MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT PROGRAM. Information Paper

Transcription

1 MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANT PROGRAM Information Paper TABLE OF CONTENTS Methodology & Objectives Overview of Key Findings Market Demand British Columbia Canada Possible Employers METHODOLOGY & OBJECTIVES Objective 1: Market Demand Collect information from various provincial and federal sources in order to provide a historical overview and future market demand/potential Work Futures, BC Occupational Outlooks Job Futures, Work of Work Student Outcomes Reporting System Ministry of Advanced Education Service Plan (AVED) and News Releases Education in Canada: Raising the Standard (Statistics Canada) HRDC, Labour Market Information Objective 2: Comparison to other Institutions Investigate all public post secondary colleges and institutions in BC and Alberta; listing only those with a medical office assistant program. Investigate various private post secondary institutions in BC and Alberta for same program; list only those with a similar program From that, investigate the following: program name, length, tuition fee, enrollment and type of delivery Combination of website information, ing and telephone calling to verify, update and obtain detailed information Objective 3: Draft Questions for Local Telephone Survey Draft a list of questions to be asked in order to investigate local demand for this type of worker # of medical office assistants/secretaries in employment education level how long at job future demand for more employees Selkirk College, Institutional Research

2 2 OVERVIEW OF KEY FINDINGS In Education in Canada: Raising the Standard, published by Statistics Canada on March 11, 2003, Office Administration and secretarial sciences (which includes medical office assistants) was listed as one of the top 10 fields of study in Canada. In fact, it was the most popular choice of study, reporting a 10.36% of students. As Canada and BC s population continues to age and the demand for medical services increases, there will be an increase in the growth of workers in the health sector. As stated in Job Futures published by the Government of Canada, the health field is expected to grow about twice as fast as average between More specifically, 6,710 medical secretaries (includes medical office assistants) positions will become available between 1998 and 2008; 86% of these openings will be from retired workers. However, it must be kept in mind that with increasing office automation, not all future openings will actually be available. Provincially, while the percentage of graduates employed in a permanent position remains steady, the average full-time monthly salary has demonstrated a gradual increase throughout the last five years. Also, self-employment and contracting are becoming more commonplace amongst medical secretaries. It is estimated that starting salaries for college graduates will be approximately $1,880 per month ($22,560/year) within BC. Furthermore, the Government of Canada has classified medical secretaries in two categories, those with trade/vocational training and those with college training. The difference in average earnings between these two categories is minimal ($400), as is the unemployment rate (2%). The outlook to 2007 for both the education levels is rated as fair. Also, Graduates can expect a 100% employment rate. However, only a small percentage will actually be employed in medical/health field, while the majority of graduates will be employed as general secretaries and office clerks. This speaks to the need for graduates to be flexible in their employment options. Also, the Government of Canada and the BC Government have made reducing skill shortages in the health care sector a main priority. While both these government initiatives are not directly linked to administrative personnel, they do focus on increasing funding and maintaining a commitment to the growth of the health sector. This growth will inevitably affect the demand for administrative personnel as well. IN BRITISH COLUMBIA & KOOTENAY BOUNDARY AREA Kootenay Boundary Labour Market Review In the 4 th quarter of 2002, the health care and social assistance industry was listed as one of five industries employing the largest number of people (5,700 in September and 7,300 in December). While, business, finance and administrative occupations employed the third largest amount in September 2002 with 6,000 employees. Furthermore, a new task group called Connected Communities has been formed with members from Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, the Slocan Valley, North Kootenay Lake and Creston. This task group have committed to drafting a common statement of purpose to improve health care in rural areas.

3 3 The Interior Health Authority has also committed $2.3 million to hire five specialists for Cranbrook. Closer to home, a privately owned 12-unit residential facility for seniors that will provide 100% care was set to open in Trail in February of this year. Student Outcomes Reporting System # of respondents/ response rate Clerical Occupations, General Office Skills (NOC 141) Includes Medical Office Assistant Currently employed % Employment Outcomes Currently Employed: Avg. in permanent months to training job % find job related % Avg. F/T monthly salary $ % , % , % , % , % , Usefulnes s of education in getting a job % BC s New Era Commitment to Health Goal #2: Reduce shortages in Strategic Skills Areas (High Tech Graduates and Health Care and Social Worker Graduates. Has agreed to commit $21.5 million towards a new strategy to provide more nurses. This money is for ongoing and new recruitment and education programs Has developed a loan forgiveness program for nursing and medical school graduates which forgives 20% of their student loans for each year they work in an underserved community Has agreed to commit $134 million to double the available medical school graduates BC Work Futures 2000 In the BC Work Futures 2000 Occupational Outlooks, medical office assistant is classified under the grouping of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists (2001 NOC 124). Medical secretary occupations account for 12% of this occupational group. Furthermore, medical secretary (2001 NOC1243) is listed as including medical office assistant, medical secretary and ward secretary. Occupational Group (NOC 124): On average, recent college graduates who found work in this occupational category reported a monthly salary of $1,900. For those who work for the full year, that will mean an annual starting salary of about $22,800. Within this group, reporters and transcriptionists earned the most ($2,650 per month), followed by legal secretaries ($1,910) and medical secretaries ($1,880). General secretaries received the least ($1,810). 61% of the NOC 124 group works in the Lower Mainland region, 17% on Vancouver Island, 14% in the Okanagan/Kootenay region and 8% in Northern BC. In 1998 there were 35,450 people in this occupational group, down from 43,570 in 1990.

