Medical Assisting Careers and Training

Answer 1

Medial assisting jobs perform administrative and basic clinical tasks to assist other medical professionals perform their responsibilities. Referred to as medical assistants, these professionals work in physicians' offices, hospitals and other medical care facilities. Like physicians and other health care professionals, medical assistants sometimes specialize in specific types of medical practices.

Not all employers require training for this occupation, but many medical assistants attend a vocational school, community college or participate in an online program to obtain a diploma or certificate. Programs are typically completed in one year. Some medical assistants move into this career after obtaining training and certification in related occupations such as clinical laboratory technicians and phlebotomists. Certification and previous experience performing clinical tasks such as drawing blood and recording vital signs for patients may increase employment opportunities.

Medical assistant job responsibilities vary by employer and each state's laws regarding who can provide clinical and medical care. States that allow medical assistants to perform tasks such as giving injections often require a test to qualify. Job responsibilities can be strictly administrative such as answering phones, scheduling patients and filing medical records. Others perform a wide variety of responsibilities including taking patients to exam rooms, asking patients about their condition and documenting their medical history, taking vital signs, administering basic laboratory tests and sterilizing medical equipment. The overall responsibilities of a medical assistant is to keep a medical office or department running smoothly.

The salary for medical assisting jobs vary, based on the responsibilities of the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an average salary of $14.31 per hour in 2010. Starting salaries range from $10 to $11 per hour. Medical assistants work part-time and full-time. This career will be in high-demand over the next several years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 34 percent growth through 2018, making medical assisting jobs among one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States.