Medical Assisting: A Medical Career With Major Growth Potential |
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August 30, 2005
by Kathy A. Johnson
kathy.johnson@healthcareprograms.com
Healthcare Columnist
During the years 2002-2012, "medical assistant" is projected to be the single fastest growing occupation in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What does a medical assistant do? A little bit of everything! Medical assistants have crucial medical jobs, providing essential support services in doctors' offices, hospitals, and other care centers. Some even specialize in fields such as ophthalmology or podiatry.
Multitasking Experts
Medical assistants become expert multitaskers, combining clinical with administrative duties. While duties vary from office to office, some common administrative duties include medical billing and coding, scheduling appointments, and working with patient medical records. Clinical duties may include explaining medical procedures to patients, helping doctors give exams, and collecting and preparing laboratory specimens. (State laws determine which clinical procedures medical assistants may perform.)
Graduates Preferred
Some on-the-job training may be available, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers prefer graduates of formal programs in medical assisting. You can find medical assisting programs at vocational/technical schools, and community and junior colleges. Coursework includes the study of laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, anatomy, and other medical subjects. Internships, available from accredited programs, give students on-the-job training. A one-year program grants a certificate and a two-year program grants an associate's degree.
Several organizations offer certifications for medical assistants, including the American Association of Medical Assistants (Certified Medical Assistant) and the American Medical Technologists (Registered Medical Assistant).
Most medical assistants work a standard 40-hour week, but part-time, evening, and weekend work is also available.
Medical assistants must be good with people, and able to handle many tasks in the course of a work day. While sometimes challenging, medical assisting offers the chance to help patients, support other medical personnel, and build a meaningful medical career.
Sources
www.bls.gov
The American Association of Medical Assistants
www.aama-ntl.org
About the Author:
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.
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