What Does A Medical Assistant Do?

What does a medical assistant do? An assistant in this field is one who performs both clinical and administrative tasks in the office of a health care practitioner. Duties will vary depending on the type of office you choose to work in and may range from updating and/or filing patient records to scheduling appointments.

In some states, one working in this field may be asked to record vital signs or assist the doctor during a patient exam. Some offices will require specialized work such as podiatrists or ophthalmologists. As you can see, this is a wide field offering plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement.

Medical Assistant Education

Before you go to answer the question of what does a medical assistant do, you must first look at what education is required to work in this field. Many junior and community colleges offer a program in medical assisting and some vocational or technical schools do also. In most cases, you will need one year to complete the program if you wish to obtain a diploma or certificate. For those wanting an associate degree, schoolwork will take approximately two years.

In certain cases on the job training is sometimes possible and is offered in certain physician offices. Be sure to do some further online research into possibilities in your area.

Medical Assistant Certification

Although states do not require that medical assistants be certified, you may wish to obtain certification to advance in the field. Those who are certified may also receive a higher salary. Associations which offer certification in medical assisting include the Association of Medical Technologists and the American Association of Medical Assistants. The process varies by the type of certification you wish to obtain. Experience and additional training are also beneficial if you wish to advance in the field.

Salary and Job Growth for Medical Assistants

Medical assistants, as of May 2008, made a median annual wage of $28,300. General medical and surgical hospitals tend to pay more with the median annual wage for those employed in these settings being $29,720. If you opt to work in the office of a health practitioner, other than a physician, you can expect to be paid approximately $25,420.

This field is expected to grow at a rapid rate though so you will have plenty of opportunities for advancement.In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are looking at an incredible 34%. When you think that the average rate of growth for jobs in the U.S. are around 7% you can see why this is one the fastest growing careers in the country.

Because of the exponential growth of various clinics and other healthcare facilities outside hospitals, job openings are expected to be especially high for those medical assistants who can handle both administrative and clinical duties.

If you like to work with the public and enjoy the health care field, this may be the right career for you. All factors should be considered before deciding so you get a job you love and can’t wait to go to.

A Day In The Life Of A Medical Assistant Video