A medical assistant job can be a good start if you want to get into a career in administrative support in the field of medicine. If you prefer working in medical facilities, have an innate skill in client relations, are well-organized and skilled enough to do routine clerical work, this could be a good career choice for you. Opportunities in medical assistant jobs are among the fastest-growing employment opportunities in today’s job market. This is mainly due to the rapid growth of the medical industry. With the world’s advancements in medicine, its aging population and its continuous concern for health and wellness, there is a projected boom in the employment of medical assistants and is anticipated to grow faster than any other occupation today.
A medical assistant job will mean that you will perform support functions to doctors and other medical professionals such as chiropractors, pediatricians and the like. It includes keeping the doctor’s office running smoothly, orderly and efficiently. This means that all medical records are organized, billings and payments are all accounted for, appointments are properly scheduled, and other patients’ concerns are taken care of. Other tasks include answering correspondences, manning the phone lines and maintaining a filing system of all the facility’s important documents.
The extent of a medical assistant job is affected many factors, such as the size of the medical facility, location and the physician’s area of specialization. Working in a smaller medical facility such as a clinic will mean that you will be directly reporting and working under the physician’s supervision. Being employed in a hospital, however, will require you to directly report to the department heads or administrations where you would be assigned. While the basic functions of medical assistants remain the same for these two locations, the main difference lies in the coverage and amount of work to be done, which naturally will also have a difference in medical assistant salary rates offered.
A medical assistant job can also undertake clinical duties as required by some state laws. These may include more technical tasks such as taking patients’ vital signs, retrieving patient history, conducting laboratory tests, sanitizing medical instruments, performing electrocardiogram tests, taking blood samples and preparing patients for x-rays and other examinations. You would also need to have the necessary knowledge to educate patients about medication, nutrition and eating habits and other concerns they may have regarding their health condition.
Medical assistant jobs prefer graduates or medical assistant programs from vocation or technical high schools. You can also acquire a diploma or certificate by undertaking a one-year post-secondary program or a two-year associate degree. The curriculum includes medical assistant training on anatomy, physiology, medical transcription and terminology, laboratory methods, medicine administration, basic first aid and medical principles. Other skills such as record keeping, accounting, insurance processing, communication and knowledge on health laws and ethical practices are also taught in these programs.
Medical assistants earn an average of $24,000 annually, depending on location, level of competence and experience. The starting salary could range from $17,000 to $20,000 per year, and could go up as high as $34,000 as you gain more experience, skill and education. Experience is one of the major factors that increase medical assistant salary overtime. Career growth is also most possible in this field, given that you acquire the experience and additional education to qualify for higher positions. You can be promoted to a managerial position or even a full-fledged nurse or medical technician if you complete other degrees.
The vast opportunities in the growing field of medicine offer jobseekers a rewarding and productive career with medical assistant jobs. Given that you have completed medical assistant courses, have the basic administrative skills, and have a genuine interest in helping patients towards their health and well-being, a medical assistant job could be the right calling for you.