Work as a medical assistant can be rewarding, lucrative, and easier to achieve than you might think. There is an abundance of work in hospitals and the arena of patient care, creating plenty of options for medical assistants.
Entering the medical field as an assistant is a smart career move as there are more careers in healthcare than ever. Here, we will take a closer look at some of the very flexible career options available for medical assistants.
A Career In Medical Assisting
You may be wondering, “Am I cut out for medical assisting?”
The answer may surprise you. The great thing about medical assisting jobs is that unlike other professions in the medical field, it doesn\’t require years of training and education.
You can begin your career in a clinic or outpatient center relatively quickly. You can also work in a medical administrative role or clinical practice in a relatively short period of time.
There are numerous options for medical assistants one can choose (more on that below). But despite the relative ease with which one can become a medical assistant, there are also numerous opportunities for career advancement as well.
It all depends on the kind of medical practice you work for. The key is to enter a specific field of medicine that you enjoy – that way you\’re more likely to pursue advancement opportunities.
Different Careers In Medical Assisting
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median pay for medical assistants in 2018 was $33,610 in annual salary.
Their job outlook over the next decade is expected to grow by 23%, which is much faster than the national average for other career paths. The medical field is already a stable sector to enter, and it only appears to be getting more stable.
Why is that exactly? Because there are multiple and flexible career options for medical assistants. Medical assisting jobs are both diverse and varied in nature.
A medical assistant may assist a doctor or registered nurse at a hospital. They may work at a university or college with a medical school. They may assist with obstetrics or gynecology.
They may help at medical research centers, aiding clinical trials. They can also help administer holistic and alternative medicine practices as well.
There are many different career options for medical assistants, not just limited to traditional hospital or health care facility jobs either.
Insurance companies use medical assistants to help with administrative work in processing insurance claims. Medical billers and coders sometimes also require assistance as well.
While it\’s apparent that medical assistants have many different career paths, what types of functions are they expected to perform in those roles?
Example Of What Medical Assistants Do
Medical assistants serve multiple medical specialties and sub specialties. They can work in a number of different medical practices, performing tasks as varied as reading a patient\’s vital signs or serving as a general medical administrative assistant.
A few examples of jobs medical assistants may perform includes (but is not limited to):
- Taking down a patient\’s medical history and personal information
- Recording vital signs like blood pressure readings
- Assisting with patient examinations
- Administering injections or medications as directed by a doctor
- Scheduling appointments
- Performing data entry for patient records
- Preparing blood samples for a lab test
Though a medical assistant\’s job does not require the same training as a doctor, their jobs can still be physically and mentally taxing.
Medical assistants can work long hours and perform multiple tasks that require lots of energy, enthusiasm, and effort. It also requires some specialized skills and expertise.
While medical assistants can perform a variety of jobs, they can also work in a variety of different medical environments as well.
Places For Medical Assistants To Work
Another wonderful part of pursuing a career in medical assistance? The sheer diversity of work spaces you can end up in. Nearly every aspect of the health care sector requires medical assistants, meaning there are numerous opportunities for anyone looking for a career in this.
Retirement communities often require medical assistants to help the doctors and tend to the residents. Medical research centers, which may not specialize in onsite medical care per se, still require someone to assist in conducting the tests and trials needed for the research.
Practitioners delivering home care can also require medical assistants to help as if they were in a hospital or health care facility.
Diagnostic laboratories also need medical assistants. Someone entering the medical assistance field could be a phlebotomist, processing patient samples for analysis.
All kinds of specialized care facilities require medical assistants, such as:
- Gastroenterology offices
- Universities and colleges that have medical schools
- Centers for natural birth
- Pediatric medical offices
- Chiropractic offices
- Nursing homes
- Dialysis centers
- Hyperbaric centers
- Prison infirmary and help care centers
If you can think of a sub-sector of the health care industry, chances are high that it requires the use of a medical assistant of some kind.
Medical Assistants Are In High Demand
There\’s more good news for anyone looking to be a medical assistant. Medical assistants are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that \”the growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventative medical services…as a result, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties.\”
Demand in nursing homes, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities will only continue to grow. That means that receiving training and certification intended to help you become a medical assistant could be a very wise investment in the coming employment landscape.
There\’s never been a better time to engage in medical assistant training. There are plenty of future career advancement opportunities and a wealth of options for medical assistants.
The real question becomes: what kind of training and certification will work best for you and allow you to explore these opportunities? Southern Career Institute can offer you training programs that enable you to sit for your certification in as little as 36 weeks.
Becoming a medical assistant is one of the most stable and versatile fields you can enter. With SCI\’s training courses, you can change the course of your career and be in control of your life. For more on how you can get started, contact us today!
Sources
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-2
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-6
Blog Disclaimer: Information stated in this blog is for general information purposes only. SCITexas.edu does not assume or guarantee income earning potential or salary expectations based on the programs offered at Southern Careers Institute. Career and program information stated in this blog does not guarantee that programs and specifics are offered at Southern Careers Institute.
