A Changing Population Means Medical Assistants Are Specializing
Population change in the United States is giving field-specialized medical assistants an advantage when job-seeking. People are moving and getting older, and birth rates continue to increase in certain regions, making it possible for medical assistants to work in a wide range of health fields. This creates an increased demand for medical assistants, particularly those in specialized fields in offices and clinics across the country.
The Medical Assistant Certificate Program at Northwestern College provides students in Oak Lawn, IL, and the greater Chicago area with foundational medical assisting coursework, as well as specialized, on-the-job training. Find out how changing populations may lead to a greater need for medical assistants in specialized areas.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants have a spectrum of work responsibilities. On a typical day, they may perform administrative duties, such as helping patients complete admissions forms and filing laboratory services documents. They may also measure a patient’s vital signs, gather patient histories, and obtain laboratory specimens. Medical assistant jobs are found in general practitioner offices, clinics, and hospitals, and they are vital to maintaining a smooth-running health office. Additionally, they can ensure that a patient’s appointment is a pleasant experience overall.
Medical Assisting for an Aging Population
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that between 2021 and 2031 the need for medical assistants will increase by 16%. This is over three times the national job outlook average – and an inspiring employment forecast. The demand is in part due to the changing population in the U.S., primarily the aging population. As the Baby Boomer (1946-1964) generation continues to mature and life expectancy increases, people often seek more specialized treatments, such as cardiology, geriatrics, and urology services. As the need in these areas increases, medical assistants experienced in these fields may have an even greater chance of landing roles within these types of offices and clinics.
The same can be said for facilities that treat chronic illnesses. For example, many patients in this demographic also suffer from diabetes. As a result, medical assistants may also become more in need at endocrinology offices, assisting doctors who specialize in treating this disease.
Population Movement and Births
Though the U.S. population is, on average, leveling off, populations are expanding in certain states, mainly in the Southwest and Southeast, as well as Illinois. This means medical assistants in the areas of obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics – fields related to childbirth, women’s reproductive care, and youth health – may also be in high demand.
Medical assistants are critical to health offices, hospitals, emergency rooms, and clinics that treat women and children. From welcoming patients to performing clinical tasks, these professionals are vital to different healthcare teams. They ensure requisite components of nearly all health visits are met and performed in a timely and accurate manner for the attending nurses and physicians.
Enroll in the Medical Assistant Certificate Program at Northwestern College
The field of medical assisting is diverse and expanding. Population changes, as well as new technology that allows medical fields to specialize more, open the door for medical assistants who can help in these particular areas. At Northwestern College you’ll receive a firm foundation of instruction in clinical laboratory work, pharmacology, and billing and coding, as well as participate in an externship that places you in a medical specialty facility.
Northwestern College is dedicated to helping its students in Oak Lawn, IL, and the greater Chicago area and provides career services, so they can take the steps they need to reach their career goals. To learn more about enrolling in our medical assistant program, request information today.