Doctors and nurses cannot do all that work alone, though granted, they do accomplish quite a lot on their own. If the medical assistant’s job did not exist there would be a considerable backlog in the health sector, admin work would stack up and stress levels would be compounded and there’d be chaos in every major hospital. In fact, if you look at things as they stand, we already have an over-loaded city healthcare system with overworked employees. If you know how any hospital staffs do their job, in terms of what the working structures are and how everyone fits into the system you’ll realize that the medical assistant is an indispensable part of the medical fraternity.

Even though the workload is heavy as it is, it would be unmanageable without the assistant. Just as the doctors and nurses, as well as pharmacy technicians, are the central cogs in the medical wheel, so too is the medical assistant. However, knowing this, what exactly is the medical assistant job description and how does one go about becoming one?

The Right Person For This Job

Firstly, to do this job you need to be a certain type of person, to not only be able enough, but also willing to do this job; selflessness is of course a major quality in all medical staff. Another quality prevalent in most medical assistants is the ability to multi-task, or at least the aptitude to perform several concurrent or run-on jobs well.

Medical Assistant Job Description

The medical assistant job description and duties can be described as something of the hospital’s version of a secretary, although with a number of considerably distinctive qualities. They’re required to perform an assortment of clerical duties as well as some medical ones too. One can say that anyone working in a medical clinic or hospital should be familiar with a number of basic medical techniques. Most medical assistants are in possession of a few certificates or even a degree in medical assistance or something like it. There are a number of courses and programs available to equip the aspiring assistant, such as the Medical Assistant program, the Certificate in Medical Assisting and the Associate of Science in medical Assisting – all recognized programs.

So, in more detail, the medical assistant job description of a qualified assistant can be divided in two groups – that of administration work and then physical medical work.

The Admin work comprises the following:

• Being the “face” of the institution – they’re usually the first to greet and assist patients.
• Keeping and handling medical records
• Answering phone calls
• Filling out insurance forms
• Arranging or making appointments
• Controlling and/or monitoring correspondence
• Arranging and organizing hospital and lab services
• Provide assistance with billing

Their medical duties look as follows:

• Taking patients’ vital signs
• Communicating and advising patients on and about their imminent treatments and procedures.
• Giving injections
• Drawing blood
• Directing general laboratory tests
• Retrieving patient history
• Providing assistance with examinations
• The preparation of lab specimens
• Ensuring that medical supplies are sanitized
• Disposing of medical material waste

Further duties that may fall to the medical assistant are; informing patients about additional treatment that accompany, preclude or follow certain medical procedures or operations, such as dietary requirements and perhaps the correct applications of various medications. Assistants may also be tasked with formulating and administering medication, submitting prescription forms, permit replenishment’s under a doctor or physician’s supervision, preparing patients prior to having X-rays done, performing electrocardiograms, taking blood samples, removing stitches and changing or adjusting dressings. Furthermore, medical assistants may organize, maintain and buy materials and instruments. If needs be cleaning the waiting and examination rooms could also form as part of the duties of a medical assistant. Overall, Medical assistants should maintain a certain amount of flexibility in their duties as more may arise – one could say that the assistant fills whatever roles the doctors and nurses do not. Their medical duties are then limited due to the clerical roles they need to perform, distinguishing them from nurses. In addition, the medical assistant also differs from the physician assistant whose roles include diagnosing, examining and treating patients under the physician’s guidance and supervision.

Through some certification programs, some medical assistants may look to specialize in specific fields; so you may find that assistants can be found in a wide variety of medical arenas; of course every medical field can claim to have an assistant’s role that needs to be filled. Although most will be found in doctor’s offices, there is a percentage that is found in more specialized fields like in a chiropractor’s office or podiatrist’s. In fact any specialist field needs one, because as one can see from the comprehensive list above, that a medical assistant job description is quite vast and as mentioned before, has become an indispensable part of the medical fraternity.

You’ll often find that there’s a notable degree of separation between doctor and patient, and indeed it is a special relationship, but at no time does it develop and move beyond what it is. In a word the doctor/patient relationship should remain ‘clinical’; however, in that, it’s clear that ironically, the human touch is lost. In most instances the nurses fill that void as they are the real care givers – as one could put it, the doctors do the diagnosing while the nurses do the actual healing – human touch is crucial to the healing process, in fact without, it could be argued that there wouldn’t be any. Similarly, medical assistants also provide a crucial human link to the prospective patients as they are usually the first people who patients interact with upon entering a doctor’s office or hospital. From this you can gather that a discernible amount of people skills is required to perform their duty, not only in assisting and relating to patients but also in working together with a variety of different professionals and skilled people.

Other skills pertinent to the medical assistant job description and requirements is having the ability to work well with their hands and be very observant; awareness is crucial to the job in perceiving people and their needs and being able to assist where they can.

The Basics Of A Medical Assistant Job Description

One might look at the list of clinical medical assistant duties and think that they are superficial or small jobs in the greater scheme of things but in reality, those medical duties are all required by and under state laws. As an added feature to those state requirements, because the assistants are qualified to administer those duties like taking vital signs and acquiring or retrieving patient records and medical history, the treatment process is expedited from the time the patient enters the hospital or clinic to the moment they get treated by their doctor. It’s all part of streamlining the system for better service.

They help clarify physician instructions and have an open communication line between patients to assist them and comfort them in this undoubtedly awkward or uncomfortable moment in their lives. Clearly then, the various roles of a medical assistant, although they may be basic in the greater scheme of things, are definitely a necessity to the medical assistant job description.

Many already qualified medical assistants seek to further their study and expand their expertise and in doing so, they widen their field of employment possibilities. It’s especially a theme today with the down economy and job opportunities on the down side as well; medical assistants seek high qualifications for a higher income. In time and with enough experience, the medical assistant may be promoted to office management, while others still look to diversify their qualification to become teachers, technicians or even nurses.

What Kind Of Person Is Needed For This Job

With all the medical assistant job descriptions and the unique questions that it asks of the individual, it’s not surprising that most out there are in fact women. That’s not to say that a man cannot do the job, but since there are so many different tasks to perform, it does seem that a woman’s natural instincts are suited to the role. Another aspect in the woman’s favor is their natural motherly instinct which is so prevalent in the care giving aspect – people are also more trusting of women than they are men. It’s for these reasons that most nurses too are women – the key word in ‘health care’ of course being “care”. All this is not to discourage any aspiring male medical assistants, but it’s just to enlighten you on what it takes to perform this important job with the unique challenges it comes with. The qualifications will only equip you with the tools to cope with those challenges, but in reality it’s only when you find yourself on the floor of whatever clinic, doctor’s office or hospital, that you’ll finally experience the realities of the job.

What to expect in the study program for certification:

• Medical terminology
• Human physiology and anatomy
• Analysis and diagnostic procedures
• Typing – as well as computer literacy
• Basic accounting
• Record keeping – as in logging medical history
• A certain level of insurance processing
• Laboratory techniques and procedures
• Drug and medicine principles
• Basic first aid
• Administration of medicine
• Communication skills (with patients and professionals alike)
• Medical ethics
• Health laws

A year’s study will earn you a medical assistant certification while a second year’s training will earn you an associate’s degree. Formal training is required or preferred by many institutions (though it’s not mandatory) and internships are offered for students by most clinics and hospitals.

Further Certifications

As mentioned before there are a number of courses available to elevate the basic medical assistant training. One may find that even after you’ve been hired, your employing practice may require you to undertake further specialized tests and training so that you’d be able to administer specific treatments like x-rays – usually non-invasive procedures- and their ‘extra’ duties are always supervised and delegated by their overseeing doctor or physician.

The Difference Between Medical And Surgical Assistants

As mentioned before in this article, there is a stark difference between the medical and physician (surgeon) assistant, namely that the latter possesses a license to practice medicine and is almost always in the operating theater as part of the team of surgeons working on the respective patient.

The medical assistant job description usually includes two years of post-graduate work for a full qualification and to the surgeon’s discretion, they’re allowed to give advice and provide a different vantage point.

Despite this contrast in job descriptions, the medical assistant may overlap in their duties – that is to say that in some locations medical assistants are qualified to act as surgeon assistants, but in these cases, their qualifications are usually dependent on the nature of the studies in that area.

A Growing Profession

One thing that’s clear though, is that the medical assistant field is expanding and is predicted to be one of the fastest growing professions in the next five years. Fuelling this expansion is an increase in the amount of elderly people as well as a projected increase in clinics and hospitals over the next decade as governments look to upgrade or intensify financial efforts behind the healthcare sector which has for a long time needed better support across the board. So, these encouraging figures have definitely persuaded more students to pursue the medical assistant role as a career, with the impressive possibilities and future growth available to them. One thing’s for certain though, all associated fields, from nursing to pharmacy technicians and medical assistants, all have a very healthy outlook for future employment.

