This section is excerpted from chapter ten of
Health Care Job Explosion! and features medical assistant job opportunities.
An interview with a medical assistant and an overview of the medical assistance health
care profession is excerpted along with a sampling of resources from the all new 4th
edition of Health Care Job Explosion!. Occupational groups are divided into primary and
related occupations so that individuals can investigate other fields for
additional job opportunities.
Health Care Job Explosion features over 1,400 career
exploration and job vacancy resources. Resources are grouped with each
occupation and a sample of related resources is included with the medical
assistant occupational description.
Related Occupations
- Dental Assistants
- Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
- Medical Secretaries
- Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides
- Pharmacy Aides
- Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
Significant Points
- About 6 out of 10 medical assistants work in offices of physicians.
- Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete 1- or
2-year programs in vocational-technical high schools, post-secondary
vocational schools, and community and junior colleges.
- Medical assistant positions are projected to be one of the fastest
growing occupations over the 2004-14 period.
- Job prospects should be best for medical assistants with formal training
or experience, particularly those with certification.
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- About 6 out of 10 medical assistants work in offices of physicians
- Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete
1- or 2-year programs in vocational-technical high schools, post-secondary
vocational schools, and community and junior colleges.
- Medical assistant positions are projected to be one of the fastest
growing occupations over the 2004-14 period.
- Job prospects should be best for medical assistants with formal
training or experience, particularly those with certification.
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the
offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health
practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with physician
assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct
supervision of a physician. (Physician assistants are discussed in Chapter 10.)
The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the
location and size of the practice and the practitioner’s specialty. In small
practices, medical assistants usually are generalists, handling both
administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager,
physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to
specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department
administrators.
Medical assistants perform many administrative duties, including answering
telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients’ medical records,
filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments,
arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing
and bookkeeping.
Clinical duties vary according to state law and include taking medical histories
and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients,
preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the
examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or
perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated
supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about
medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by
a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a
pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms,
remove sutures, and change dressings.
Medical assistants also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment,
purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining
rooms neat and clean.
Ophthalmic medical assistants and podiatric medical assistants are examples of
specialized assistants who have additional duties. Ophthalmic medical assistants
help ophthalmologists provide eye care. They conduct diagnostic tests, measure
and record vision, and test eye muscle function. They also show patients how to
insert, remove, and care for contact lenses, and they apply eye dressings. Under
the direction of the physician, ophthalmic medical assistants may administer eye
medications. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist
the ophthalmologist in surgery. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of
feet, expose and develop x-rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery.
Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They constantly
interact with other people and may have to handle several responsibilities at
once.
Most full-time medical assistants work a regular 40-hour week. Many work part
time, evenings, or weekends.
Online
Health Care Degree & Certificate Programs
Most employers prefer graduates of formal programs in medical assisting. Such
programs are offered in vocational-technical high schools, post-secondary
vocational schools, and community and junior colleges. Post-secondary programs
usually last either 1 year, resulting in a certificate or diploma, or 2 years,
resulting in an associate degree. Courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical
terminology, as well as typing, transcription, recordkeeping, accounting, and
insurance processing. Students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and
diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, the administration of
medications, and first aid. They study office practices, patient relations,
medical law, and ethics. Accredited programs include an internship that provides
practical experience in physicians’ offices, hospitals, or other health care
facilities.
Both the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
(CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredit
programs in medical assisting. In 2005, there were over 500 medical assisting
programs accredited by CAAHEP and about 170 accredited by ABHES. The Committee
on Accreditation for Ophthalmic Medical Personnel approved 17 programs in
ophthalmic medical assisting and 2 programs in ophthalmic clinical assisting.
Formal training in medical assisting, while generally preferred, is not
always required. Some medical assistants are trained on the job, al-though this
practice is less common than in the past. Applicants usually need a high school
diploma or the equivalent. Recommended high school courses include mathematics,
health, biology, typing, book-keeping, computers, and office skills. Volunteer
experience in the health care field also is helpful.
Although medical assistants are not licensed, some states require them to
take a test or a course before they can perform certain tasks, such as taking x
rays or giving injections.
