Medical Assisting

Would you love to become employed quickly in the medical field? Do you want to help people improve their health without having to go to 10 years of college? Then the exciting medical field of medical assisting may be right up your alley. Medical assistants can usually complete their educational training in several months or fewer than 2 years. Over 62 percent of medical assistants are employed in doctor's offices.

The field of medical assisting can be broken down into 3 categories. The first category is administrative medical assisting. Those in this category specialize in office management of medical offices. Tasks in this position include updating and filing patient information, filling out insurance paperwork, scheduling lab work and tests, scheduling appointments, greeting patients, receptionist duties, and basic accounting work. The second category is a clinical medical assistant. Those in this category specialize in working with patients, taking vital signs, recording patient histories, preparing patients for doctor exams, explaining medical treatments, performing very basic lab tests, cleaning medical equipment, and many other tasks. This third category is ophthalmic, podiatric, or optometric medical assisting. In this category, medical assistants have additional job tasks that include working with patients with eye and foot injuries.

Medical Assisting Career Outlook

As the population ages and medical technology advances, the medical industry continues to grow. The need for medical assistants increases every day. With a degree in Medical Assisting, you will be able to choose among many rewarding careers that offer strong growth potential and job security.

People with Medical Assisting degrees are employed in physicians offices, hospitals, chiropractic offices, optometrists offices and pediatric offices, and they include: Medical assistants, medical coders, office administrators, patient care technicians, respiratory care workers, pharmacy technicians, dialysis technicians, and surgical technicians.

Medical Assisting Salary Information

Average earnings for people with Medical Assisting degrees are between $25,000 and $35,000 per year. Opportunities for advancement are good; many medical assistants can advance to office manager, teach medical assisting or move into an administrative support occupation.

Medical Assisting Required Job Skills and Knowledge

Job opportunities are best for people with formal education. Medical Assisting degrees typically take between six months and two years to complete. Good typing, record keeping, organizational and communication skills are necessary. Employers look for professional, well-groomed individuals. Classes in anatomy, first aid, medical law and ethics, and patient relations are important. Employers also look for candidates who have certification and have completed a national examination.