Technology, business economics and a burgeoning use for services have significantly changed health care practices in the last two decades. Health practitioners such as doctors and nurses are still at the forefront, but medical assistants have taken bigger roles in the health care industry.
The many jobs of medical assistants
Depending on training and experience, medical assistants can perform clerical, administrative or clinical duties. In some cases, responsibilities will be a combination of all three functions.
Clerical medical assistants maintain routine office duties like answering phones, patient and staff scheduling, mailroom, filing and other odds and ends that are necessary to keep the practice running smoothly.
Administrative medical assistants will complete tasks that are medically related, back office functions such as medical records, insurance filing and claims follow-up, medical records maintenance and patient referrals. These medical assistants will interact with patients directly by recording medical history, taking vital signs, pre-procedure preparations and post-procedure management.
Clinical medical assistants must perform more advanced clinical duties under the management of a physician or other health practitioner. With more advanced training, these medical assistants can administer injections, take X-rays and assist with many cosmetic procedures, subject to local laws.
How to become a medical assistant
Medical assistant programs include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology. Clerical jobs such as transcription, medical records management, accounting, insurance processing and keyboarding will also be covered. Medical assistant aspirants will be exposed to laboratory skills, clinical, diagnostic and pharmaceutical standards.
Basic medical assisting courses are offered in vocational-technical schools, community and junior colleges as well as private colleges. One year courses are certificate programs while two year courses will lead to an associate degree. To gain practical experience, medical assistants in accredited programs will undergo an internship in physicians’ offices or other healthcare facilities.
A high school diploma or its equivalent is the bare minimum. Formal training in the field is not required but is highly recommended in a competitive jobs market. Certification is voluntary but is strongly suggested to demonstrate basic competency.
Some medical assistants continue their training to earn nursing degrees.
Job outlook for medical assistants
The employment rate for medical assistants is expected to grow by 34 percent between 2008 and 2018, better than average for all professions. This makes medical assisting one of the fastest growing jobs, especially for those with formal training and the proper certifications.
Job prospects for medical assistants will continue to grow as the healthcare field is inundated with new technologies and legislation. Additionally, an increase in population numbers for the over-55 demographics, along with an increase in the incidence of diabetes and obesity will trigger an increased demand for health services. Group practices, clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities will require the presence of a trained medical assistant so that doctors can have more time for patient care.
If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, start your research here with information of the typical medical assistant salary. The site contains many other career profiles such as physician assistant salary.