Are you considering taking classes to become a medical assistant? This career in the medical field is one of the top allied health career options that don’t require years of schooling.
This career is ideal if you are considering going back to school for a medical career but are intimidated by the need for lengthy degrees, exams, and certifications.
This article will run you through everything you need to know about being a medical assistant.
A Medical Assistant’s Purpose
A medical assistant works under the medical direction of a licensed healthcare professional. This can be a nurse, physician, physician assistant, dentist, or other health professional.
A medical assistant’s primary duties are to assist in the day-to-day running of their office or clinic. This means working with patients, performing administrative tasks, and keeping the practice running smoothly.
You may also be required to provide some basic care to patients and prepare them for exams or procedures.
Your Duties as a Medical Assistant
As a medical assistant, you will be given a range of tasks that you will need to complete.
They can include scheduling appointments, answering telephones, performing administrative duties, stocking supplies, sterilizing the medical equipment, and even sending the specimen samples to the lab.
Some jobs also require you to do clerical work like filing papers and organizing the office.
You can expect to perform the following interactions with patients:
- Taking health histories from patients
- Taking and recording vital signs
- Helping to prepare exam rooms and assist in exams
- Preparing patients for exams and procedures
- Basic wound care
- Assisting the physician during physical exams
- Providing patients with medication, supplies, or injections if allowed by the state
Qualifications to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical assistants are not required to have a specific degree, and most states don’t need specific licensing or credentials. You may earn a medical assistant certificate through hands-on training without a degree.
However, if you complete a certificate program first, you have a better chance of landing the job. Our medical assistant classes take 32 weeks, including 4-8 weeks of hands-on internship, to get a medical assistant certificate.
During your training, you will learn skills such as patient interaction, patient prep, sterilization methods, specimen collection, infection control, and administering an injection. You will also get acquainted with medical terminology to help patients understand the procedures they will be going through.
Expected Working Conditions
Medical assistants work in all medical settings, including hospitals, urgent care facilities, and private healthcare practices. Medical assistants may also work in doctors’ offices, medical clinics, and other facilities.
You may have varied duties each day, and you may need to spend most of the day of your full-time schedule on your feet, moving through different exam rooms. You will be catering to patients who may be sick or injured and unhappy about it.
If you work at a hospital, you may be required to work in the evenings and on weekends.
Salary and Job Outlook
For full-time positions, medical assistants have a median salary of $33,610 per year. Your rate will depend on your experience and the medical facility and city you work in. If you get a certification program, you have a higher starting salary.
As of April 2020, the medical assistant career is expected to grow by 23% from 2018 to 2028. An increasingly aging population will require preventive health options and treatments, making this a stable high-demand job.
Conclusion
As you can see, being a medical assistant is a great career option for those looking to get their foot in the door of the medical world. Education is not required, and the salary can be higher with a certification.
Are you looking for medical assistant training in Schaumburg, IL? Northwest Suburban College offers a wide variety of healthcare career training programs, including medical assistant training. Enroll now!