The post More About A Medical Assistant Job Description appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

The tasks you will fulfill will not be restricted to the clerical side of things however. You will be required to deal with clients and patients and in some cases even do such things as arrange hospital admission for them. However, these are skills that can be learned on the job and no formal training is required in order to work in this area.

It is above all a safe industry to become involved in as you will be in a position of job security and you will always know that there will be work for you out there somewhere. If you are interested in becoming a medical administrative assistant, keep on reading to find out exactly how this can be achieved, as well as why it is a recommended course of action.

What Is A Medical Administrative Assistant?

Essentially a medical administrative assistant is an assistant that works in a medical setting helping a physician or another medical expert perform their job efficiently. What they specifically do is deal with the administration and clerical side of the situation, thereby freeing up the health professional in question to do his or her job more efficiently. It is a very clerical position, but a certain amount of medical terminology and procedures will come in handy, although these will be picked up as you go along.

Medical Assistant vs. Physician Assistant

It is very important that you don’t get the position of a medical administrative assistant confused with the position of a physician’s assistant as the two are very different. A Physician Assistant has a license that allows them to practice medicine, while a medical administrative assistant does not (although many voluntarily choose to become registered this is not compulsory).

Administrative Assistant vs. Clinical Assistant

There are basically two possible roles you may fulfill as a medical assistant, namely a medical administrative assistant or a medical clinical assistant. A medical administrative assistant has a very clerical role in the office and is also responsible for protecting confidentiality and patient privacy. They are also the ones who are mainly responsible for ensuring that data regarding a patient is correctly recorded and that there are no errors in patient records.

What Does A Medical Office Assistant Do?

There are several different areas in which you can work as a medical administrative assistant, and each of these fields are subtly different. Before making a decision about a career path you need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into when you embark on that path. Knowing the basic duties that you will have to perform is essential in making an informed choice. However, once you have studied the required duties of a medical administrative assistant you will soon realize that the job is not an unpleasant one in the least.

Basic Responsibilities

As becoming a medical administrative assistant is your focus, we will first outline the basic duties of a medical administrative assistant before looking at this role in more detail and spending a little time considering some of the other medical assistant positions that are available.

The basic functions of a medical administrative assistant are:

• Keeping and updating all records, whether they are electronic or paper-based, in order to ensure smooth and efficient running of the practice.

• Serving as a book keeper to the physician that they work for, and dealing with the receiving and paying of accounts.

• Adjusting the schedule where necessary when an emergency presents itself.

• Ensuring that all patients that visit the offices or practice of the physician they are employed by fill out all of the relevant forms.

• Greeting clients and patients and directing them on what their next course of action needs to be.

• Scheduling appointments, providing patients and clients with the information they need, and answering the telephone and responding to emails and faxes when necessary.

• Obtaining the required documentation from the patients regarding insurance verification and gaining authorization from their insurance agency, and processing insurance claim documentation when required.

• Arranging appointments for the patient with other services such as with the radiology department.

• Dealing with the front office and taking care of all related responsibilities.

• Assisting patients with things such as hospital admissions by calling on their behalf.

• Dealing with any general or clerical activities that need to be handled in the office of the physician that they work for.

In addition there are a few specific skills you will also need to develop:

• You will need to become knowledgeable of laboratory procedures, skills that can be gained through formal training or while you are on the job.

• You will have to know how to read and understand patient records, and you will have to be prepared to become familiar with the large number of patient records that will pass through your hands on a weekly basis.

• You will have to be able to transcribe. This involves knowledge of medical terminology and ways of speaking.

• You will have to be able to handle medical billing as well as understanding the various codes that are used to categorise things.

Work Environment

Something that you should be aware of in any job is the working environment. The working environment affects your productivity. There are certain aspects of the working environment that will of course differ from job to job, such as the quality of support you get from your employee and colleagues, but there are definitely several aspects of a medical administrative assistant’s working environment that you can be sure will always stay the same regardless of where you choose to work.

The basic working environment of a medical office assistant is one that:

• is clean
• is well lighted
• involves a great deal of interaction with others
• involves the handling of several responsibilities at once
• requires about a 40 hour week (although work can be part time)

Medical Assistants

Medical assistants are basically in charge of keeping the offices of their employer running smoothly. This means engaging in various essential clinical and administrative tasks. These tasks will of course depend on the type and size of institute that you are working for. The larger the institute, the more specialized your role in the structure of the company is likely to be. The smaller the institute the more general your role is likely to be.

Medical Administrative Assistants

There are several duties that an administrative medical assistant may have to perform:

• answering phones, scheduling appointments, greeting patients, dealing with correspondence, dealing with bookkeeping
• fill out insurance forms
• keep records up to date
• arrange admissions and services

Clinical Medical Assistants

The basis duties of clinical medical assistants are:

• Keeping things clean and tidy
• Taking medical histories
• Keeping the necessary supplies and equipment in stock
• Observing and record vital signs
• Preparing examining rooms
• Explaining the various procedures to patients
• Performing basic medical duties, such as changing dressings, authorizing refills, and drawing blood (if directed to do so by a physician)
• Preparing patients for examinations
• Dealing with laboratory work
• Assisting physicians during examinations

Specialized Medical Assistants

Specialized assistants will work in a specific filed, such as optometry, and will therefore have additional duties on top of those already specified.

Becoming A Medical Administrative Assistant

There are several training options available for medical assistants. You could, for example, be trained on the job, or you could complete one of the one-to-two year medical assistant programs that are available.

Something that you may be interested to know is that there are technically no formal requirements for becoming a medical administrative assistant.

If you want to become a medical administrative assistant, there is, however, a certain amount of training that may be beneficial for you to undergo (although it must be reiterated that it is not required).

Being an accredited medical office assistant will of course open your options a little wider. Usually these programs can be completed at a community or junior college, a vocational-technical high school, or a post secondary vocational school.

The skills that you will gather include:

• Practical experience in similar environments to those in which you will work once qualified.

• Courses in anatomy, medical terminology, and physiology.

• Knowledge about how to diagnose a patient, how to administer medication, basic first aid, procedures used in a laboratory, and pharmaceutical principles.

• Basic information regarding ethics, office etiquette and protocol, how to relate to patients and the laws governing the medical field.

• Basic courses in transcription, accounting, and other basic administrative duties.

However, many assistants are trained on the job. Other things that may be beneficial to you include:

• High school subjects: bookkeeping, mathematics, biology, health, computers, office skills, and keyboarding.
• Volunteer work in health care.

You will also need to:

• be neat
• be a good people person
• able to abide by rules of confidentiality
• have good motor coordination
• have good vision

In some cases you will be allowed to do more advanced work if you have been trained appropriately.

Becoming a medical administrative assistance will open up your possibilities as you will be able to advance to other careers through further medical assistant training.

Employment Opportunities For Medical Administrative Assistants

You will be relieved to hear that the medical administrative assistant industry is growing very quickly, and in fact falls into the fastest growing occupations category. This means that should you decide to become a medical office assistant, you will not find yourself lacking a job.

The places where you may be employed are:

• Outpatient care centers
• Nursing homes
• Residential care facilities
• Physicians’ offices
• Private hospitals
• Public hospitals
• Other health care offices (e.g. chiropractors’ offices)

There are several specific fields that you may qualify for as a medical administrative assistant. These are:

• Medical Records Clerk
• Health Information Specialist
• Medical Coder
• Coding Technician
• Insurance Claims Analyst
• Coding Specialist
• Medical Billings Specialist

What Does The Future Look Like For Medical Administrative Assistants?

As has been mentioned previously, the future for medical assistants looks very bright indeed. There are many job opportunities in this line of work, and it is a fast growing profession. Of course, it will be easier if you have the above-mentioned training, but you should be able to find work fairly easily even if your plan is to train on the job. Generally speaking there is a constantly increasing demand for health care workers in all professions. This is due to the increase in prevalence of certain diseases as well as the advancements in medical technology. This means further job growth for the medical industry. If you are looking to get into an industry where there is a lot of room for growth and where you will be comfortable and secure, than becoming a medical administrative assistant is definitely a wise choice to consider for you.

What Does A Medical Administrative Assistant Earn?

Another important thing to consider when looking for a career is the reimbursement. Money isn’t everything, but it is a practical consideration that you absolutely have to give some thought to. Pay for a medical administrative assistant can vary from $25,240 (usually working in offices of health practitioners such as optometrists and so on) to $29,720 (usually in hospitals). Those who work in the educational arena, in the offices of physicians and in outpatient care centers receive between about $28,570 and $28,820.