Employers prefer to hire experienced workers or certified applicants who have
passed a national examination, indicating that the medical assistant meets
certain standards of competence. The American Association of Medical Assistants
awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential; American Medical
Technologists awards the Registered Medical Assistant credential; the American
Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants awards the Podiatric Medical Assistant,
Certified credential; and the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in
Ophthalmology awards credentials at three levels: Certified Ophthalmic
Assistant; Certified Ophthalmic Technician; and Certified Ophthalmic Medical
Technologist.
Medical assistants deal with the public; therefore, they must be neat and
well groomed and have a courteous, pleasant manner. Medical assistants must be
able to put patients at ease and explain physicians’ instructions. They must
respect the confidential nature of medical in-formation. Clinical duties require
a reasonable level of manual dexterity and visual acuity.
Medical assistants may be able to advance to office manager. They may qualify
for a variety of administrative support occupations or may teach medical
assisting. With additional education, some enter other health occupations, such
as nursing and medical technology.
Medical assistants held about 387,000 jobs in 2004. About 6 out of 10 worked
in offices of physicians; about 14 percent worked in public and private
hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities; and 11 percent worked
in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors, optometrists,
and podiatrists. The rest worked mostly in out-patient care centers, public and
private educational services, other ambulatory health care services, state and
local government agencies, employment services, medical and diagnostic
laboratories, and nursing care facilities.
Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average
for all occupations through the year 2014 as the health care industry expands
because of technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging of the
population. Increasing utilization of medical assistants in the rapidly growing
health care industry will further stimulate job growth. In fact, medical
assistants are projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the
2004–14 period.
Employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of group
practices, clinics, and other health care facilities that need a high proportion
of support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who can handle
both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work primarily in
outpatient settings, a rapidly growing sector of the health care industry.
In view of the preference of many health care employers for trained
personnel, job prospects should be best for medical assistants with for-mal
training or experience, particularly for those with certification.
The earnings of medical assistants vary, depending on their experience, skill
level, and location. Median annual earnings of medical assistants were $24,610
in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $20,650 and $28,930. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,010, and the highest 10 percent earned
more than $34,650. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the
largest numbers of medical assistants in May 2004 were: Colleges, universities,
and professional schools,$27,490; Outpatient care centers, $25,360; General
medical and surgical hospitals, $25,160; Offices of physicians, $24,930, Offices
of other health practitioners, $21,930.
Additional resources are presented in the paperback version of
Health Care Job Explosion! 4th edition by Dennis V. Damp for this
occupational group. Resources include Job Ads, Job Hotlines, Job Fairs,
Placement services, Associations, Books, Directories and Internet (Web) Sites.
Your local library may have this book in their reference section or you can
purchase a copy for $19.95 plus shipping with all major credit cards from our
toll free service at 1-800-782-7424 (Orders Only).
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) 20
North Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL 60606-2963; 312/899-1500. (http://www.aama-ntl.org)
The AAMA offers a national examination leading to the Certified Medical
Assistant (CMA) credential. Web site has a quiz and information on the field,
links to the two ac-crediting agencies of educational programs for their lists
of schools, and information on studying for and taking the certification exam.
They also have a mentoring program for members.
American Medical Technologists (AMT) - 710 Higgins Road,
Park Ridge, IL 60068; 800/275-1268. (http://www.amt1.com)
The AMT administers the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification exam as
well as exams for Medical Technologist, Medical Laboratory Technician,
Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA),
Certified Office Laboratory Technician (COLT), Allied Health Instructor (AHI)
and Certified Laboratory Consultant (CLC). Student membership $5. Link to job
and scholarship information.
Medical Technicians - Ferguson Publishing Company, 1998,
$13.95, ISBN: 0894342460 Careers covered include biomedical equipment
technicians, dialysis technicians, medical assistants, psychiatric technicians
and surgical technologists.
The following occupations are featured in the all new 4th edition of
Health Care Job Explosion!. Each of the following occupations are featured
exactly like the Home Care Occupations
occupational description and includes resources for each listing. Your local
library may have this book in their reference section or you can purchase a copy
for $19.95 plus $5.75 shipping with all major credit cards from our toll free
service at 1-800-782-7424 (Orders Only). Also available at bookstores
nationwide.
Medical Assistant Jobs, Ophthalmic Medical
Assistant and Podiatric Medical Assistant Jobs, Medical Jobs