4 4 72% of the occupational group work full time, while the remaining 28% work part-time. This is on par with all other occupations (74% full-time, 26% part-time) Medical Secretaries (NOC 1243): Will experience employment growth as Canada s population continues to age and the demand for medical services increases. Between 1998 and 2008 it is expected that 6,710 positions will become available. Most of these openings (86%) will results from the replacement of retired workers. Competition is expected to remain high as there are many qualified people looking for positions in this field Have the lowest wages of this occupational group, with a 1995 annual full-time, full-year wage of $28,900. At about 8%, self-employment among this group is less common than average, although flexible work arrangements provided by "temping" or working for placement agencies are becoming more common. Industry sources suggest flexible work arrangements, such as self-employment and contracting, are becoming more common, especially among medical secretaries. IN CANADA Job Futures World of Work In the Government of Canada s recent publication Job Futures, 115 different fields of study and 226 different occupations were researched to examine their future potential in the Canadian marketplace. Medical Office Assistant is classified under Clerical Occupations, General Office Skills (141). In this study, the Government of Canada divided this occupation into two different educational paths: 1. Trade/Vocational Training; and 2. Community College. SECRETARY MEDICAL (Office Administration) Education Avg. Earnings (4) Employment Rate (%) Outlook to 2007 Trade/Vocational 22, Fair Community College 23,200 8 Fair 1. Trade/Vocational Training (8 months) Competition among new graduates: average. Find work as a health records technician or medical transcriptionists, medical secretary. In 1998, 160 students graduated from this program, a 22% decrease from 10 years earlier. Average earnings after 2 years working Graduates earned 12% less than all trade/vocational graduates. Graduates earned 2% less than college graduates in similar educational programs. Earnings growth 2-5 years after graduation Earnings grew 3.8% annually as compared to 6.7% for all graduates at this level of study. Earnings grew 4.3% per year for those with a college certificate/diploma in the medical secretarial field.

5 5 What They Experienced Graduates competed for work with trade/vocational and college graduates in secretarial sciences. Graduates usually found work as general office clerks and secretaries in hospitals, doctors' offices, and clinics. An average proportion of graduates changed occupations between the 2nd and 5th year after graduation. 43% of those with previous work experience found a job within one month of graduation, while 8% with no prior work experience took more than one year to find a job. In addition to work-specific skills, the skill that these graduates say they use most extensively in their current job is the ability to work with others. Occupations of Graduates Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists 29% Clerical Occupations, General Office Skills 28% Finance and Insurance Clerks 13% Elemental Medical and Hospital Assistants 11% Library Correspondence and Related Information Clerks 6% 2. Career Program, Community College/CEGEP (2 years) Find work as a medical secretary in private-practice health services--a field expected to grow twice as fast as average between The competition among new graduates will likely be about average. In 1998, 475 students graduated from this program, a 14% decrease from 10 years earlier. Average earnings after 2 years working Graduates earned 16% less than all college graduates. Graduates earned 2% more than trade/vocational graduates in similar educational programs. Earnings growth 2-5 years after graduation Earnings grew 4.3% annually as compared to 6.1% for all graduates at this level of study. What They Experienced Graduates competed for work with trade/vocational and college graduates in the secretarial sciences Graduates usually found work as general office clerks and secretaries in hospitals, doctors' offices, and clinics. An average proportion of graduates changed occupations between the 2nd and 5th year after graduation. In addition to work-specific skills, the skill that these graduates say they use most extensively in their current job is the ability to work with others.

6 6 Occupations of Graduates Clerical Occupations, General Office Skills 32% Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists 18% Administrative Support Clerks 10% Assisting Occupations in Health Services 7% Administrative and Regulatory Occupations 6% POSSIBLE EMPLOYERS Chiropractic offices Doctor s Offices Health Agencies Hospitals Insurance companies Massage Therapist Offices Medical Labs Medical Sales field Nursing homes Optometrists Offices Pharmaceutical companies Pharmacies Physiotherapist Offices Public Health Departments Radiological Clinics Self-employed Specialists Offices Universities Walk-in Clinics