The arguments in favor of becoming a medical administrative assistant are very strong indeed. In fact, if you are trying to find a job and think that you have what it takes to fulfill this demanding position, then this is the occupation for you. You will soon realize that becoming a medical administrative assistant is the best decision you can make.

The post How To Become A Medical Administrative Assistant appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Due to people living longer there is more need for ongoing medical care. This means that more medical personnel are required but there are not enough physicians to go around and even with all the colleges there will never be sufficient graduates to fill the need. A medical assistant job fills the need for an assistant who can take over some of the more mundane and basic tasks and free the physician to do the real medical work.

What Is A Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who makes sure that the needs of the patient are met. Certified medical assistant jobs came about when Physicians realized that they would never be able to get through all their patients and give them the personal attention that they deserve if they had to do everything themselves. A medical assistant does many of the tasks that a doctor used to undertake, such as taking the patient’s medical history, monitoring patients vital signs, taking blood samples, and various administrative tasks regarding the patients.

Those in medical assistant jobs are trained in both clinical and administrative procedures and can work in any healthcare facility. They undergo pharmacology, medical law, health sciences, patient care, laboratory procedures, and various other training which enables them to perform a host of diverse duties.

Who Does Medical Assistant Jobs?

The personal characteristics of medical assistants are very important as a medical assistant job not only requires good training, but also certain characteristics such as good teamwork and flexibility amongst others.

People who are looking to do a medical assistant job should:

• Be able to listen actively.
• Speak distinctly so that patients understand what is being told to them.
• Be perceptive to the actions of patients.
• Possess excellent writing skills and reading comprehension.
• Be capable of critical thinking and logical reasoning.
• Be empathetic towards patients.
• Be flexible and able to jump form one role to another without any problems.
• Have good administrative skills and a good telephone manner.
• Respect the confidential nature of medical information.
• Have a certain amount of manual dexterity and visual acuity.

Medical assistant jobs are well-suited to those who have an interest in the medical field. Those who have experience as a License Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse, or Medical Technologist and those who have medical administrative experience find certified medical assistant jobs enjoyable.

Education & Training For Medical Assistant Jobs

Whilst formal training in any field is preferable, it is not required for a medical assistant job. Medical assistant training can either be done on the job or via a course at a college or online. A certificate or diploma course is usually about 12 months long and an associate degree course will take you two years.

Those who do on-the-job training for a medical assistant job only need a high school diploma or equivalent, although it is recommended that their school subjects include bookkeeping, computers, mathematics, health, office skills and biology.

Individuals who got to college to do a course which will enable them to get certified medical assistant jobs will cover recordkeeping, accounting, keyboarding, insurance processing, transcription, physiology, medical terminology, and anatomy. They will also learn pharmaceutical principles, first aid, clinical and diagnostic procedures, and the administration of medications, pharmaceutical principles and laboratory techniques. On the administrative side they will study medical law and ethics, patient relations and office practices.

How Does One Become A Certified Medical Assistant?

The American Medical Technologists Board is an agency which regulates and awards certification to medical assistants. They also regulate the standards that are required for certification.

In order to become a certified medical assistant one must:

• Be a recent graduate of either a one-year medical assistant certificate or diploma program, or a two-year medical assistant associate’s degree at an institution which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

• Have a minimum of 5 years experience in a medical assistant job.

• Complete an exam which is administered by the American Medical Technologists Board.

• Those who have passed a generalist medical assistant certification exam from another medical assisting certification body which is approved by the AMT, have been working in a medical assistant job for 3 out of the past 5 years and have met all other AMT requirements need not complete his examination to be certified.

What Types Of Jobs Can Medical Assistants Perform?

Medical Assistants can perform a diverse range of duties and their jobs differ slightly depending on where they work. Although the administrative duties of medical assistants is pretty much the same no matter what type of healthcare facility they work in, the clinical side of things can be quite different.

Once qualified one can choose to apply for a medical assistant job at any of the following businesses:

• Clinics
• Emergency Service Organisations
• Home Health Agencies
• Hospitals
• Insurance Providers
• Medical Offices
• Medical Supply Businesses
• Nursing Homes
• Outpatient Surgical Centers
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Rehab Clinics
• Specialty Offices (e.g. Podiatry, Chiropractic, Ophthalmology)
• Urgent Care Centers

The above are just some of the various healthcare institutions which require the services of medical assistants. Most schools have an understanding with various employers and will be able to recommend you to some once you have qualified. Some graduates choose to work more on the administrative side of medical assistant jobs and others prefer to specialize in a certain field such cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology or anaesthetics.

Spread Of Certified Medical Assistant Jobs In The US According To The U.S. Department Of Labor

As you can see, there are medical assistant jobs in many fields and a wide variety of institutions, and it is up to you to decide where you would prefer to work.

Medical Assistant Job Description

Certified medical assistant jobs attract people who love helping others and have an interest in one or other medical field. Because the program is a relatively short one and is a very affordable program, it attracts both men and women. A medical assistant job entails working closely with doctors and patients and sometimes a team of healthcare professionals.

The medical assistant duties will depend largely on the type of and size of office in which they work. In a larger institution where there is a team of healthcare workers the work could be more specialized, either on the administrative side or on the clinical side. In a smaller business, such as a physiotherapist’s office or a dentist’s office there would probably be quite a mix of administrative and clinical duties.

A medical assistant job for an optometrist would probably also include the sales side of the business, as in helping patients choose the best frames, selling sunglasses and contact lenses as well as other eye-care paraphernalia such as contact lens cleaners, spectacles cases etc.

Certified medical assistant jobs can be very rewarding and consist of various administrative and clinical tasks:

Administrative Duties

• Managing the front desk and reception area and managing the telephones.
• Scheduling appointments for patients.
• Keeping the waiting area and examination rooms neat and clean.
• Disposal of contaminated supplies.
• Controlling inventory in conjunction with the doctor.
• Taking down medical histories from patients.
• Updating and filing of patient medical records.
• Medical billing and claims and insurance requirements.
• Keeping track of the business accounts and some basic bookkeeping.
• Phone in repeat prescriptions on instruction of the physician.

Clinical Duties

• Taking patient’s vital signs.
• Assisting in the general assessment of a patient’s medical condition.
• Taking care of operative and medical equipment.
• Preparing medical rooms and equipment for use.
• Explaining treatment procedures to the patients and assuring them that all will go well with their procedures.
• Preparing, positioning and draping patients for examinations.
• Assisting the physician in whatever procedures they deem suitable.
• Taking a patient’s blood pressure, performing an electrocardiogram on a patient, removing sutures and various other medical procedures.
• Laboratory work.
• You may also be required by the doctor to prepare and administer medications.
• You will be required to sterilize and wrap medical instruments.
• Drawing blood, and taking throat and wound swabs for cultures.

All of these tasks mean that one needs to be proficient on a computer, although each business will teach you their own system. You will be taught most of the skills required for a medical assistant job on whichever training program you decide to take.

Medical Assistant Job Prospects

Certified medical assistant jobs are plentiful and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant jobs are set to grow exponentially in the forthcoming years. Due to people living longer and the surge of physicians opening practices, the need for medical assistants will grow by approximately 34% in the next five or so years.

In 2008 there were approximately 483,600 medical assistant jobs, and the projection is that this will grow to 647,500 by the year 2018. The figure may be even higher than that by that stage as more and more medical discoveries and technological advances are made every year.

Medical assistant jobs are available in a variety of institutions such as hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, nursing homes, emergency care centers, outpatient departments and home health agencies. There are also positions available in training facilities for medical assistants with many years of experience.

Medical Assistant Salary

Salaries for certified medical assistant jobs differ greatly depending on the geographic location and the type of business. According to the BLS report, salaries for medical assistant jobs in the same field in various states can range between $27,370 and $32,760.

The industry in which a medical assistant works also influences the salary of the medical assistant job significantly. This is so because of the different tasks that are embodied in the various disciplines, and annual salaries can range from $34,080 to $39,220.

Although some feel that the medical assistant salary rate could be higher, there are other factors which should be taken into consideration such as job security, medical aid, pension, bonuses and overtime pay. With so many people living to a riper old age and the use of preventative medicine being more popular there should be no problem with job security.

Certification – Is It Necessary?

Getting certified is not a requirement for medical assistant jobs, either by law or employers, although some employers may require you to be certified. There are two forms of certification, Certified Medical Assistant, which is awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants and Registered Medical Assistant which is awarded by the American Registry of Medical Assistants.

