Medical assistants play a huge role in the medical industry. It’s an ever-growing field with many different job opportunities available. As a medical assistant, you will have the opportunity to support doctors and nurses by performing administrative tasks, clinical tasks, and secretarial duties. Plus, you will help them provide quality healthcare to patients. Here are some thoughts on making the decision to become a medical assistant.
Consider This Career Move
If you are looking for a medical career with little more than a High School diploma, then becoming a medical assistant might be the perfect move for you. As a medical assistant, you will have the opportunity to support doctors and nurses by performing administrative tasks, clinical tasks, and secretarial duties. Plus, you will help them provide quality healthcare to patients.
You can work part-time or full-time hours depending on what works best for you and your family’s needs. You’ll also get continuing education through conferences and classes that can help increase your earning potential and skillset. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $35,850 in May 2020.
Explore Your Options
If you like working in a fast-paced and high-stress environment, then this could be an excellent career option for you. This job can be very stressful at times, but it’s also rewarding when it comes to helping people receive quality healthcare.
There are many different aspects of this job that make it enjoyable including working with people who need your assistance. Plus, there are plenty of opportunities available for medical assistants today because it’s such a growing industry. You can work in a doctor’s office, urgent care center, clinic, or hospital.
What Medical Assistants Do
Medical assistants are vital to the success of a hospital or clinic. They work with doctors and nurses to provide patients with quality care. Some of their responsibilities include:
- Answering phones
- Scheduling appointments
- Creating and updating patient files and charts
- Coding and filling out insurance forms
- Taking medical histories
- Assisting the doctor during exams
- Explaining procedures to patients
- Preparing and administering medications
- Phlebotomy
- Transmitting prescription refills
- Wound care and dressing changes
Get Certified
If you want to work as a medical assistant, then you will need to get certified. There are many medical assistant programs available. The courses can be six months to two years long and many are taught during evenings or weekends. Be sure to check the accreditation of the school, as this will help you know if they are teaching quality information.
Medical assistants are the backbone of the healthcare system, playing an important role in helping doctors, nurses, and patients. When you become a medical assistant, you’ll be able to make a difference in people’s lives every day. Plus, the field is growing at a rapid pace, about 104,400 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the next decade indicating plenty of potential for growth. You could also use this as a stepping stone to a career in Nursing.
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