A medical assistant works in a clinical setting to aid a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or PA. Often called clinical assistants, medical assistants aid physicians in their daily duties.
Medical assistants are responsible for many administrative tasks, including answering phones, billing patients, using databases, applications, and software, filling out insurance forms, welcoming patients, maintaining patient records, scheduling appointments, and responding to letters.
In addition to assisting doctors with clinical tasks, including taking and recording vital signs, patient education, instrument sterilization, and drug administration, medical assistants also have several administrative responsibilities.
Reasons for Becoming a Medical Assistant
1. Work in demand
Medical assisting is a growing field. Thus, those who enter the area will find many medical assistant job openings and strong salary potential.
As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, The field of medical assisting is expected to experience a significant surge in employment opportunities, with a projected growth rate of 16 percent from 2021 to 2031. This rate of expansion is significantly higher than the average growth rate for all occupations, indicating a positive trend in the demand for medical assistants. As a result, individuals interested in pursuing a career in medical assisting can anticipate a favorable job market in the coming years.
Gaining experience in an area in high demand can lead to higher compensation, more excellent employment stability, and a more comprehensive range of potential occupations. This is a huge plus and a brilliant move forward in your profession.
2. Minimum criteria
Pursuing a profession as a medical assistant does not necessitate a lengthy and tedious educational process. There are two options available to you. These paths lead to a certificate or associate’s degree.
Read More:- How to Become a Medical Assistant?
3. Training is brief
The concise time required to become certified as a medical assistant is one of the many benefits of entering this field. Compared to other professions, medical assisting has a short training period, allowing you to enter the workforce sooner without sacrificing too much of your career. You’ll have more time to go out into the force, where you can begin making a living wage right away.
4. Work flexibly
You can set your hours if you want to be a medical assistant. As a medical assistant, you can choose from various available shifts. These times are available on any day of the week, not just weekdays and weekends. Possible shift times include early mornings, post-dinner nights, and weekends. The ability to set one’s work and social schedule is a significant benefit of having a flexible work environment.
5. Job security
The medical assistance industry is more resistant to automation than many others. There will always be requirements for medical assistants so long as people continue to grow sick and suffer from various diseases. Therefore, your skills are always in order. A medical assistant’s services are required even for otherwise healthy individuals undergoing routine checks. Finally, you shouldn’t have much trouble locating promising job openings in this industry.
Read More:- Medical Assistant Roles and Responsibilities
6. Health benefits
Medical insurance is just one perk of working as a medical assistant, which makes this a desirable profession. It’s possible that medical assistants and their families would be eligible for health insurance coverage. Medical assistants often get perks like free flu vaccines and reduced gym memberships because of how important they are to the healthcare system.
7. Work anywhere
It doesn’t matter where you live; you can get employment as a medical assistant. A valid license is not a barrier to hiring, and there is a high demand for medical assistants nationwide. By 2030, it is projected that there will be 104,400 open positions for medical assistants each year. In total, this sum includes both new and replacement employment opportunities.
8. You may work either full-time or part-time
You’ll be able to choose whether you want to work full-time or part-time as a medical assistant. The supply of medical assistants is inadequate to meet the growing demand for their services. Working full-time or part-time is excellent because it allows you to tailor your schedule to your personal needs and preferences. You won’t even notice any sacrifice on your part.
9. You could instruct
The opportunity to educate others is yet another benefit of working as a medical assistant. As a result of your hard work, the next generation of medical assistants will have someone like you to learn from. Make a comfortable livelihood working around the schedule of a school.
Read More:- Must-Have Soft Skills for Medical Assistant
10. Promotion possibilities
Starting out as a medical assistant is a fantastic way to enter the healthcare workforce. Being a medical assistant can be rewarding on its own, but it also opens doors to other opportunities in the medical field. If you’re interested in healthcare but aren’t sure if you want to devote your life to it, becoming a medical assistant can dip your toe in the water and see if you like working with patients.
11. Job satisfaction
Working as a medical assistant might provide you with everyday opportunities to aid those in need. Choosing this line of work is not for the faint of heart. Knowing you made a positive impact on another person’s life can be a never-ending source of motivation.
