Herzing Blog

Ten years ago, Dorothy Manzano decided she’d had enough of food service and retail jobs. The healthcare field was where she really wanted to be. But nursing took too long and she was squeamish about needles. What to do?

She decided to enrol in the Medical Office Assistant program at Herzing College, which perfectly aligned with her interests and goals. After graduating, she worked as an MOA for several years and is now the office manager at a cardiology clinic.

We spoke with Dorothy recently about how her Herzing experience helped her get where she wanted to go. Here’s her story.

The healthcare industry relies on more than just doctors and nurses—skilled administrative professionals are key to making sure that medical facilities run smoothly. If you want to be part of the team that keeps clinics and hospitals humming along, a medical office administration (MOA) program could be the perfect starting point.

MOA programs prepare you for entry-level roles in clinics, hospitals, and private practices. But they can also serve as a stepping stone to leadership positions in healthcare administration.

In this post, we explore the key aspects of MOA programs. Discover the skills you’ll gain and the career paths you can pursue.

Over the past few years, telehealth has emerged as a powerful tool for delivering care. This shift toward virtual consultations has demonstrably improved patient access, convenience, and overall satisfaction. However, the rise of telehealth also presents new realities for medical office administrators and assistants (MOAs).

In this post, we delve into the growing influence of telehealth and explore its impact on MOA roles and responsibilities. We examine the evolving skillsets required for success in this dynamic environment and offer strategies to help you navigate the changing healthcare landscape.

Updated December 2024

With healthcare resources stretched thin and doctors becoming increasingly burdened by administrative tasks, it’s not surprising that the demand for medical office assistants and administrators (MOAs) across Canada has taken off.

MOAs are the front-desk professionals who greet all incoming patients, collect their information, confirm their appointments, and direct them to the correct department or clinician. They also do a lot of work behind the scenes to help the healthcare office run smoothly.

In this post, we explore the increasing importance of and demand for MOAs in the evolving healthcare landscape.

Here’s what you need to know.

To succeed as a medical office administrator, you need to be both highly organized and deeply caring. You must be motivated by a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of patients.

Chantelle Ducolon exemplifies all of these traits. Her dedication and commitment to delivering the best possible educational experience consistently earns her the respect of her students—and recently, it earned her recognition as Herzing College Ottawa’s instructor of the year!

We caught up with Chantelle this week to get her reflections on the honour, the MOA program, and her own career journey.

Here’s her story.

Updated January 2024

Medical office assistants often find themselves pulled in many different directions. Picture this: The phone is ringing, frustrated patients are demanding to see the doctor immediately, a pile of voice recordings is waiting to be transcribed, and you still need to collect a blood sample from the patient in room two.

In a busy hospital or clinic, it might seem like you don’t have much say over how you organize your time. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep the chaos under control.

Read on to learn why time management is so crucial in healthcare settings and what practical tips you can follow to improve your skills in this area.

Updated January 2024

Medical office assistants (MOAs) have a unique role that blends administrative and patient care responsibilities.

While MOAs are primarily responsible for clerical tasks—like scheduling appointments, controlling inventory, maintaining patient records, and coordinating billing—they may also perform and assist with important clinical procedures.

Wondering exactly which procedures you may be asked to assist with, or carry out alone, as an MOA?

Updated December 2024

Eager to play an essential part in helping hospitals and clinics run smoothly? Medical office administration might be the field for you.

Medical office administrators (MOAs) are the friendly faces at the front desk. They do everything from greeting patients, updating files, and scheduling appointments to processing billing, preparing exam rooms, and collecting lab results. It’s vital work that really has an impact.

But every job has both advantages and drawbacks. And it’s important to understand the full picture before committing to a career path.

In this post, we take you through the major pros and cons of becoming a medical office administrator.

Learn what to expect and see if this role is a good fit for you.

Updated January 2025

Medical office assistants (MOAs) handle the administrative functions that keep healthcare facilities operating effectively. By carrying out a range of clerical and clinical tasks, MOAs provide the kind of essential support that helps ensure patients get quality care.

Thinking about a career as an MOA? Wondering how much you could earn in this field?

Medical office assistant salaries can vary depending on where you live, how much experience you have, and what type of facility you work in.

We reviewed government labour market data along with current job postings to get a true sense of MOA pay in Canada.

Check out the latest salary info for medical office assistants and see how you can begin a career in this field.

Updated December 2024

There's a lot of overlap between the work of a medical office assistant (MOA) and a nursing unit clerk. Both carry out a range of tasks that keep a medical facility operating effectively.

So how are they different?

The main difference between an MOA and a unit clerk is that MOAs may help with certain clinical procedures, like measuring vital signs. Unit clerks tend to focus on clerical tasks only.

Ultimately, however, the two jobs are more alike than not.

In this post, we break down the basics of the MOA and unit clerk roles: what they do, where they work, how much they make, and what training and skills they need.

Explore the similarities and differences and get a better understanding of both careers.