Aspects of Being a Good MOA

Medical Office Administrator (MOA) is one of the most diverse careers in the medical field. The MOA, as the first and often last point of contact between a patient and medical office staff, has a critical role in being the "navigator" of the clinical "ship."

The MOA has a comprehensive overview of the day-to-day operation in a medical facility and, often times, has to take on many various roles in order to provide the best service to patients, providers, clinical staff, insurance companie, and other health care facilities.

We think our Medical Office Administrator program at Concorde provides coursework and training for an immersive learning experience in the practical aspects of providing a high level of support in a variety of medical office job settings. But what are the different aspects that make a good Medical Office Administrator? What traits does one have to have to become successful in this all-important career field?

We got those answers ... and then some ... from one of Concorde's top MOA program directors, Shawn Molnar, Program Director at our campus in Portland, Ore.

Common traits of a good Medical Office Administrator

"There are many different aspects to being an MOA," Molnar said. "They must be highly trained and be a 'people person.' Individuals must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, enjoy problem-solving and be able to keep the pace flowing to provide high-quality patient care at all times."

Molnar said successful MOAs also share many of the following professional characteristics:

• Exceptional customer service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Motivated and dependable
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Team-oriented, but able to work independently
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Proficient in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, computer applications and medical office applications
• Excellent computer skills
• Accurate insurance claims processing, billing and coding skills
• Outstanding time management skills
• Proficient medical office procedures

"Medical Office Administration is a highly rewarding and successful health care career," Molnar said. "Many MOAs go on to become office managers and/or clinical facilitators. The job outlook for MOAs is positive and projected to be one of the fastest-growing health care positions."

Now that you know what it takes to be a good Medical Office Administrator, perhaps it's time to consider pursuing your medical office administration training at Concorde. We could be just what you're looking for!