Additional administrative support is required as healthcare reform leads to changes in the way healthcare organizations conduct business and provide services. In addition, hospitals and medical offices need administrative assistance as they transition to electronic medical records and from ICD-9 to ICD-10 coding systems. Demand is especially strong for highly skilled professionals who can contribute immediately with little or no training.

The following trends are impacting the employment environment for administrative healthcare professionals:

• Emphasis on industry software and healthcare insurance requirements – Organizations are looking for administrative professionals with experience using a variety of software programs, such as Allscripts, Centricity, Cerner, Dentrix, Epic, MEDITECH and NextGen. Candidates who are familiar with multiple types of insurance, including HMO, Medicaid, Medicare and PPO, are in demand.
• High value placed on communication skills – Especially for customer service roles, hiring managers seek candidates with a positive attitude, discretion and commitment to quality service.
• Ongoing demand for billing and collections professionals – Employers rely on staff with knowledge of healthcare billing and collection practices to help patients with account matters and to ensure timely and accurate reimbursement is received.
• Dedication to the profession – Healthcare facilities look for applicants who possess specialized certifications, such as Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Medical Biller (CMB) and Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Candidates affiliated with organizations such as the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) also show employers that they're focused on staying up-to-date on industry changes.