Medical Office Manager: Career, Training, & Certification

Medical Office Manager

 The world of health care is one that requires a strong and organized hand behind it in order to run smoothly, for the sake both of the patients and doctors. Medical office managers are the individuals responsible for ensuring that everything goes according to plan, including such duties as record keeping, accounting, human resources, and general operations of a hospital or clinic. This role is extremely important for the proper upkeep of any health care organization, and they tend to be the people that others look up to.
 
Salary Outlook
 
Medical office managers tend to be paid well, though this depends on both experience and education. The range also is impacted by whether they work in an urban or suburban environment, as well as the field that they specialize in.
 
Average Annual Salary
$69,312
 
Salary Range
$48,300-$137,800
 
Work Environment
 
The majority of medical office managers work in general hospitals, be they medical or surgical. Other places of business that they may find themselves in include physician’s private offices, and others work in the field of nursing homes or other home health care programs. Generally speaking, like many others in the health care industry, they can expect to work long hours and may be on call to deal with any problems that arise in the facilities at any time.
 
Requirements
 
Regardless of the state, there are a few minimum requirements that all medical office managers are required to undergo. This include holding a bachelor’s degree, passing a licensing examination, going through a state-specific training program specific to this field, and having proof of pursuing some sort of continuing education. One of the main licenses that are acceptable in this field is the Certified Medical Manager, or CMM, which requires three years of medical practice administration as well as 12 course hours in health care management, as a prerequisite to taking the exam. This must be kept up with 24 hours of continuing education every couple of years.
 
Career Outlook
 
Although constant technological innovations mean that health care organizations are required to follow suit and continue updating themselves, the need for a strong managerial presence is one that isn’t going anywhere. The career outlook for medical office managers is listed as expected to improve at a fairly rapid rate, at about 14% over the next 10 years, according to some estimates. With a rise in the elderly population, health care is an industry that is poised to continue growing.
 
Professional Organizations
 
Association of Health Care Office Management
3755 Avocado Blvd. Suite 306
La Mesa, CA 91941
Phone: (800) 451-9311
www.pahcom.com
 
Medical Office Management Association
PO Box 4651
Winter Park, FL 32793
Phone: (407) 647-0199
www.momaorlando.org