Role of Medical Assistant
- Attend to and direct incoming calls, schedule appointments, check patients in, collect data for filing and updating patient records, and verify that all required paperwork (including consent forms) has been signed.
- Patient check-out, referral processing, and laboratory schedule.
- See the billing details.
- Prepare patients for exams, take their vitals, and document their medical history.
- Prepare electrocardiogram equipment, give injections and prescriptions, and take blood and other samples for routine testing.
- Get the lab and exam rooms ready, and sterilize the equipment.
- Help the doctor out with patient care and diagnostic tests.
- Take charge of medical supply inventory and ensure exam rooms have everything they need.
FAQs
1) Is being a medical assistant a promising career?
A medical assistant is in high demand, and the field offers many job prospects. Between 2020 and 2030, the need for medical assistants is projected to grow by 18.9 percent quicker than the overall growth rate for jobs. Gaining an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing is required for medical assistants who wish to progress to the registered nurse level.
The transition into a new career as a medical assistant might be facilitated by the fact that past education and work experience in the healthcare industry is often recognized and given credit for.
2) What are the reasons for choosing a career as a medical assistant?
The satisfaction you’ll get from making a difference in people’s lives is a major perk of working as a medical assistant. Whether your goal is to restore patients’ health or ease their anxiety, knowing that you’ve had a positive impact on someone’s life motivates you to do your best every day.
Employment of medical assistants is predicted to boost by 16% from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The need for medical assistants who are also proficient with electronic health records (EHR) is expected to grow. Medical assistants can find work in a wide variety of settings, from hospitals and clinics to private practices and specialty medical practices.
3) What skills did you need to become a medical assistant?
Scheduling: Anyone who’s ever gone to the doctor knows how hectic the waiting room can get. One method medical assistant help a medical office function more efficiently is by assisting with scheduling and coordinating patient visits, physician availability, billing needs/claims follow-ups, and so on.
Digital health records: EMRs, or electronic medical records, are digitally captured and arranged as official patient records. Information such as a patient’s medical history, doctor’s notes, lab results, etc., can be accessed more quickly and easily with the use of these systems.
Coding in the healthcare industry: Insurance companies require specific coding to understand the nature of the care provided to a patient, the services rendered, and the diagnostic procedures performed. A medical assistant’s ability to read, record, and understand medical records is enhanced by knowledge of medical coding, which aids in the submission and tracking of claims.
Knowledge of the Telephone: The telephone is still one of the most popular methods of communication in the medical field, even in this technologically advanced era. As a result, all MAs still need to communicate verbally confidently and effectively by telephone.
Multitasking: The most fantastic medical assistants can efficiently schedule patients, check them in, prepare them for their visits, perform tests, and record vital signs.
4) What are the advantages of being a medical assistant?
Working environments are flexible: Unlike other healthcare professions, MAs are not restricted to working only in hospitals. As a medical assistant, you have the option of working in the cancer section of a hospital, the family practice division of a medical clinic, or even a chiropractic clinic.
Relationships with patients are something you’ll get to work on: Medical assistants can develop essential relationships with their patients as they guide them through their appointments by delivering them to the appropriate locations, taking their vital signs, and asking basic screening questions. Because of the hands-on nature of the work, medical assistants need strong communication and people skills. Medical assisting is an excellent career option for those who enjoy serving others.
You will be able to develop in your career thanks to your learning abilities: There is an argument that in addition to technical competence, medical assistants require a set of softer capabilities. She ranks empathy and the ability to communicate highly. Gaining proficiency in these areas as an MA will aid you in a variety of healthcare occupations in the future.
Your career path can range from expert to generalist: A medical assistant’s tasks may include but are not limited to those listed above. Practitioners who enjoy dabbling in various specialties may thrive in a more compact medical facility. The combination of assignments around the hospital will provide you with a well-rounded education in the medical area.
5) Why is medical assisting the best career choice?
Customer service, both over the phone and in person, is a focal point of medical assistant work. Both technical and soft skills are required. A combination of professional appearance and kind conduct can gain patients’ trust. Choose virtues that are useful in the profession of medical helping. Good time management, teamwork, listening, and compassionate attitudes are a few examples.
Take the time to learn more about the Medical Assistant program at AIHT Education by visiting our program page: https://aiht.edu/programs/medical-assistant-hipaa-specialist/
