A Career as a Medical Assistant

The demand for medical assistants continues to grow, as medical professionals rely heavily on medical assistants to perform daily administrative tasks in their offices. They are required to maintain close contact with patients and are responsible for activities such as taking blood pressure, recording and maintaining medical history, running routine tests, etc. These activities might vary with a person’s professional qualifications, education, and years of experience working with patients. Let’s take a look at the medical assistant profession in detail.

What are the job functions of a medical assistant?

The clinical and administrative functions medical assistants perform ensure the smooth running of a physician’s practice. Their functions are greatly dependent on their work environment. For instance, a medical assistant working with an ophthalmologist could be responsible for measuring and recording a patient’s vision range, administering eye medication, etc. However, medical assistants are typically responsible for:

         Interviewing patients and maintaining their medical records

         Checking and recording a patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate, temperature, etc.

         Running tests such as ultrasounds and checking blood pressure

         Authorizing prescriptions and refills

         Running laboratory tests such as blood tests

•         Handling insurance forms, bills, e-mail, etc.

What are the career benefits of being a medical assistant?

Being employed in the healthcare industry has its advantages. Some of the benefits offered to healthcare professionals might include:

•         Health and vision plans

         Medical and dental insurance

 •         Paid vacation and sick leave

 •         Long-term disability and accident plans

 •         Pension and retirement plans such as the 401k

What are the educational requirements to become a medical assistant?

Since medical assistants are responsible for carrying out various clinical and administrative functions in a healthcare setting, most positions require formal training. Community colleges and technical and vocational schools offer certificates, diplomas, and associate’s degrees in medical assisting. Colleges like Stevens-Henager College offer an associate’s of occupational studies in medical specialties that prepares their students to take on jobs as medical assistants with practical skills in billing, laboratory procedures, and more. According to Stevens-Henager College reviews, their associate’s degree programs can be completed in as few as 15 months, giving their students the chance to join the workforce that much sooner.

Though medical assistants are not required to be certified, the option is always open. The four certifications for medical assistants are:

         Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

         National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) 

 •       Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

         Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

The healthcare industry is constantly growing despite the economic downturn. No matter what the economic situation is, the need for healthcare professionals will remain. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020.

The salary for medical assistants largely depends on a number of factors, such as educational background, field experience, the type and size of health care facility they’re working at, and geographic location. The median annual wage of medical assistants as of May 2010 was $28,860.

If you enjoy working with people and would like to be a part of the healthcare industry, you might want to consider medical assisting as a career option.

Read aStevens-Henager College review if you want to find out more about the programs and the student services they offer.