Medical assistants perform administrative as well as clinical tasks in a medical practice.
Medical assistants work in medical offices and help with both administrative and clinical work. Administrative medical assistants keep patient medical records updated, complete insurance forms, and schedule patient appointments. The role of clinical medical assistants varies state by state, depending on the law. Often, a clinical medical assistant will take a patient's medical history and measure vital signs. Some clinical medical assistants also collect specimens and send them to laboratories for testing.
Education
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there is no formal education requirement for medical assistants, and many learn on the job. However, most medical assistants have at least a high-school diploma or equivalent. Many medical assistants take post-secondary programs that last one or two years. Programs in medical assisting typically focus on anatomy and physiology, medical terminology and administrative procedures. Those who finish in one year typically earn a diploma or certificate; those who choose a two-year program usually earn their Associate's degree.
Career Path
Because much of the work is on-the-job training, many medical assistants pick up specialties and skills as they work. Some medical assistants pursue certification as a way to move up the career ladder. There are two organizations, the American Association of Medical Assistants and the Association of Medical Technologists, that offer a process for certification. In some states, a medical assistant can perform more advanced procedures, such as taking x-rays, once they have taken a test to demonstrate their skills. Some medical assistants use the knowledge and experience they have gained and go back to school to pursue a career as a physician assistant or registered nurse.
Salary
According to the BLS, the mean annual wage for a medical assistant is $29,450, or $14.16 per hour, as of May 2009. Salaries vary based on experience and location, as well as the work setting. For those medical assistants based in psychiatric or substance-abuse hospitals, the annual mean wage is $46,430. Medical assistants can also work in dental offices, and earn an annual mean wage of $35,920.
Career Outlook
The BLS expects the field of medical assisting to be one of the fastest-growing jobs in the years 2008-18. They expect employment to grow 34 percent in that period, which is well above the average for other jobs. Because of the aging population, the BLS suggests that demand for all healthcare professionals will remain high. In particular, demand for support staff is expected to increase as the number of group medical facilities increases. Those medical assistants with certification and formal training such as an Associate's degree are likely to have the best opportunities for employment.
Tags: medical assistants, clinical medical, medical assistant, medical assistants, annual mean