CMA Certification

• Can be done directly after graduation.
• Certification is done via an exam.
• In order to take the CMA exam you must attend a medical assistant program which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

RMA Certification

• No further examination is required for registration.
• Registration can only be done once you have been working as a medical assistant for 5 years.

Both RMA and CMA are nationally recognized certifications, and although registration and certification is not required, there are definite advantages of getting certified as a medical assistant. Certification will definitely increase your employability as it gives credence to your qualification. Going to the trouble of getting certified when it is not legally required shows dedication and commitment, which are both qualities that are called for in medical assistant jobs. Employers will definitely choose a medical assistant who is certified over one who is not, as the medical assistant certification is a guarantee that the person graduated from an accredited school which means they received top class training.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Medical Assistant Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Your medical assistant cover letter has to be unique, stand out from the rest if you have any chance of being chosen for an interview. You need to grab the attention of the person reading the cover letter from the very first sentence.

A medical assistant cover letter can either help you get your foot in the door, so to speak, or cause you to be put on the pile of ‘unsuccessful applicants’.

Tips For Writing A Medical Assistant Cover Letter

Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing your medical assistant cover letter:

• The letter needs to sell you
  Think of how a new product is introduced to prospective consumers. You have to sell yourself in the same way, therefore highlighting all the benefits you have to offer the company, as well as introducing them to all your achievements.

• Writing in a professional but straightforward manner
  Even though the cover letter has to be of professional quality you need to keep it straightforward. In other words, write the medical assistant cover letter in the same manner as you would speak. Don’t get carried away with using big words that you will not normally use during a conversation. The only thing you need to bring across is your enthusiasm for the position and what you have to offer the company.

• Write from a reader’s perspective
  Basically what I am asking of you here is to write the letter in a way that you, if you were the reader, will enjoy reading. Each sentence has to start off with a power word. You don’t want the reader to get bored with the cover letter. If your medical assistant cover letter doesn’t grab his attention you have no chance of him continuing on and reading your resume.

• Focus on a couple of strong points
  The biggest mistake most people make is basically repeating what is already said in the resume in the cover letter for medical assistant. Decide which points are most relevant to the position you are applying for and focus on those in the cover letter. Give the reader just enough information in the cover letter leaving him wanting to know more and therefore reading your resume instead of just glancing over it.

• Ask for an interview
  Go for what you really want and if this position is what you want then end your cover letter with telling the reader that you will be contacting him within the next couple of days to arrange for an interview. The main goal for you applying for this specific position is to get an interview so don’t hold back.

What Do You Do If You Have No Experience?

What type of medical assistant cover letter would you have to write if you have no experience? Here are a few tips on how to write your cover letter when applying for a medical assistant position.

The opening paragraph of the medical assistant cover letter should be no longer than two or three sentences. What the reader needs to see in this paragraph is why you are applying for this position; maybe you are good with people or interested in helping others and also where you heard about the position.

With the second paragraph you will highlight all you previous work experience or qualifications that will help you when it comes to being a medical assistant. According to statistics most medical helpers did not have previous medical experience and all learnt on the job. Think of any qualities and abilities you have that is the same as that of a medical assistant. This paragraph has to be intriguing leaving the reader wanting to know more about you.

The third and final paragraph closes the letter and should also be only two or three sentences long. This final paragraph must highlight you interest in discussing this position further in an interview. Provide all your contact details.

Salary Requirements In A Medical Assistant Cover Letter

When you are looking or applying for a new job, you have to prepare yourself that you might have to consider a drop in salary. Unless requested by the company in the medical assistant job description, you would not normally include the salary you wish to receive in your medical assistant cover letter. On the other hand, if you are adamant to include salary requirements in the cover letter there are a few things you have to keep in mind when doing so allowing you to still be tactful while including your salary requirements.

• First you need to do your research to try and establish what salary is offered for this specific position, in this case being a medical assistant. Take into consideration all your education as well as any experience that you might have picked up over the years. Write down and explain why you think the salary requested is reasonable.

• In your closing paragraph of your medical assistant cover letter you will incorporate your salary requirements and tell them what salary range you believe to be acceptable for the specific position you are applying for.

• Do however; make it clear to the reader that you are willing to negotiate as far as the medical assistant salary is concerned.

What exactly is a medical assistant? As the name suggest, you will assist doctors as well as patients whenever it is needed. It is very stressful for a patient to come to hospital and not know where to go or what to do. Doctors and nurses might be extremely busy with their duties and that is where you come in. You will put the patients’ mind at ease helping out where you can, whether it is with documentation or explaining a procedure to the patient as well as the family and so forth.

Here are two samples of Medical assistance cover letters. The one is for an experienced candidate and the other for a candidate with no experience.

The cover letter for an experienced candidate will include things such as your qualifications, any studies you have completed as well as your work history. What did all your duties include when you worked in a medical environment, did you ever assist the doctors at the clinics and so forth. Did you take care of any paperwork, like insurance claims for instance, are you fluent in any other language apart for your home language, personality traits and anything else you feel might be of importance.

Make sure you also include the date on which you will be available to join the company.

The cover letter for a candidate with no experience gives you the opportunity to include all your previous work experience you might have picked up while working in a certain industry. You might have worked in an environment where you had day to day contact with various people allowing you to develop social skills which are something that is required when it comes to being a medical assistant. Mention everything you could think of that will make you the ideal medical assistant. You will need to work a bit harder on your medical assistant cover letter as you will be competing against other prospective medical assistants for this position and they might have had years of experience in this specific field. Make sure, if you are fluent in other languages, to mention it as this always comes in handy if patients speaking a different language comes to hospital allowing you to help and cross the language barrier.

Here is a list of tips which should help you write the perfect medical assistant cover letter:

• Make your opening statement unique, allowing it to stand out from the rest.

• Be careful not to sound desperate for the position, but rather come across as very confident.

• Highlight your skill and personality traits that will be an asset to the company.

• Make sure you do a spelling and grammar check before sending your medical assistant cover letter and resume to the company. I would also suggest having a friend read it first.
• Always be professional.

• Don’t ever include any skills or qualifications that you do not have as you will be caught out if not sooner than later.

There are so many different ways to write a medical assistant cover letter that you have the opportunity to make your medical assistant cover letter special and unique. You want yours to be the one that grabs the attention of the reader and leave him or her eager to read the rest of the cover letter as well as your resume.

It doesn’t matter whether you have any medical assistant training or a history in the medical field or what type of qualifications you have as long as you are willing to learn and have the social skills needed for this position.

Medical Assistant Cover Letter Example:

(Your details in center)
John Smith (Your Name)
15 Lexington Street (Your Address)
Chicago, Illinois, 46311 (Your City, State, Zip Code)
(123) 456-7890 (Your Phone No.)
johnsmith@mail.com (Your Email Address)

January 17, 2012
(Date to the right)

(Employer/Company details on the left)
Ashley Parker, M.D. (Employer Name)
Director (Employer Position)
Medi Clinic (Company Name)
1775 Ballard Rd (Company Address)
Park Ridge, IL 60068 (Company City, State, Zip Code)

Dear Dr. Parker

(Specify the job position and where you saw it)
I am writing in response to the Medical Assistant job position advertised on medicaljobs.com. I truly believe that I am the perfect person for the job as I have strong organization skills, dedication to work, a positive attitude, and I have spent a substantial amount of time performing both clinical and administrative tasks in previous fast-paced medical environments.

(Discuss your qualifications and what you specialize in)
I have 3 years experience in both clinical and administrative tasks,performing routing patient screening, additional technical supportive services, and medical clerical duties.

Apart from this I have substantial experience in other office duties such as answering phone calls, setting up appointments, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence and arranging for hospital admissions, laboratory services, and supervising billing and bookkeeping.

(Add your contact details and when you are available by)
I am available immediately and would appreciate the opportunity to schedule a meeting with you to discuss the position further. Feel free to call me on (123) 456-7890 or email me at johnsmith@mail.com at any time to arrange a date that works for you. Thank you for considering my application and my resume is attached for your review.

Sincerely,

John Smith
(Your full name)

The post How To Set Up A Medical Assistant Cover Letter appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

The medical assistant is a vital link between the physician and patients and physicians are relying on them more and more to shoulder some of the tasks. Medical assistants work very closely with the physician and other healthcare professionals to ensure the smooth running of the office, practise or clinic. This frees up the physician, allowing him/her to concentrate on providing the best medical care to the patient.

There are many institutions offering accredited courses for those who wish to become a medical assistant. The training for a medical assistant is generic, as they perform a combination of administrative and basic medical or clinical tasks. There are two main medical assistant training programs available; a one year certificate or diploma course and a two-year associated degree program. Approximately 62% of medical assistants hold a diploma or certificate in medical assisting and around 43% have an associate degree in medical assisting.

