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Medical Assistant |
Career OverviewA medical assistant is qualified to function in both clinical and administrative areas. They work under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner and serve as a liaison between patients and doctors. They provide guidance to patients and help patients to relax and relieve anxiety and stress.
In the current system, the efficiency of a medical office depends on the ability and efficiency of a number of medical assistants. A medical assistant’s clinical duties are determined by state law and vary from state to state. These duties may include preparing the exam room, taking patients to and assisting in examinations and treatment processes, applying dressings, drawing blood, performing routine blood tests and electrocardiograms, preparing and administering medications under the physician’s direction, cleaning and sterilizing instruments, disposing of used supplies, maintaining the stock of standard supplies, and ordering replacement stock.
The administrative responsibilities of medical assistants involve secretarial, clerical, and receptionist duties, along with bookkeeping and record keeping. These responsibilities include scheduling patient appointments, receiving patients upon their arrival, updating patient records, coding procedures and diagnoses, preparing correspondence, and arranging for pharmacy prescriptions or hospital admissions when necessary. Additional duties may involve responding to phone calls, maintaining accounts, and dealing with insurance carriers.
The ratio of clinical to administrative work is determined by the size of the practice. In small offices, the medical assistant handles both, but a large office might separate these duties.
Medical assistants who work for specialists are responsible for special procedures relevant to their specialty; ophthalmic assistants, for example, are medical assistants who have specialist training in ophthalmic medicine.
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Career RequirementsCommunity colleges, junior colleges, and vocational schools offer training programs for medical assistants, although on-the-job training is also available. Most medical assistants graduate from a formal education program.
A high school diploma is the minimum prerequisite for entry into the field, although most jobs do require candidates to have completed a formal training program.
Courses for medical assistants cover biology, anatomy, physiology, terminology, computers, accounting, record keeping, transcription, and office management. Clinical aspects are covered as well, including laboratory techniques, clinical procedures, and patient care. Training programs vary in length, however. Most vocational schools offer one year courses, whilst community colleges and junior colleges offer two year programs and course work, with opportunities for supervised clinical experience.
The Commission for the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) are the two medical assistant program accrediting agencies.
The two professional organizations for medical assisting are the American Association of Medical Assistants and the American Medical Technologists. The two qualifications are CMA for certified medical assistants, and RMA for registered medical assistant.
For more information, contact the following organizations:
The American Association of Medical Assistants
20 N. Wacker Driver,
Ste 1575, Chicago, IL 60606
www.aama-ntl.org
The Registered Medical Assistants of the American Medical Technologists
710 Higgins Rd.,
Park Ridge, IL 60068
www.amt1.com
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Job OutlookExperts see a highly favorable outlook for medical assistants for the next ten years. The outlook for employment is extremely positive.
Qualified medical assistants can rest easy. They are in one of the top ten fastest-growing occupations. Between 2000 and 2010, a 60% increase in jobs is expected in response to the growing US population and the growing number of physicians.
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Career TrackThe majority of medical assistants work in the private offices of practicing physicians, in the offices of individual practitioners, or for larger medical groups, HMOs, hospitals, clinics, or nursing homes.
Advancement is possible and generally constitutions a promotion to a supervisory position. Experience, education, and skills determine eligibility.
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CompensationAverage pay for medical assistants ranges between $18,000 per year and $28,000 per year, depending on geographic location, the nature of the employer, the candidate’s experience and qualifications, and the general requirements of the position. Most positions are full-time.
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