4 Technology Advancements Impacting Medical Office Administration

Technology is at the core of shifts across industry and medical office administration (MOA) is no exception. With the rising demand for care and services, tech is helping to ease the burden on healthcare workers and getting patients connected faster. As a medical office assistant, you need to understand these advancements and know how you can leverage them to support your team and those patients you serve.

Medical administration courses and any medical assistant training program you enrol in at a medical assistant college will cover in depth how these shifts in technology are influencing healthcare, but here are the top four to consider.

4 Tech Advancements Impacting Medical Office Administration

1. Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

Gone are the days of paper records housed in a medical office under lock and key. The convenience of an EHR, containing pertinent and up-to-date information on a patient’s health, allows doctors and healthcare teams to access useful medical info quickly, empowering them to provide medical care more efficiently.

Entering medical information into the system can take more time initially, but having patient details at the ready when diagnosing and providing care is worth the extra effort. And there is the added benefit of authorized parties being able to access real-time information across all health facilities at any given moment. As a medical office admin this will be your world, as you will likely be required to enter in, and recode, patient information accurately.

2. Telemedicine

Since the wild influx of healthcare needs, and the need to keep distance for safety, during COVID-19, telehealth has gained momentum as a way to connect patients and care providers. Virtual health consultations allow medical assessment to happen more quickly, can cut back on visits to the emergency room, are less time consuming for all and certainly less costly. As a medical assistant you may be required to be a part of these conferences, taking note and collecting patient information to then enter in to their EHR. This convenience also allows MOAs to train and work remotely as well as in a medical setting.

3. Mobile App Health Management

Healthcare applications allow patients to record real-time data to share with care providers, track blood pressure and blood sugar levels, they can even book an appointment. These apps can be used from a smartphone or other mobile device and empower the patient to take a more active role in tracking their day-to-day health, as well as adding to the convenience of connecting from the comfort of their home. As a medical assistant you will incorporate the data patients collect with their existing health record to offer the healthcare team a more comprehensive picture.

4. Digital Platforms and Software for Care

A Forbes article gives a glimpse into the technology advancements coming to the world of healthcare. From AI to computer software development that helps collect data, even diagnose diseases using that data, we are indeed stepping into a future where tech can assist in disease control and prevention. Medical office assistants of today must be highly adaptable, open to learning new practices, incorporating the technology as it is developed and utilized by patients and healthcare providers. These advancements can undoubtedly support patients and the medical team in ways we may not even be able to comprehend at this time, but as MOAs we must be able to ride this wave of development.
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This time in our history is thrilling, as we, as a society, consider the great need of patients and set our sights on how to continually improve our systems to support. Technology is at the forefront of this ability to enhance care. However, there is still an essential need for the human touch and those who can help patients navigate their options, transfer knowledge and notes to patient records, and with the savvy to adapt as required.

Does this knowledge of tech advancements, and the way as a MOA you can leverage them to better serve patients and your team, make you want to go for your medical administrative assistant diploma?

If you’re still exploring how your interests fit a future career, you can take the “Anderson College Personal Support Worker Career Training Readiness Quiz”. But if you’re ready to start your Medical Office Administration career today, we’re here to help. Book a virtual appointment with our Admissions team, and let’s get you on your way to launching your first, or next, amazing career.

Quick Links to Fuel Your Success!

We want to make sure you have what you need to succeed! Check out these reference links:

• Medical Office Administrator Courses & Programs at Anderson College
• Medical Office Assistant Training + These 5 Soft Skills = Career Success! (andersoncollege.com)
• 5 Skills to Give you the Leading Edge as a Medical Office Admin (andersoncollege.com)