Medical Assistant Training

Medical assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks, and as such need to cover quite s few different subjects during their studies to ensure that they are well-trained and can perform optimally on the job.

The typical Medical Assistant Program will cover:

• Electrocardiography and Cardiopulmonary
• Ethics, Medical Law and Psychology
• First Aid, Digestive System, and Nutrition,
• Hands-on Training
• Internship
• Laboratory Procedures
• Patient Care and Communication
• Pharmacology
• Reproduction and Endocrinology

Attributes Of A Good Medical Assistant

As a medical assistant you will need to not only have good training but also many personal character attributes in order to discharge your duties to the best of your ability.

These Attributes Include:

• Being an active listener
• Being an excellent communicator and able to speak distinctly, as patients will have to be able to understand any information and/or instructions that you give them regarding treatment.
• You will need excellent writing skills on top of good reading comprehension.
• Logical reasoning and critical thinking are vital to this career.
• The ability to be empathetic to patients without allowing yourself to be emotionally affected by their plight.
• Flexibility and the ability to switch from administrative tasks to clinical tasks without a pause.
• Having a healthy regard and respect for the confidential nature of the work.
• Good administrative skills.
• A certain amount of visual acuity and physical dexterity.

The Certified Medical Assistant salary in the US in 2011 is showing a sharp upward curve and is currently around $29,000 to 32,000 per annum. This is a generalized figure, as the salary for medical assistant posts differs from state to state and from institution to institution. How much you earn also depends on how many years experience you have as a medical assistant, and which specialties you have.

Medical Assistant Salary

The American Association of Medical Assistants conducted a salary survey in which in excess of 3,800 medical assistants were interviewed about their salaries. This included the clinical medical assistant salary, the medical assistant hourly salary, and the Certified Medical Assistant salary in various states and across different sectors of the healthcare sphere.

A random sampling of more than 20,000 medical assistants was asked to complete the survey questionnaire and 3,898 responses were received. The large number of respondents assures statistical reliability and a very small margin of error. The upshot of this survey is that becoming a medical assistant is an excellent choice as the salary for medical assistant is quite good for the amount of training that is done, and it is growing more year on year as more medical assistants are needed in various healthcare facilities.

Average Medical Assistant Hourly Salary

The survey shows that more than 95% of all full-time medical assistants earn an hourly salary. The average hourly salary differs according to years of experience.

Average Annual Medical Assistant salary

The annual salary for full-time assistants also differs according to how many years experience the medical assistant has under the belt.

Apart from the number of years that one has worked as a Medical Assistant, the salary also depends on whether one has an American Association of Medical Assistants Certification or not. Although Registration or Certification is not required by law, many employers are definitely giving preference to employing those who have passed the AAMA CMA examination and have the right to call themselves Certified Medical Assistants.

The Certified medical assistant salary for full-time medical assistants is also higher on average than the medical assistant salary for those who are not certified. AAMA Certification is discussed a bit further down.

Average Hourly Certified Medical Assistant Salary

The demand for medical assistants to get certified has a lot to do with the fact that there are many online colleges whose curriculum and short medical assistant programs do not fulfill the needs of the physician. Although there is no set legal curriculum for medical assistant training, it is better to do your course through an accredited institution.

How To Become A Certified Medical Assistant

• Attending a medical assistant school which is accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools will enable you to sit for the AAMA Certification Exam.

• You can also apply to sit for the AAMA Certification Exam if you have been working as a medical assistant for longer than five years.

• This certification, unlike registration, can be done as soon as you graduate and it is recommended that you do so in order to improve your chances of employment and the improved Certified Medical Assistant salary.

Another possible reason for the increased demand for certification from the physician’s side is the pressure of a potential malpractice suit and certification mandates placed on employers in the healthcare field by managed care organisations. The AAMA Certification assures the employer that you did complete a course which was accredited and therefore did do all the necessary basics required for you to be an excellent medical assistant.

Average Annual And Hourly Medical Assistant Salary Per Geographic Region

Another factor which has a huge impact on a medical assistant salary, whether it is an hourly or annual salary, is the geographical area in which you work. Salaries differ greatly from state to state, as was made very clear from the results of the AAMA Survey.

The Pacific region leads the charge at fairly high average earnings of $16.85 hourly and $32,240 annually. The West North Central region pays the second-best hourly rate at an average of $15.53 per hour. The Middle Atlantic region comes in second for annual medical assistant salary at an average of $30,256.

The following table shows the medical assistant hourly salary and annual salary, including number of years of service, for various geographical regions:

Medical Assistant Workplaces

Medical assistants are an integral part of any healthcare team and work in various institutions. Some medical assistants focus on administrative duties and others do more on the clinical side.

Some of the places where Medical Assistants are employed:

• Clinics
• Home Health Agencies
• Hospice
• Hospitals
• Insurance Providers
• Medical offices
• Medical Supply Businesses
• Nursing Homes
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Urgent Care Centres

Medical Assistant Salary – Specialty Practice

Medical assistants work in various fields, some in small practises, some in nursing homes and others in public or privates hospitals, amongst others. According to the survey more than 52% of medical assistants work in a specialty practice which has an average of nineteen employees and around 44% of medical assistants are employed in a multi-specialty office which has an average of forty-seven employees.

The biggest employer of medical assistants is physicians, accounting for employment of more than 87% of the respondents to the AAMA survey. The amount of Medical Assistants working in emergency services, outpatient hospital departments and other healthcare facilities such as inpatient hospital care, home and hospice care, ambulatory surgery, nursing homes, and residential care is unknown at this stage.

Average Annual And Hourly Medical Assistant Salary Per Work Setting

The Clinical Medical Assistant salary also depends a lot on which specialties are practised by the medical assistant. According to the AAMA survey, approximately 59% of the Medical Assistants surveyed work in a Primary Care Practice or Office, 25% in practices which have surgical or medical specialties and 16% which fall under the “other” category

Average Annual And Hourly Medical Assistant Salary Per Practice Specialty

According to a report filed by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, geographical location is a huge variable in the salary for Medical Assistant positions, as is the industry in which a medical assistant works. According the BLS report the annual mean Medical Assistant salary by industry is as follows:

• Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities: $34,180
• Insurance Carriers: $34,080
• Offices of Dentists: $36,880
• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals : $39,220
• Scientific Research and Development Services: $35,550

Medical Assistant Salary – Employment Benefits

One cannot look at the salary for Medical Assistant posts without bearing in mind that the actual hard-cash is only part of the whole package. Apart from the basic medical assistant hourly salary or annual salary there are also many bonuses which form part of the package that is the Certified Medical Assistant salary package. These bonuses can come in the guise of overtime worked, hospital high surplus, achievements in the job, and year-end bonuses.

There are also many added benefits that medical assistants can enjoy as an add-on to the Medical Assistant salary, such a pension, Major medical health insurance, dental cover, vision cover, disability cover, discount prescription cover, basic hospitalization cover, accidental death cover, and professional liability cover. Most full-time medical assistants receive at least some of these benefits from their employers.

Most employers also pay the various an American Association of Medical Assistants expenses for their medical assistants, either in full or partially. This includes AAMA membership fees, AAMA Annual Conference fees and sometimes the employers also pay for travel and lodging expenses for the an American Association of Medical Assistants Annual Conference

Continuous Learning

Most medical assistants thoroughly enjoy their work and find the fact that they are helping both the medical professional and the patient very rewarding. Whether you are looking for part-time work of full-time employment, if you are someone who enjoys working with people, is flexible and enjoys a challenge, this may be the career for you. If you work in a smaller practise or clinic your duties will be more varied and could include administrative tasks such as running the front office, taking down patient histories, and scheduling appointments. You would also have to do some basic medical tasks such as taking vital signs, administering medication, or taking x-rays. In a larger setting you would normally be specializing in just one or two tasks.

One of the great advantages of working as a medical assistant is the opportunity to learn new things and grow as a valuable member of a healthcare team in a professional setting. One of the best ways to learn is to work alongside a professional and be mentored by them; it is exciting and challenging at the same time. This also allows you to experience and learn talents which you may never have thought of until you were put into the situation where they are needed.

Medical techniques, technologies and methods are changing in really innovative ways virtually daily, and by working as a medical assistant you are at the forefront of this all and will continuously be learning new things. Most medical assistants will also normally take part in medical seminars, workshops and meetings which will expand your knowledge even further. You will also learn how to perform new procedures using the latest technological innovations.

