Certified Medical Administrative Assistant

Becoming an Administrative Medical Assistant
Qualities of a medical assistant, working in ambulatory healthcare settings, the healthcare team

Managing Stress and Improving Communication
Types of communication and barriers to effective communication; patient interview techniques

Law, Ethics, and Healthcare
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); ethical guidelines for healthcare providers

Improving Your Medical Office
The reception area and the medical receptionist; opening and closing the facility

Computers in the Ambulatory Care Setting
Use of computers in the medical office; safeguarding Electronic Medical Record (EMR), Electronic Health Record (EHR), and Protected Health Information (PHI)

Telecommunications and Patient Scheduling
Patient portal and scheduling methods; dealing with irate patients

Medical Terminology: Word Parts, Plurals, Abbreviations
Importance of medical terminology; understanding word parts: roots, prefixes, and suffixes

Managing Medical Records
Electronic, paper, and hybrid medical records; SOAP notes, Release of Information (ROI) and Personal Health Record (PHR)

Written Communication
Working with medical documents and records; medical transcriptionist/medical scribe

Medical Billing and Coding: An Overview
Health insurance terms; code sets: ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS Level II

Daily Financial Practices
Improving patient payments; claims denial strategies, accounts receivable, and accounts payable

The Administrative Medical Assistant as Office Manager
Qualities of an office manager; Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)

What do medical administrative assistants do?
According to NHA, medical administrative assistants primarily work in the “front office” of a medical practice or healthcare facility. Their duties may include coordinating practice correspondence, maintaining files, and scheduling appointments.

What’s the difference between a clinical medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant?
Clinical medical assistants primarily deal with clinical procedures and patient care, while medical administrative assistants oversee organizational tasks, such as scheduling, managing records, and checking in patients.

Do medical administrative assistant need certification?
The healthcare environment thrives on professionalism, precision, and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. Earning a CMAA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.

In what facilities do medical administrative assistants work?
Medical assistants commonly work in medical practices, such as physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities, according to the BLS.

Nancy Smith
Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

LaTisha Cottingham
LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Previously, she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department for a local career institute. LaTisha’s field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.