What Exactly Do You Do as a Medical Assistant?

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What Exactly Do You Do as a Medical Assistant

what exactly do you do as a medical assistant

When it comes to healthcare careers, medical assistant jobs are in particularly high demand. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that medical assistant positions will rise at a rate of 18% until 2030.

Becoming a certified medical assistant has many advantages, especially if you want to start working in medicine sooner rather than later. It doesn’t take long to earn a medical assistant certificate, unlike the years required to become an RN, BSN, or physician. This allows you to fast-track your progress and start earning a better salary. So how much do medical assistants make? The mid-range is around $37,000.

Another advantage to medical assistant jobs is that you have the opportunity to engage in various types of work. Medical assistants are needed by organizations from large hospitals to private chiropractic offices. As such, you can decide which role is the perfect fit for you!

Interested in finding out more about this much-needed occupation? Let’s start by finding out where medical assistants fit into healthcare as a whole.

Main Responsibilities of a Certified Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are trained to act in both clinical and administrative capacities. They may make sure equipment is sterilized or draw blood, or they may handle duties like completing and submitting insurance paperwork, inputting data into centralized patient-provider portals, and scheduling appointments.

As you might imagine, physicians, hospital personnel, and outpatient center team members couldn’t function without medical assistants. Without a doubt, medical assistants serve as vital members of any healthcare team. 

What Do Medical Assistant Programs Teach?

The top medical assistant certificate programs prepare students to learn everything they need to know for a career in the medical assisting field. Some common course subjects medical assistant trainees can expect include medical terminology, office administration and billing, nutrition, assisting during diagnostic procedures, patient assessment best practices, a general anatomic overview of the human body, and beyond.

After completing courses in the classroom, medical assistant students can plan to undergo at least 160 hours of hands-on experience. This practicum gives students the chance to put their skills to the test. Though the practicum and corresponding clinical rotations are unpaid, each is an important element of earning a medical assistant certificate.

What Type of Personality Traits Should a Medical Assistant Have?

It’s easy to find career aptitude tests on the market that can point you in an appropriate career direction. However, you don’t necessarily have to fill out a questionnaire to see if you would find medical assisting rewarding. As long as you have some of the following characteristics, you may want to request more information on getting your medical assistant certificate.

  • You find medicine fascinating. From drawing and testing blood to changing dressings, anything related to healthcare makes you want to discover more.
  • You like helping people. Medical assistants help so many people every day including their coworkers and patients. Wanting to assist others is a key element to being an outstanding medical assistant.
  • You have a positive, can-do attitude. When you’re a medical assistant, you’re likely to encounter problems on a daily basis. Being able to face those problems head-on and come up with appropriate responses is necessary.
  • You are very organized. Maintaining organization in busy healthcare practices often falls to medical assistants. If you enjoy managing databases and streamlining systems, you can be sure your abilities will be appreciated.
  • You want to work in healthcare and then earn a higher degree. Many medical assistants begin their journey because they’re passionate about medicine but aren’t ready to be in school for a long time. Medical assistant programs can be the stepping stones they need to get early, practical experience.

Exploring the World of Medical Assistant Jobs

Medical assistants do so much more than many people realize. And if you have a high school diploma or equivalent, you can feel free to explore this lucrative career path right away.

Ready to explore medical assistant programs? Apply for Lackawanna College’s program today!