Taking all of the above into consideration, you will see that although it is obviously important that we earn sufficient to live comfortably, the medical assistant salary that is offered is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to choosing a career as a medical assistant. All of the benefits that make up the salary for medical assistant positions, the great working environment, the fact that you will be making a difference in people’s lives and the enjoyment of a challenging and never-boring career also carry a great deal of weight.

The post Facts About A Medical Assistant Salary appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

From this we can gather that a physician assistant has more freedom and a higher degree of training than a medical assistant and are therefore allowed to perform more advanced procedures.

Overview

Medical Assistant

There are a number of differences to note in the medical assistant vs physician assistant debate. The following overall figures have been noted for medical assistants:

• The median pay is about $28,860 per year and $13.87 per hour
• The entry-level education required is a high school diploma or equivalent
• You do not need any work experience in a related occupation
• You will receive moderate-term on-the-job training
• There were 527,600 jobs for medical assistants in the year 2010
• The job outlook for 2010 to 2020 is 31% which is much faster than average
• The expected employment change from 2010 to 2020 is 162,900

Physician Assistant

• The median pay is about $86,410 per year and $41.54 per hour
• The entry-level education required is a master’s degree
• You do not need any work experience in a related occupation
• You will receive no on-the-job training
• There were 83,600 jobs for physician assistants in the year 2010
• The job outlook for 2010 to 2020 is 30% which is much faster than average
• The expected employment change from 2010 to 2020 is 24,700

Because of their higher level of education, physician assistants tend to earn more. However, although the industry is growing at a similar rate, there are fewer jobs for physician assistants.

Job Duties

Medical Assistant

Medical assistants have a number of duties to perform on a daily basis. Firstly they are responsible for taking patient histories and measuring their vital signs. IN addition to his they help the physician with patient examinations, give patient injections as directed by the physician, schedule patient appointments, and prepare blood for laboratory tests. All of these activities are closely monitored by the physician in charge. There are several different kinds of medical assistants:

• Administrative medical assistants
• Clinical medical assistants
• Ophthalmic medical assistants and optometric assistants
• Podiatric medical assistants

Physician Assistant

The list of duties that a physician assistant must perform is much longer. Although they work under the supervision of a physician or surgeon, their tasks are far more complex. They do not simply take, but also review patients’ medical histories and they themselves do physical exams to check patients’ health rather than simply assisting the physician. As opposed to medical assistants, physician assistants can order and interpret diagnostic tests and they can make preliminary diagnoses concerning a patient’s injury or illness for later verification by the doctor. Physician assistants are physically allowed to provide treatment to patients, something that is well outside the scope of practice of a medical assistant. Physician assistants often play a meaningful role in counseling patients and their families and are allowed to prescribe medicine, when needed. They can also record a patient’s progress and complete insurance paperwork. In line with their advanced level of education and higher salary, physician assistants perform more and more complex tasks than medical assistants.

Work Environment

Medical Assistant

Most medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, which means that they tend t work regular office hours in a pleasant environment. However in some cases medical assistants will work evenings and weekends in order to cover a heavy workload.

Physician Assistant

Physician’s assistants on the other hand work in a variety of different settings:

• Offices of physicians = 54%
• Hospitals; state, local, and private = 24%
• Outpatient care centers = 9%
• Government = 4%
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private = 3%

They work in operating rooms from time to time and are on their feet constantly. In general, physician assistants have a more intense work environment to cope with than medical assistants.

How To Become A Medical Assistant/Physician Assistant

Medical Assistant

To be a medical assistant you should consider taking the following courses in high school:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy

Medical assistants typically have a high school diploma or equivalent. Most states have no formal education requirements for medical assistants, but there are formal training options available. By getting formal training you will be more marketable when you look for a job. Training can usually be completed at community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, or universities and takes about 1 year to finish. Some states may require that you complete a program as a compulsory requirement before you can become a medical assistant. Often training is offered on-the-job for this line of work. In this way the physician or another medical assistant in the office can teach you:

• Medical terminology
• The names of the instruments
• How to do daily tasks
• How to interact with patients

Although you don’t have to become certified as a medical assistant you will find that many employers will prefer it if you do. You can receive a number of different certifications, including the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification from the American Medical Technologists, the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) certification from the National Center for Competency Testing, and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification from the National Health career Association. For this line of work you will need:

• Analytical skills
• A detail oriented nature
• Interpersonal skills
• Technical skills

Physician Assistant

The requirements to enter a physician assistant program will depend on the specific program you are applying for, but many programs require you to have:

• A bachelor’s degree
• Some healthcare-related work experience

Programs of this kind take about 2 years to complete and there are 165 accredited programs across the country. It is interesting to note that most of these programs offer master’s degrees, which implies that you will need to have achieved a bachelor’s degree before applying. You will receive classroom and laboratory instruction in:

• Pathology
• Human anatomy
• Physiology
• Clinical medicine
• Physical diagnosis
• Medical ethics
• Supervised clinical training in family medicine
• Supervised clinical training in internal medicine
• Supervised clinical training in emergency medicine
• Supervised clinical training in pediatrics

According to http://www.bls.gov, the following is true for physician assistants: ‘All states and the District of Columbia require physician assistants to be licensed. To become licensed, they must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). After they pass the exam, they may use the credential “Physician Assistant-Certified.” Physician assistants must take continuing education to keep their license. Every 6 years, they must pass a re-certification exam or complete an alternative program combining learning experience and a take-home exam’.

Salary

Medical Assistant

The salary expectations for medical assistants are as follows:

• Average salary: $28,860 (in May 2010)
• Lowest 10 percent: less than $20,810
• Top 10 percent: more than $40,190

Physician Assistant

• Average salary: $86,410 (in May 2010)
• Lowest 10 percent: less than $57,450,
• Top 10 percent: more than $117,720

The area you work in as a physician assistant also affects your salary:

• Hospitals; state, local, and private = $89,500
• Outpatient care centers = 88,160
• Offices of physicians = 85,340
• Government = 85,170
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private = 80,810

Even at the lower end of the scale, physician assistants earn more than medical assistants, but they have to spend more years studying to get where they are.

Job Outlook

Medical Assistant

There will be a 31% increase n the number of medical assistants employed by 2020, due in large part to the baby boom generation reaching old age and requiring more medical attention. Medical facilities in general are growing, as is the primary care sector where most medical assistants are employed. There is also an increase in the number of tasks that a medical assistant is required to do, making them more useful and employable.

Physician Assistant

The 30% increase we can expect to see here is attributable to the fact that the population is growing and therefore requires more medical professionals to see to its needs. In addition, physician assistants are cheaper than actual physicians but can perform many of the same tasks, making them more sought after.

Although the two jobs may seem similar, on closer examination it soon becomes apparent that there are a number of differences in the medical assistant vs physician assistant and that the two roles are not interchangeable. Although a physician assistant may be able to perform the same tasks as a medical assistant, a medical assistant cannot take the role of a physician assistant for any reason.

The post Medical Assistant vs Physician Assistant appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

This means that there are many jobs available for a military medical assistant in the various branches of the U.S. Military at any given time. The military provides excellent training, and those looking to start somewhere and get trained for free and serve their country at the same time can look to getting some of the best training around today. Individuals can choose to sign on permanently or choose to finish their stint as a military medical assistant to go join the ranks of the civilian medical assistants.

The training, career paths and requirements for a military medical assistant differ from branch to branch of the U.S. Military, but they all do have some requirements in common, such as patience, a scientific mind and empathy. An individual, whether male or female, is required to enlist in order to become a military medical assistant, which means that they must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency, have a excellent command of the English language, a clean criminal record and be between the ages of 17 and 34; if they are under 18 years of age they must have parental consent to enlist.

The Military Medical Assistant In Various Branches Of The U.S. Military

Each branch of the U.S. Military trains slightly different and has different career paths for a military medical assistant according to the particular kind of warfare that they conduct:

The U.S. Army

• The U.S. Army trains enlisted men and women as Health Care Specialists to work alongside doctors and nurses in hospitals, both in bases and on the battlefield, and this means that a health care specialist could find themselves deployed anywhere in the world, from a base nears their home-town to a war zone in Africa.

• Health care specialists in the U.S. Army are required to take Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) sub-tests and must score a total of 95 points.

• The health care specialist is basically the army’s military medical assistant, and some of the main requirements are that they are interested in helping others, have an aptitude for science and algebra, and are good communicators.

• These individuals will receive the normal nine weeks of basic training and then a further 16 weeks of training as a health care specialist.

• A health care specialist can work themselves up through the ranks by receiving promotions and could even become a chief medical non-commissioned officer.

The U.S. Navy

• A military medical assistant in the U.S. Navy is called a Hospital Corpsman, and they provide dental and medical care to sailors and Marines.

