Medical Assisting Careers are one of the fastest growing fields in the United States. Medical Assistant positions come in many forms, from clerical medical assistants that manage and staff the front medical office to ophthalmic assistants who assist with routine eye care duties and may even lend a hand in surgery.
The responsibilities of a Medical Assistant are varied, depending on where you work, and the BLS projects there will be a 29% projected growth increase through 2022, a dramatic difference compared with the average 11% increase for other professions.
What Type of Medical Assistant Do You Want to Be?
Perhaps one of the most exciting things about getting an education and certification in Medical Assisting is that it allows you to work in a wide range of healthcare environments. Jobs in metropolitan areas or in specialty offices often pay the highest salaries and completing your medical assistant certification through an accredited school will also increase your starting pay potential.
Here are some of the medical assistant career opportunities that are in highest demand:
Primary Care Facilities
Physicians’ offices, hospitals and urgent care facilities rely on their Medical Assistants to keep things moving smoothly. In most cases, a Medical Assistant is the first person you greet when you arrive, and the last person patients speak with before they leave. Medical Assistants perform a wide range of duties – from clerical medical assisting to more clinical duties, depending on the employee’s interest, training and experience.
For example, a clerical medical assistant will check patients in, manage the front office, work with billing, paying and insurance companies, help to schedule appointments, and assist with maintaining patient files – both on paper and in the electronic health system (EHS). It is often a starting ground for those who become interested in medical billing and coding. A clinical medical assistant, on the other hand, will have more one-on-one patient relationship – measuring and recording physical data, taking patient histories and logging medical information into files. Depending on the state where they work, medical assistants can also draw blood, administer injections and educate patients about diet, nutrition and lifestyle choices.
While most medical assistants work face-to-face with their patients, some are employed in medical laboratories, assisting lab technicians with the important task of facilitating lab work. These jobs are also available in university labs that have onsite hospitals or medical clinics. In the lab, medical assistants put their training to work, handling and processing lab specimens and helping to maintain accurate records. Medical assistants are even hired by non-medical research and development firms.
Retirement Communities and Home Healthcare Agencies
One of the primary reasons the projected job growth rate for medical assistants is so high is that the aging baby boomer population requires increasing levels of care. Some of this care takes place in retirement and assisted living facilities. Those who choose to age-in-place, however, often rely on the help of in-home healthcare providers, often medical assistants, to assist with their daily tasks.
From fall prevention and medication reminders to assisting the elderly with basic hygiene, wound care and injections, medical assistants are an instrumental part of the geriatric healthcare system.
Medical Assisting Careers Are a Great Starting Ground
While medical assisting is a lucrative career, it is also a wonderful starting ground for those who find their place in the medical community and then continue their education and training to become:
• Lead Medical Assistants
• Medical Office Managers
• Medical Records Managers
• Nurses Assistants
• Medical Administrators
• And more
Getting a solid education and training in Medical Assisting is the first step along a path leading to a rewarding future. Your job can take you anywhere in the country, working in an array of medical and healthcare facilities.
Contact PCI Health Training Center to learn more about Medical Assisting program and to get a better idea of whether this is the right career step for you.
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