Summary

• The main duties of medical and dental office administrators include organising and smoothly running the clinics and hospitals.
• According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the median wage for a medical administrative assistant is $24 per hour.
• Glassdoor reports that the median hourly compensation of dental office administrators is $25.75.
• The benefit of a dual diploma is that it allows the graduate to apply for both medical and dental office administration positions, increasing work prospects.
• The Canadian population is not only growing fast, but it is also aging considerably faster. Overall, the healthcare industry in Canada is growing with each passing year.

What Do Medical and Dental Office Administrators Do?

The main duties of medical and dental office administrators include organising and smoothly running the clinics and hospitals. They use their administrative skills from receiving the patients in the hospital to guiding them to doctors or specific medical testing rooms.

They receive people who come to hospitals and clinics, take their basic details, and communicate with the relevant department so that the patients can get timely services.

Medical administrative assistants manage front desk operations, schedule appointments according to the availability of doctors and other specialised medical staff, etc.

Some of their other duties may include:

• Proficiency in insurance-related matters.
• Managing medical and dental insurance and claims.
• Making sure that patients feel comfortable in sharing their data.
• Making sure that payable and receivable accounts are up to date.

Average Salaries of Medical and Dental Office Administrators

Medical and dental office administrators typically work 35–40 hours each week. There is a little difference in their salary, but it is primarily determined by their experience and the province where they work.

According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, the median wage for a medical administrative assistant is $24 per hour.

Alberta has the highest median compensation for medical and dental office administrators, at $28.30 per hour, while Manitoba has the lowest median salary, at $23.

 Job Bank does not have precise data for dental office administrators; however, Glassdoor reports that the median hourly compensation is $25.75. Whereas the annual salary range is $43,000 to $58,000.

Growing Job Opportunities for Medical and Dental Office Administrators

The Canadian population is not only growing fast, but it is also aging considerably faster. Overall, the healthcare industry in Canada is growing with each passing year.

Therefore, the demand for healthcare staff is also growing with these demographic changes.

Dentistry is also a fast-growing field in Canada, due to which new clinics are opening up across the country.

All these new dental clinics will require medical and dental office administrators, thus increasing the demand for the jobs.

There were 91,200 medical administrative assistants and 37,300 dental assistants employed all over Canada by 2021.

From 2022 to 2031, the Government of Canada predicted 41,100 new job openings for medical administrative assistants, with 36,400 additional job seekers to fill these positions, representing an 11.4% shortage.

Edison College has combined two diploma programs into one. The graduates of Edison College’s Medical and Dental Office Administrator Diploma program are eligible to work in both medical centres and dental clinics.

The benefit of a dual diploma is that it allows the graduate to apply for both medical and dental office administration positions, increasing work prospects.

 The government of Canada is allocating more funds for the healthcare industry, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in public funding is also expected to create new job opportunities for medical and dental office administrators.

Conclusion

Medical and dental office administrators play a critical role in the operations of any medical facility. From right after receiving the client till the delivery of the services, they remain the critical link between the clinic and the patient.

The healthcare industry is growing in Canada, and both of these two roles are expected to be in demand in the coming years as well. If you believe you have good managerial skills, then you can definitely pursue this career.

Join the Medical and Dental Office Administrators’ Diploma at Edison College

Edison College’s medical and dental office administrators’ dual diploma means that after graduation, the students can work in both medical and dental offices. 

All Medical and Dental Office Administrator courses are equally balanced in this program, along with the courses related to dental office administration.

This diploma also has courses related to health care terminology, medical billing, bookkeeping procedures, medical and dental insurance, and introductory medical transcription.

Besides these technical courses, this diploma also covers courses like effective communication strategies and the latest computer applications, etc., so that the graduates can get better opportunities.

If you have questions or concerns, you can contact us today to learn more about this program. 

Read more industry-related blogs here. Pictures by Freepik