.
Health Information
While patient advocates and medical operations managers often act as the face of a facility, health information technicians work almost entirely behind the scenes. Health information is a great field for those who are detail-oriented and analytical by nature as it is an industry driven by data. More specifically, health information technicians ensure the accuracy and security of medical data. Doctors and nurses rely on health information technicians to track disease patterns and treatment outcomes, making them an invaluable part of any healthcare organization. Health information technicians are also trained to help with tasks such as software updates and medical coding and billing.
Train for the Top Non-Clinical Healthcare Careers at EBI
If you’re interested in pursuing a non-clinical healthcare career, reach out to EBI at 607-729-8915 to learn how you can best complete your education. EBI offers an array of healthcare training programs in Vestal, New York. Though all of the positions above can be attained with EBI’s medical office technologies degree, EBI also provides training in medical coding and billing for those in search of more specialized schooling.
Average Medical Office Administrator Salary in New York
Whether you’re exploring a new career in healthcare administration or simply wondering if your present pay is up to par, it is important to know the average medical office administrator salary in New York. Even so, you must remember that “medical office administrator” is a broad term. Salaries in this field vary from position to position. Learn about the average compensation for three common medical office administration roles below.
Medical Administrative Assistants
According to Glassdoor, medical administrative assistants in the state of New York earn an average of $38,263 per year. Broken down by 40 hours a week, this amounts to $18.40 an hour. Considering that their average hourly wage is $8 more than the state minimum wage of $10.40 an hour, medical administrative assistants earn an excellent entry-level income. Furthermore, experienced medical administrative assistants can make as much as $57,000 per year.
Health Information Technicians
If your current or desired position primarily involves working with medical records, you can generally classify it to be within the field of “health information.” Indeed states that health information technicians in New York State have an average annual salary of $46,690. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects positions in health information to grow by 13% between 2016 and 2026. This is faster than the 5 – 9% growth expected for most careers.
Medical Office Managers
Some of the highest paid medical office administrators are medical office managers. Glassdoor states that medical office managers profit from an average annual salary of $53,528 in the state of New York. Given that the U.S. Census Bureau reports New York’s median household income to be $60,741, $53,528 is relatively high for one individual alone.
Earn an Above-Average Medical Office Administrator Salary in New York
Though it is always possible to network and negotiate, one of the most effective ways to land a high-paying position is to further your education. By having more training than the average medical office administrator, you are more likely to be offered an above-average salary. If you’d like to broaden your scope of knowledge, reach out to EBI at (607) 729-8915. EBI offers an Associate in Occupational Studies with an emphasis in Medical Office Technologies that can expand your skill set in several areas of medical office administration.
Learn Office Technologies Training
What will you learn in Office Technologies training?
Are you looking for an education that offers a wide range of options for your career destination? If you enjoy working in an office environment and have a knack for today’s technology, a career as an Office Technology specialist may be perfect for you!
EBI Career College offers an Office Technology degree program to prepare you for a career in the healthcare industry. Your degree can be completed in as little as 16 months!
One program concentration
The Office Technology degree program at EBI Career College came about when the Executive Assistant School was combined with the Personal Assistant School. Students in this program participate in the medical concentration at EBI College, earning an Associate Degree in Office Technologies.
Medical concentration:
On the medical side of the Office Technologies program, we offer training in the essential office skills necessary for entry-level positions as assistants to executives in a wide variety of business, technical, industrial, or governmental institutions. Coursework includes:
- Principles of Accounting I
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Electronic Medical Records
- Applications in Word Processing
Contact us today to discover your new Office Technologies career!
Now is a great time to start a career in office technologies. You can complete your degree in as little as 16 months. To learn more about our Office Technologies degree program in Vestal, NY, call 607-729-8915.
