Are you considering a career as a medical assistant?
Medical assistant jobs rank #8 in the best healthcare support jobs.
A job as a medical assistant ranks #8 in the best healthcare support jobs in the U.S. This is based on salary, job market, future growth, stress, and work-life balance. Because of the growing healthcare industry, it is one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S. today.
Medical assistant jobs are in very high demand.
Because of the growing healthcare industry, medical assistant jobs are one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S. today.
- Career Step mentions”
“Employment for medical assistants is expected to grow by 29%, or over 184,000 jobs, by 2026, ensuring a high job placement rate.” - According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
“Medical assistant employment is projected to grow 34 percent through 2018.”
“The U.S. healthcare industry is expanding due to the growth and aging of the population and the increasing prevalence of health conditions such as diabetes and obesity.
Medical Assistant Job Description
Medical administrative assistants help medical practices run smoothly by performing various clinical and administrative tasks.
If you don't want to perform clinical tasks but are interested in an administrative career in the healthcare industry, check out the career of Medical Administrative Assistant with Electronic Record.
Medical assistants participate actively in patients' care. A medical assistant job description will vary depending on the size, location, and specialty of the healthcare facility. In small medical practices, MAs may perform many different tasks while in large medical facilities, they may specialize in just a few tasks.
Here are some typical tasks medical assistants may perform:
- Obtain patient vital signs.
- Take medical histories, take measurements, and record vital signs.
- Prepare patients for examinations.
- Administer medications.
- Perform wound care.
- Assist during examinations and procedures.
- Label and process specimens.
- Perform and monitor EKG.
- Administrative tasks may include scheduling appointments, arranging hospital admissions and laboratory procedures for patients, bookkeeping, handling billing, managing medical records, and processing health insurance.
Holly Bingham mentioned the following: “The real reason why MAs are important to a practice is that they provide emotional support and the “human touch” in a medical environment. They put people at ease at the doctor's office. MAs help bridge the communication gap between doctors and patients which is why medical assistant jobs are in high demand.”
Skills
Unlike other professions in the medical field, the medical assistant profession involves a lot of interaction and communication with patients and medical staff.
Because medical assistants interact with people, they must have great communication skills.
How much can I earn as a medical assistant?
Salaries for medical assistants vary by employer, the type of job, specialty, location, and experience of the medical assistant.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly pay for a medical assistant in California is $34,790, compared to $28,550 in Texas and $33,540 in New York. The annual wage for medical assistants nationwide is $31,220, or $15.01 an hour.
Although there is no formal education required, you may increase your chances of getting a good job and increase your earning potential if you've completed a medical assistant program and become certified.
Training
You can enroll in medical assistant training programs through colleges, universities, and technical/vocational schools. Depending upon your preferences, you may choose to earn a certificate or diploma in as little as 4 months, or an associate's degree in 18-24 months.
Certification maximizes your chances of getting hired
Most states do not require certification; however, according to www.bls.gov, employers prefer to hire certified assistants.
Getting good medical assistant training is crucial for becoming certified and acquiring credentials in a short period of time.
After completing a medical assistant course, the next step is to get certification by a national organization such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Association of Medical Technologists (AMT).
Career Step’s program will prepare you to earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification. The medical assistant training you will receive from a highly recognized medical assistant school such as Career Step will greatly increase your chances of obtaining your certifications and accreditation on the first try, allowing you to start your career in as little as 4 months!
If you want to work in healthcare taking care of patients, medical assisting might be the career for you. Although the medical assistant profession can be demanding and requires dedication and responsibility, it also brings a lot of personal satisfaction.
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