Medical Office Administrator

3 Keyboarding Tips You Can Use at Medical Office Administration School

April 20, 2018

medical office admin typing on keyboard

Busy administrative roles require considerable amounts of typing—as writing emails, logging digital records, and carrying out general word processing is a required part of this career path. The faster a professional can type, with comfort and without the risk of straining oneself, the easier it will be to tackle extended periods of typing. It’s why top MOA programs include keyboarding skills right in the curriculum, allowing students to graduate ready to handle the challenges of this line of work.

This blog will highlight some of the most productive ways students can improve their typing skills.

Those Taking MOA Training Should Know Posture and Position Are Important

One of the most important ways to achieve better interaction with a keyboard is to ensure good posture is being maintained. Use of a keyboard can necessarily involve long periods of sitting in the same spot, so sitting in the most ergonomic position will ensure a healthier interaction.

The correct way to type begins before hands and keyboard even meet

Those using a keyboard should endeavour to keep their back straight and directly face the keyboard. Their typing hands should be at a direct, 180 degree angle with the keyboard, while a distance of approximately 50-60 centimetres should be maintained between their eyes and the screen. Planting one’s feet on the ground directly underneath the keyboard is a good strategy that will help to support the rest of the body. Movement of the hands and wrists should be minimized, as a comfortable position is retained.

Those who have completed medical office administration school should note any pain or tiredness that builds up in any region of the body after extended typing. This should be examined. Sometimes adjustments to posture and wrist support should be employed to resolve the issue.

Touch Typing Can Be Helpful After Medical Office Administration School

Keyboard users looking to speed up their speed and comfort while typing benefit from touch typing. By placing the left finger above the “F” and the right index finger above the “J” button, and by spreading out the other fingers so that they sit above the keyboard, the typing hands will be ideally placed to reach all keys with minimum effort—including the commonly utilized vowel keys. This should become the default location for the index fingers.

people typing on keyboard

The right positioning can speed up typing considerably

Further improvements can be made by assuming a slightly modified version of this starting position. By placing the left hand fingers over the “A”, “S”, “D” and “F” buttons, with the right hand fingers on “;”, “L”, “K” and “J” keys, professionals can ensure their fingers are close to all keys on the keyboard. This will further familiarize a keyboard user with the “neighbourhood” of the keyboard, and ultimately facilitates much faster touch typing that doesn’t require looking at the keyboard. Anchored by stationary wrists, the fingers should ultimately return to these positions after every key is struck, thus reverting to the most efficient location.

Practice Will Make Perfect—Seize Every Opportunity You Have to Type and Dictate

Steady progress is very attainable for students in MOA training looking to improve their keyboard skills —but it will take plenty of practice. Keyboard users should approach the process in a slow and steady manner, prioritizing getting each word right the first time, before pushing for a faster “words per minute” (WPM) rate. Slowly, a rhythm will emerge—one which students will be able to feel out and improve on as time goes by.

medical office admin smiling while typing

Like any activity, practice is an essential component in achieving better and better results

By carving out time for practicing, students will soon see improvements. Practicing dictation by listening to recorded conversations, or sections of video, is another good way to improve one’s performance. Encouraging oneself to make the jump from looking at the keyboard to staying focussed on the screen will happen naturally, and will facilitate the user in catching mistakes and generally working in a more open and communicative posture.

Do you want to become a proficient professional working in medical office administration?

Contact Medix College today to learn how our healthcare college in Ontario can help you reach that goal.

Visit Our Blog Directory