Yolanda Said:

which should I choose medical assistant or medical administrative assistant? PLEASE HELP!?

We Answered:

To help better decide here's what a Medical Assistant (MA) do and a Medical Administrative Assistant/Medical Office Administration (MOA) for some examples:

Medical Assistant:

Take vital signs
Patient history
Measure height and weight
Administer injections
Billing and Coding
Transcription
Handling insurance
Assist the doctors in examinations
Can perform CPR
Can become certified or registered

Medical Office Administration:

Answer phones
Handle insurance
Billing and coding
Transcription
Greet patients


Medical Assistants are trained to do both front and back office work, so there's more options in jobs for them. They can even taking extra classes and become certified in billing, for example. Medical Administrative assistants are responsible for the front office work only. They do the insurance and any necessary paperwork needed to be done. Answer phones, fax information to and from doctor's offices, make sure patients fill out all needed information on forms for the doctor, etc.

Hope this has been helpful! :)

Delores Said:

Do Administrative Medical Assistants make a lot?

We Answered:

$29,363
$31,882
$37,803
$40,673

All yearly, for the San Francisco area

EDIT: this is updated salaries, April 2009
Check out the website on the bottom to see for yourself

Alan Said:

Is a medical biller, coder or transcriptionist a good career? What is starting pay? Is it hard to study?

We Answered:

Pretty much everything about the medical field is competitive. I am studying to become a medical transcriptionist right now and it really depends on who you work for as to whether or not it will be a money making job for you. My friend works at the hospital making $30 an hour doing it and I am going to work from home, probably making about $30,000 per year to start out, but the more you do, and the better you become at it, you can make up to $90,000. Good luck.

Elsie Said:

Medical Administrative Assistant?

We Answered:

this job sucks. just go to nursing school or medical school.

Jessica Said:

Medical administrative assistant?

We Answered:

I have been an Administrative Medical Assistant for 5 years now and I enjoy it. I went to a vo-tech school for 9 months but have realized that it was not needed. A lot of Doctors want to train you themselves. You do not make a ton of money unless you make it into management. It is a good job if you enjoy working with many different people and can handle upset patients, you will learn quickly that it is your fault when the Doctor is running late. Anyways good luck and I hope that you enjoy it.