• A corpsman also provides a range of services and works in different settings, which means that they could be deployed to a ship, a base onshore, or alongside Marines in a war-zone.

• Hospital Corpsmen also tend to Navy SEALs, and could therefore suddenly find themselves stationed in some remote area alongside Navy SEALs carrying out a clandestine special operations mission.

• Hospital Corpsmen are enlisted service members and as such receive specialized training to enable them to perform their duties to the best of their ability.

• Naval hospital corpsmen do the regular basic training and must take the ASVAB tests and obtain a score of at least 149, made up of a combination of the general science section, the paragraph comprehension section, and the mathematics section.

• Only male hospital corpsmen are deployed into the battle-field with Marines.

The U.S. Air Force

• A military medical assistant in the U.S. Air Force is called a Physician Assistant.

• The U.S. Air Force is the second-smallest of the military branches, and as such is very competitive, which means that enlistees must already be enrolled in a physician assistant program or have already graduated from one.

• A minimum score of 44 is required on the general sciences section of the ASVAB tests.

The U.S. Coast Guard

• The U.S. Coast Guard is the smallest branch of the U.S. military, and as such generally has the least positions available.

• A military medical assistant in the U.S. Coast Guard is called a Physician Assistant.

• Due to the fact that they have so few positions available, the Coast Guard is rather selective in choosing their Medical Assistants.

• A military medical assistant in the Coast Guard must already be qualified as a physician assistant.

• Unlike all of the other branches, the medical assistants in the Coast Guard are commissioned officers.

• Due to the fact that they are already qualified physician assistants, they are offered direct commissions as officers and therefore do not need to go through basic training.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting in general will remain one of the fastest growing occupations over the next ten years, with an expected growth of about 35% over the next six years.

Duties Of A Military Medical Assistant

A military medical assistant may work in clinics, on ships, or in the battlefield, and performs various duties such as assisting in the prevention and treatment of disease and injury. Medical assistants perform many clinical and administrative tasks, depending on where they are stationed. Their primary duties consist of making it easier for the medical doctors and nurses to attend to patients.

A military medical assistant can generally work in either the medical or dental field, and they perform a variety of clinical duties, including:

• Administering preventative care
• Assisting physicians during procedures and exams by giving them necessary tool
• Administering medications and injections
• Changing bandages and removing sutures
• Conducting elementary lab tests like urinalyses
• Correctly disposing of bio-hazardous materials
• Conducting respiratory tests and EKGs
• Drawing blood
• Educating other military personnel on personal hygiene and first aid
• Filling prescriptions
• Informing patients on procedures and treatments
• Informing patients on the proper administration of medication
• Maintaining patient records
• Performing a variety of medical tests
• Providing emergency medical or dental treatment
• Preparing and developing patients’ x-rays
• Preparing lab specimens
• Providing vaccines and medications for patients as indicated by the physician
• Sterilizing and cleaning equipment and instruments
• Serving as emergency medical technicians
• Serving as surgical technicians
• Taking down the medical history and vital signs of patients

A military medical assistant works under direct supervision, and their other duties may include manning the front desk and answering the phones, greeting patients, scheduling patient appointments, arranging for procedures and tests, updating patient information in their files, handling insurance, assisting patients to the examining rooms when necessary, and assisting during examinations.

No college degree is required to work as a military medical assistant, whereas this post traditionally requires an associate degree in civilian life. Many military medical assistants from all branches do follow the career of a medical assistant once they leave the armed forces, and become members of the civilian medical health fraternity. They can quite easily do this by taking advantage of tuition assistance, which means that the Armed Forces will pay for a portion or all of your education while you are doing active duty.

Various branches of the U.S. Military provide enlistees with free medical benefits, free food, free housing, and an annual salary, which allows the enlistees to afford to pay for college courses in the military medical assistant. The post- 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill, the Reserve Education Assistance Program, and the Veterans Education Assistance Program also provide educational assistance for active duty, reserve, and veterans of the Armed Forces, according to the United States’ Department of Veteran Affairs.

Once a military medical assistant has completed training required and obtained a certificate, diploma, associate degree or bachelor’s degree, they can apply to work as a medical assistant in any healthcare facility. Medical assistants are an important member of any healthcare team and are the backbone of any healthcare business, including hospitals and doctors’ offices. As a member of a civilian healthcare team you will be able to make a difference in patients’ lives and enjoy the security of a career that you enjoy and which will be in demand for a long time to come. Once you have completed a formal medical assistant program successfully and obtained your degree you will be eligible to sit for the National Health Association’s (NHA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) certification examination. A certified medical assistant earns in the region of $38,000 per annum.

There are many medical assistant opportunities available, and you will be able to enjoy a fruitful civilian career as a medical assistant if you have enjoyed your time in the armed forces as a military medical assistant.

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There are two qualifying routes for most NCCT certifications, which means that both individuals with qualifying work experience and graduates of approved educational programs can apply. Candidates must meet all eligibility requirements as well as pass an examination based upon skills, knowledge, and abilities required at job entry in order to earn an NCCT credential. NCCT certification testing is designed to validate candidate competence, for the good of the public and the employers that hire them.

The National Center for Competency Testing begins its certification development by soliciting input from employers, practitioners, schools/colleges, organizations, instructors, accrediting bodies, programs, and others before determining which abilities, knowledge, and skills are relevant to the role. This information is used to guide the formation of content outlines and test specifications from which the questions for the examination are prepared. NCCT examinations are administered at test sites across the United States and proctored by autonomous individuals to ensure the security of the test content. Examinee results are also continuously monitored, and all of these restrictions and checks and balances serve to ensure that NCCT tests are valid for the purpose for which they are intended.

NCCT does not offer lifetime certification to applicants who pass a single exam as many other certifying agencies do, instead they require that their certificants clock a minimum of 14 hours of approved continuing education annually in order that they update their knowledge and retain their active certification status.

What Is A Competency Testing Organization?

A competency testing organization like the National Center for Competency Testing is an organization whose mission it is to help individuals to demonstrate competency, and are also often referred to as credentialing or certifying agencies. Some of these agencies started off with roots in founding organizations, such as the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), which gave birth to the Board of Registry (BOR), which now operates independent of its founder. Other agencies are established without a connection to any specific organization, which allows them to offer their services to many, and are known as third-party certifiers. The National Center for Competency Testing is a prime example of an independent, third-party certification agency.

Sometimes the government is involved in this type of process as well, especially when it concerns licensure that is required by state law or statute for specified occupations. Licensure requirements in such states are governed by the laws and regulations of that specific state, which means that individuals who wish to practice a licensed profession in that state, are obliged to meet the standards that have been set for that state and are mandated by law.

In certain circumstances, some states use approved national certification exams for their own licensure purposes. A good example of this is the NCCT national Phlebotomy Technician certification examination, which is one of several certification examinations that are approved for use in the state of California in obtaining the required credentials as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician. The state of California decided, after the new regulations were enacted, that to use existing national certification exams as approved by the state department of Laboratory Field Services was a better idea than expending time and resources developing its own phlebotomy certification examination.

In the main, certification is voluntary for those who hold it. An example of this is the fact that virtually all graduates of four-year college degree programs in either Clinical Laboratory Science (CLS) or Medical Technology (MT) voluntarily sit for the national certification exam of their choice after graduation from college in order to prove to their potential employers that they meet established national standards. Employers have basically come to expect this, although it is not compulsory or required by law, and many make it a condition of hire.

Examination standards are established and reviewed by subject experts who know what the job is and how to define exactly what the practitioner should know and be able to do in any laboratory. Prospective employers are provided with an additional level of confidence in individuals who have passed the National Center for Competency Testing examinations, as they know that this means that no matter where the individual studied, they have been tested against the same minimum standards that other graduates from around the country were expected to meet and found eminently qualified and able to do the job.

Who Usually Undertakes Competency Testing?

Competency testing is undertaken by a variety of professionals who require licensure to practice, such as a doctor who has become additionally certified in specialty areas by performing residencies, fellowships, or has done other additional training. Registered nurses also require licensure to be able to practice, and may also do further studies in order to specialize in various fields.

State licensed cosmetologists often to specialized courses, such as a course to become a colorist, special cutting techniques, or other specialties, and although these specialties are rarely certified nationally, it would be in their best interest to do competency testing and gain certification, as this would give their clients more confidence in using their services.

Some of the entry level credentials that are available for those involved in healthcare are certifications for:

• Insurance and Coding Specialists
• Medical Office Assistants
• Medical Assistants
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Phlebotomy Technicians
• Patient Care Technicians

Requirements For Taking A Competency Examination

In general, reputable credentials are only issued to qualified applicants once they have passed a written examination, although requirements for taking the examination do tend to vary a great deal from test to test and institution to institution.

