Medical Assistant Jobs
Medical assisting is a fast-growing career that involves performing both clinical and administrative tasks in a health care setting. Medical assistants may perform a variety of duties, such as greeting patients, maintaining files and processing insurance information. They sometimes perform clinical duties such as lab tests and the sterilization of medical equipment. Requirements to become a medical assistant include completing a post-secondary training program. Read on to learn more about these jobs.
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Identification
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Medical assistants work in hospitals, clinics and in the offices of chiropractors, ophthalmologists and pediatricians. They work directly under physicians or other health care professionals. Each state has laws that dictate what procedures medical assistants are allowed to perform.
Types
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Medical assistants who work in small clinical settings are usually responsible for administrative duties such as filing medical records, handling paperwork, scheduling appointments and processing insurance forms. They also answer telephones.
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Types
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Some medical assistants handle clinical tasks such as recording a patient's vital signs, changing wound dressings and performing basic lab tests. Although medical assistants are not trained to diagnose medical conditions, they can advise patients on how to take medications and authorize drug refills approved by their supervising physician. Some medical assistants draw blood and prepare patients for medical procedures. Depending on state law, medical assistants may be authorized to give injections.
Specializations
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Medical assistants can choose to specialize in different areas of medicine. Pediatric medical assistants work with pediatricians and nurses to provide care to children. Ophthalmic medical assistants measure a patient's vision, teach patients how to care for their contact lenses and conduct tests involving the eyes.
Training
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Post-secondary training programs last one or two years. Accredited programs are offered at technical schools and community colleges throughout the United States and Canada. Most programs culminate in a certificate or an associate's degree. Medical assisting programs offer coursework in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, laboratory skills, record keeping and insurance processing. Most programs require students to complete an internship that lasts a minimum of four months.
Salary
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Medical assistants can expect to make anywhere between $20,000 and $35,000. Earnings depend on geographic location and the medical assistant's experience. They generally earn more in large hospitals.
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