Is Medical Assistance the Right Career Choice for you?
If you are examining whether medical assistance is the right career choice for you, ask yourself a few questions –
. Are you interested in health and medicine?
. Are you looking for a career with bright future?
. Are you good at switching tasks throughout the workday?
If the answer is in affirmative for all the three questions, then medical assisting could be the right choice as a career. You’ll work in medical office, helping provide the patients the best possible care.
Medical assisting is a fast growing career in America, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thanks to the surge in the number of patient care facilities, the number of medical assistants can only be expected to increase.
Job profile of medical assistants straddles several clinical and administrative duties. Their clinical duties may include Explaining treatment procedures to patients, Taking medical histories, Preparing patients for examination, Removing sutures and changing dressings, Assisting the physician during the exam, Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, Performing basic laboratory tests, Instructing patients about medication and special diets, Preparing and administering medications, Authorizing prescription refills as directed, Drawing blood, Taking electrocardiograms, etc.
Administrative duties of medical assistants include Answering telephones, Using computer applications, Handling correspondence, billing, bookkeeping, Greeting patients, Updating and filing patient medical records, Coding and filling out insurance forms, Scheduling appointments, Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services, etc.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers certification to the professionals who have graduated from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Although in most US states, there are no formal educational requirements to pursue a career as a medical assistant, having a degree/diploma does help in landing a job. High School students interested in medical assistance career should take courses in Chemistry, Anatomy and Biology. Medical assistant programs are available from community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools or universities. The two types of medical assistance programs available are Associate degree and Diploma. An associate degree program has the duration 2 to 2.5 years in length, while a Diploma takes about nine months to one year to complete. At the end of the course, it is essential to have an internship in a medical facility.
For succeeding in the medical assisting career, the professionals should have analytical, interpersonal and technical skills. They must be able to comprehend and follow medical charts and diagnoses. They may be required to code a patient’s medical records for billing purposes. They must be precise when taking vital signs or recording patient information. They often interact with patients who may be in distress, so they need to be able to act in a calm and professional manner.
The median annual wage of medical assistants in the US was $28,860 in May 2010. The employment is expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010 to 2020. With demand for preventive medical services increasing, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing them to see more patients.
Author of this article is a certified medical assistant having inside out knowledge of medical assisting programs. She is associated with eMedicalAssistants.com.
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