Career Profile: Overview Medical Administration

While the healthcare industry in general will continue to experience growth that far exceeds most US professional fields through 2014, the Medical Administration field in particular appears to be one area where the demand for new graduates is expected to far exceed the actual supply.

While the primary concern of medical providers is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illnesses, healthcare is also a business - and quite a big one. In 2005, health care spending increased at three times the rate of inflation, exceeding $2 billion. Spending on medical care is expected to reach $3 billion annually by 2009. (AMA)

As the single largest health care payer (through Medicare), the federal government has a strong interest in working with healthcare providers to improve efficiency and ensure there is no patient oversight. Government regulations like HIPAA or the push towards Electronic Medical Records often create new challenges for hospitals, nursing homes, and other care providers. It's no wonder, then, that medical facilities are so aggressive in the recruiting of recent medical administration graduates.

There are several areas of medical administration that offer stable yet challenging careers for individuals who are interested in healthcare. Healthcare administration jobs include Medical Billing & Insurance Coding , Medical Transcription , Medical Office Administration or Management , medical insurance claims, Medical Records , or medical office/clinic reception or clerical work. In addition to primary care providers, health insurance companies hire medical administrators to manage payment and coding processes, and to interact with hospital staff.

Medical administration jobs are expected to continue to increase with faster than average growth as the nation moves collectively toward widespread managed healthcare, especially HMOs. The US population is living longer thanks to a social focus on preventative medical care and advances in medical technology. In addition, new developments in health information technology and the planned creation of a national health information network that provides nation-wide access to patient medical histories will generate a greater need for technologically-savvy administrators.

Medical administration can be a demanding career, especially in more fast-paced offices and companies, or in facilities with weekend or evening hours. But it can also be a very stable, rewarding and financially lucrative career.

No schools found or there was a problem, please try again later. (error: 6, http code: 0)

*Program Availability Varies By Location and Often Changes. To get the most up-to-date information, use the links we provide to request additional information from a local campus representative.