Pursuing a Career as a Medical Assistant
Medical Assistants play an important role in doctors’ offices, clinics and even hospitals. They help ensure that these places run smoothly by rendering important services and tasks. The duties and services provided by medical assistants may vary from one office to another. Most medical assistants are trained to do both administrative and clinical tasks. Full time medical assistants are needed to work 40 hours weekly and constantly interact with patients.
Medical Assistants Training and Qualifications
Those who are looking forward for a medical assistant career will be required to complete a 1 – 2 years medical assistant training. Medical assistant schools offer various trainings that promote different competencies. Well rounded medical assistant school includes curriculum from clinical requirements like anatomy, physiology, administration of medication, first aid to administrative work like recordkeeping, transcription, and accounting.
Trained medical assistants are most preferred though not all clinics or physicians require these trainings. Most of the skills needed to succeed in the medical assistant career are acquired while on the job. Assistants who are not trained through medical schools will be required to work closely with senior assistants or will require more supervision.
With or without training, to be able to succeed in the medical assistant career, there are different accreditations that must be completed. There are some states in the U.S. that allows medical assistants advance tasks like taking an xray or giving injections. Two of the largest accrediting bodies in the United States for medical assistants are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the Association of Medical Technologies (AMT). These organizations award certificates and credentials to medical assistants.
Employment Expectations for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants assigned in different facilities holds more than 450,000 jobs in 2008 within the United States alone. A large chunk of these jobs are in the offices or clinics of various physicians, personal medical assistants account to more than 60%. About 14% of medical assistants are assigned in public and private hospitals (including inpatient and outpatient facilities) to assist doctors and nurses. Furthermore, about 12% are working with specialized health practitioners like optometrists or chiropractors. The remaining 14% works in other health care facilities like nursing homes, residential care, outpatient care centers and rehabilitation centers.
Employment opportunities are seen to be constantly on the rise for people who are in this profession. Since healthcare is an important part of any government around the world the demand for a skilled medical assistant is seen to rise as much as 30% yearly. Medical assistant careers are projected to grow more in countries that have aging population. Additionally, since healthcare services and facilities are continually being improved, more medical assistants will be required.
Medical assistant salary varies depending on skills, location and experience. Medical assistants on an average receive annual compensation of $28,000. Public and private hospitals usually provide the highest compensation because these institutions usually require advance skills from medical assistants.
Working as a medical assistant will require skills, good training and experience in order to succeed. This great career opportunity can be a great way to learn advance studies in healthcare. Medical assistants are also a great asset to the medical industry since they make the jobs of the doctors and nurses bearable.
