Medical assistants take direction from physicians while performing clinical and administrative duties, usually within a physician or specialist office or hospital. They may schedule appointments, do billing, perform insurance coding, and maintain medical records. Recording medical histories, taking vital signs, drawing blood, administering medications, and preparing patients for their examinations are some clinical duties a medical assistant may perform. Medical assistant duties vary and are often determined by the specialty of the practitioner and the size and location of the practice.
Medical Assisting Skill Set:
Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Monitoring
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Writing
Active Learning
Required Abilities:
Oral Expression
Oral Comprehension
Problem Sensitivity
Speech Clarity
Near Vision
Speech Recognition
Written Comprehension
Tools Used by Medical Assistants:
Hyperdermic Needles
Mercury Blood Pressure Units
Nebulizers or Accessories
Ophthalmoscopes
At a Glance: Salary Statistics
Medical Assistant Salaries for Industries
Popular Industries
Salary
Offices of Physicians
$30,420
General Hospitals
$31,010
Offices of Health Practitioners
$26,970
Outpatient Care Centers
$31,710
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
$33,330
Typical Work Activities
Thinking Creatively
Interacting With Computers
Getting Information
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Medical Assistant Salaries for Popular Cities and States
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that medical assistant employment will grow much faster than the average between 2010 and 2020. This occupation is expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations during this period, characterized by excellent job opportunities. A 31 percent growth is anticipated due to expansion of the healthcare industry. Medical assistants skilled in both clinical and administrative tasks will find themselves in the highest demand.
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Though many medical assistants complete one or two-year educational programs, some only receive on-the-job training. There are no formal training or education requirements for this position, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly all medical assistants possess a minimum of a high school diploma. On an O*Net survey, 41 percent of medical assistant respondents held a high school diploma or equivalent. Some college but no degree was the education level for an additional 37 percent and 22 percent had an associate’s degree.
Vocational-technical high schools, junior colleges, vocational postsecondary schools, and community colleges offer programs for medical assistants. The postsecondary programs are usually diploma or certificate programs that last one year or two-year associate degree programs. Students take science, medical law, accounting, transcription, and insurance processing courses. They also learn first aid, how to administer medications, lab techniques, diagnostic and clinical procedures, and pharmaceutical principles. An internship in a healthcare facility or physician office is often included in programs that are accredited by one of the two medical assistant accrediting bodies.
Though certification is not required, it may improve employment prospects. Several associations, including the Association of Medical Technologists (AMT) and the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), provide medical assistant certification. The process to become certified varies by association. Some medical assistants choose to become certified within a specialty such as optometry or podiatry.
Related Occupations
Medical assistants have duties similar to workers in other medical support occupations. Medical secretaries and medical transcriptionist careers are similar to those of medical assistants focusing on administrative work. Medical secretaries perform clerical and administrative tasks necessary for a medical office to run efficiently. Medical transcriptionists transcribe dictated recordings from healthcare professionals into written form for use in medical reports and correspondence.
Dental assistants, surgical technologists, and pharmacy technicians have jobs similar to medical assistants who focus on clinical tasks. A dental assistant performs various laboratory, office, and patient care tasks within a dental office. Surgical technologists provide assistance with surgical operations under surgeon, surgical personnel, or registered nurse supervision. Pharmacy technicians help prepare prescription medications, offer customer service, and perform administrative tasks within a pharmacy.
