Are there any Medical Office Managers here that can answer a question for me?
Discount Medical Scrubs
Im currently trying to get my Associates as a MOM...Im about to start my third term in a online school..But Im almost done with medical terminology..how much does medical term have to do with our work? i thought medical office managers just do the office work? Because alot of medical terminology class is all medical like things a doctor or medical assistant should know..i dont know..just wondering..and whats it like working as a MOM in the field? I have done some research on this career obviosly i liked it so i picked it..but I havent found alot that answers my questions..whats the pay like and benefits? Do we wear civilian clothes? or scrubs? Just need to know more about the job. thanks..
Tags: alot, civilian clothes, discount medical, job, Medical Assistant, medical office managers, medical term, medical terminology, mom, scrubs
October 8th, 2010 at 7:42 am
I’ve been in the medical field for over 20 years and served as an MOM for five years. I served as a Billing Manager for two years. I have taught medical front office and medical billing and coding for five years. And, yes, this includes medical terminology.
A medical office two primary functions. We are here to serve patients and to generate enough income to keep the doors open–paying overhead including salaries, utilities, malpractice insurance, etc. One of the main ways we collect money for services provided these days is by billing insurance. In order to do so one needs to have some medical terminology in order to understand insurance billing and coding.
In the office where I served as the Billing Manager the MOM admitted to me that she didn’t know much about what I did. I had less respect for her. I also winced every time she said "between you and I" instead of the correct "between you and me". In teaching terminology one of the other terminology teachers was a podiatrist (foot doctor). She literally said car di o my o PATH e rather than the correct car dio my OP a thy. Frightful!
You are expected to be a notch above in your speech, behavior and dress. For example, if the dress code is business casual, you want to be a step above that by perhaps wearing nice dresses or suits. Slacks are generally also acceptable but you need to look a bit more polished. Check out outlet stores for great deals. Quality is better than quality when building your business wardrobe.
Even if you are focused on office management you still need to have some idea about running the front office. In a pinch you may need to step up and help. LIkewise, you need some knowledge of what the back office assistants are doing.
As the MOM you will usually be responsible for working with the A/R (accounts receivable) report. If income is low you need to be able to look at the billing cycle and know how to follow up, or get your billing department to follow up. Remember billing is important. If we don’t get money we have to close the doors.
I will tell you what I tell all my students about pay and benefits. First of all you are very smart to consider the benefits. Many graduates to not; they are only thinking about the hourly wage. Yes, the hourly rate is important, money is important. However, it is not the whole story.
When discussing benefits there are several unique to our field beyond just the usual medical, dental, vacation and retirement. What is the dress code? Are scrubs required? Are they provided? If so great. If not, do they give you a uniform allowance? Some places may start you off with $200 and then give you an additional $100 per year from then on. What kind of training and other educational opportunities do they provide? Do they offer tuition reimbursement? This means if you take a class you pay for it up front. Once you pass with a B or a C (depending upon the employer) they will pay you back for your tuition. This can be up to $3,000 a year!
Another big one is parking. Is it provided? Is there a fee? If so, who pays? Are they near public transportation? These can be important questions. I live in the SF Bay Area. If an office is not near our BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system, parking can be $30 per day! Some employers provide shuttle service from BART to the hospital and nearby medical offices which is a huge help.
Regarding money. You do not bring it up. Have the employer bring up the topic. Usually it is the second interview but it can be the first. Usually the advantage is to whomever does not give a number first. If they ask you how much you want you can counter with how much would you expect to pay? If they push you for a dollar amount tell them it really depends upon the entire package and give a wide hourly wage.
Say minimum wage is $8 per hour. The least you want is $12 per hour. Add 10 percent and ask for $14 up to $18 or $20 per hour depending upon the package. Then if they drop 10 percent you are still at $12.60. Know that no matter what they are paying you be grateful because they are paying you to learn. Jobs are tight right now so you may make less money because people are taking jobs they are grossly overqualified for just to pay the bills. As you don’t have experience you might end up having to start as a front office assistant and work your way up. No matter what they have you doing remember they are paying you to learn and they will be as interested in your attitude as what you do. I can teach skills. I can not teach attitude. You either have it or you don’t. If you go around snooty that this job is beneath you, I doubt you will get very far.
Whatever their offer is get it in writing. DO NOT accept it on the spot unless they offer you something beyond your wildest dreams. Tell them you need to sleep on it, discuss it with your family or whatever. They usually will give you a day or two. An
October 8th, 2010 at 7:42 am
If you know terminology your staff will respect you MUCH more and you’ll have an easier time at the job. For example, if you get a job in a dermatology clinic and have no idea what a malignant melanoma is, you will look kind of foolish.
Yes, a MOM mostly does office work, and depending on the practice this might include phones, scheduling, billing, etc. All of these require a basic knowledge of medical terms and procedures. Trust me, it will make the job easier if you have that background knowledge.
Pay and benefits vary based on your location, the specifics of the office you work for, experience and so on. But the more you know, the more valuable you are. You will probably not have to wear scrubs but if you do, you’re lucky. They are inexpensive and super comfortable.