High-Demand Careers in Healthcare
Medical receptionists, billers, and/or coders perform administrative tasks within a variety of settings including, but not limited to, physician’s offices, billing units, after hour clinics and various hospital departments. Within these settings a range of duties include:
- Assist clinical staff with clerical duties
- Work with Electronic Health Record (EHR)
- Schedule appointments
- Verify insurance
- Prepare claim forms
- Collect copays and patient payments
- Post insurance payments and balance accounts
- Answer phones
What Will I Learn?
Westmoreland’s associate degree Medical/Healthcare Management Program provides the academic and internship experience to start a career in entry-level positions.Upon completion of the associate degree program, graduates are eligible to sit for a variety of national certification exams in both billing and coding. Once earned, these certifications allow graduates to earn more money and climb the employment ladder.
Graduates of the associate program are also able to further their education by transferring to various four-year institutions to obtain bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees in Healthcare or Business Management. View degree program in the College Catalog
Westmoreland also offers a Diploma and a Certificate in Medical/Healthcare Management as well as an Advanced Standing Medical Coding Certificate.
What Will I Earn?
If you plan to stay in the region, there are many occupations related to this program degree and certificates. In the 10-county region* surrounding Westmoreland County Community College, the earnings for occupations in this field range from:
- Medical/Healthcare Management, AAS: $14.06 - $30.69 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $22.12 for medical records specialists
- Medical/Healthcare Management, Diploma: $13.66 - $24.29 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $18.43 for healthcare support workers
- Medical/Healthcare Management, Certificate: $13.67 - $22.67 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $17.44 for medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Medical/Healthcare Management, Certificate: $14.06 - $30.69 per hour, with an average hourly wage of $22.12 for medical coders and medical records specialists.
It is important to remember that wages vary based on level of education, experience, job location and other factors.
Source: Data provided by Lightcast™ (https://lightcast.io/) 2023.1
* 10-county region includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland.
Career Opportunities
Medical receptionists, billers, and/or coders are employed in physician’s offices, billing services, and hospitals.