Some certifying agencies will only test applicants who have graduated from accredited programs of study, whist other institutions of certification are open to testing applicants who have obtained their qualification via other routes, such as by experience. This is welcomed by those individuals who have been performing the required tasks for years but do not have a formal qualification, as it means that they can get certified as being competent and can thereby further their careers. The National Center for Competency Testing is one of the former, as they test both individuals with qualifying work experience and graduates of approved educational programs.

Once an individual has been certified as being competent, there are various methods of maintaining that competence, such as proficiency testing, continuing education, and participation in quality assurance. This is important to both prospective employers and clients, as they can always tell whether an individual is competent or not and whether they have kept up with the most modern ways of doing things and the ability to use more modern technical equipment.

Competent professionals are proud to continually test their competency and continue with their education, as becoming professionally certified carries huge advantages in establishing one’s professional identity and in practicing by a code of ethics.

Employers take note of applicants who have been certified as well as of individual staff members who get certified and maintain their certification by taking part in ongoing education, as this not only demonstrates the capabilities, but also their dedication to their profession and their willingness to remain current and constantly improve their knowledge and capabilities.

Clients or consumers place great stock in professionals who have gained certification as this proves that the practitioner is qualified to do what they claim they can do, which instils the customer or client with a sense of confidence in the practitioner and gives them peace of mind which helps them to relax, which ultimately helps their healing process.

What Is The Value Of Competency Testing?

Being certified by the National Center for Competency Testing means that you have been found competent to perform the role for which you were tested. It will help you to obtain employment ahead of other people who have not been tested, as the certification proves to prospective employers that you have passed stringent tests that prove your competency in your field of expertise. Maintaining your certification year after year means that you have remained competent and are up to date with all of the current knowledge and are committed to continuing education, which will be noted by prospective employers and count in your favour when looking to obtain employment or even a promotion in a current position.

Employers and accreditors know and recognize the National Center for Competency Testing certification as being an established and recognized credentialing body that has high standards and will not certify anyone who has not meet their strict standards. This will prove to them that you are serious about your career and are proud to wear the professional designation that the certification gives you behind your name, and that you continue to do whatever it takes to remain successful and provide the best service possible.

What Are Competency, Certification And Credentials?

Although the terms competency, certification, and credentials are often interchanged, they actually have slightly different meanings:

• Competency refers to the ability, expertise and fundamental knowledge as defined for a specific subject area or skill set.

• Certification is strictly defined as a voluntary credentialing process, which is generally national in scope and is sponsored by a non-governmental, private-sector entity.

• Credentials refer both to the competencies as well as the letter designations which one adds behind one’s name once one has earned a degree, licensing or certification.

These definitions are generally used by employers to ascertain whether applicants have the necessary qualifications and experience as required for the job for which they are applying. The problem for employers comes in when they have candidates from various parts of the country who have the same qualification, for example an academic postsecondary degree, but who were trained in a completely different manner. This leaves the prospective employer with the dilemma as to which candidate would better suit the position, even if they both have excellent references.

This is where the credentials of a national certifying organization such as the National Center for Competency Testing play an important role, as certification by an independent national body attests to the fact that the individual meets pre-determined national standards.

Additional Services Offered

Apart from the competency testing, the NCCT also offer other services such as their great customer service, and they maintain a small company service for their customers, and also offer continuing education and specialty courses, patches, practice tests, incentive pins, review books, medical supplies, and a variety of other services offered only to approved schools, as described on the school products and services section of the website.

Shorter Tests

NCCT has reduced the number of questions in some of its certification exams, particularly the longer exams since the beginning of 2010 on the advice of its psychometricians, who advised this step in order to minimize examinee fatigue. This means that examinations will typically consist of between 10% and 20% fewer questions than they did previously. The item proportions in exam categories will, however, remain the same.

Retest Policy

The National Center for Competency Testing has a new 30 Day Retest Policy, whereby students who fail their certification examination can retest after 30 days.

Why Should I Use NCCT?

The National Center for Competency Testing is an established, recognized independent third-party certification agency that has tested in excess of 300,000 individuals in the United States since 1989. NCCT hosts multiple certification exams and brings in Proctors to administer the exams in schools, which makes the certification testing easy for students.

The National Center for Competency Testing is a member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence.

NCCT has an excellent website where you can find out more, or they can be contacted by e-mail or by phoning 800-875-4404 for further information.

Other Important Details are:

The National Center for Competency Testing
7007 College Blvd Suite 385 Overland Park KS 66211
Phone: 800.875.4404 Fax: 913.498.1243
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:30am to 7:00pm Central Standard Time
Saturday 9:00am to 3:00pm Central Standard Time

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What Is A Home Care Assistant/Aide?

A home care assistant/aide is someone who works with elderly and disabled (mentally and physically) patients in order to ensure that they are able to function on a day to day basis. The main purpose of this line of work is to provide a service to these patient populations that will allow them to continue living in their own homes with assistance. The idea is that the home care assistant/aide will help the patient regain some form of independence. The assistant or aide will provide those services that family members are, for some reason, unable to provide. As an entry level position in the healthcare industry, your tasks will be basic. In this line of work you may find employment in the following areas:

• Patient homes
• Hospice clinics
• Day programs
• Assisted living facilities,
• Other medical facilities

Another role of a home care assistant/aide is to organize transport when necessary for their patients when those patients are required to go to an event or appointment of some description. In short an assistant of this kind makes life easier for a patient experiencing difficulties.

What Does A Home Care Assistant/Aide Do?

A home care assistant/aide is in charge of assisting patients with basic tasks in:

• The patient’s home, or
• A residential care facility

There are a number of duties that a home care assistant/aide is required to fulfill on a daily basis. For one thing they are in charge of observing the residents or patients in their care and working in shifts to assist the patient in performing daily tasks (such as bathing or dressing). Because the role is a junior one, home care aides/assistants have to report to a Registered Nurse (RN) in cases where they work in a Residential Care Facility. One of the main duties of a carer in this position is to promote the patients independence as much as possible and help them to get back on their feet. Because nutrition is so important, you will also be in charge of documenting food and fluid intake. The last three tasks that you will be in charge of performing are generally keeping the patient’s space tidy and neat, transporting patients when necessary, and turning bedridden patients to avoid the development of bedsores.

Working Conditions

The working hours and working conditions for home care assistants/aides are, general speaking, reasonable. Most full-time aides work about 40 hours a week, which is very similar to what many other healthcare professionals work. Often the job is a Monday to Friday affair with weekends off, something that cannot be said for working in a hospital setting. However because patients often need care 24 hours a day, and because their family members are not always able to take over from you in the evenings or on weekends, some aides work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays in order to ensure that the patient receives constant care. This is less convenient, but very necessary and is characteristic of many jobs in this industry. Often you will work shifts with one or more other aides who will work the times that you have off. Many home care assistants/aides work part time, making it easier to fit into a schedule that may include another job. Aides spend many hours standing and walking, and they often face heavy workloads, so you need to be physically capable of meeting the strenuous demands of the job.

Education Requirements And Training

Technically speaking there are no formal education requirements for being a home care assistant/aide, but there are courses that you can choose to complete which will make your career path easier for you. In these programs you would complete courses in the following subjects (among others):

• Gerontology
• Philosophy of long-term care
• Dementia management strategies
• Promoting independence
• Psychology and personal care

Home healthcare often involves working with elderly patients, hence the need for a focus on gerontology. To get into a program of this kind you will need to have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. You will also, in addition to the theory studies that you will engage in on topics, such as medical terminology, human anatomy, taking vital signs, CPR training, nutrition and patient care techniques, have to complete an internship of some kind to gain hands-on experience. This type of course will make you more marketable as a carer. Your state may require that you obtain licensure before you can be allowed to be a home care assistant/aide, so be sure that you know the rules for your state.

Challenges

There are, it goes without saying, a number of challenges involved in being a home care assistant/aide, but you must not lose sight of the rewards that the job brings. By rewards we mean emotional and spiritual rewards rather than physical compensation. The main challenges that may come up during your training or while you are on the job are the following:

• Language challenges due to neurological damage and speech impairments from a person’s health condition – this will create a necessity for you to develop an alternative pattern of communication with your patient, perhaps based on eye movements or gestures rather than on actual speech; this is very similar to learning a new language and will require a great deal of patience on your part.

• Your shifts could be quite lengthy at times (but you will be compensated accordingly) – this is because patients in this position tend to need 24 hour care.

• You will be unable to do this job if you are physically weak or ill in some way – a clean bill of health from your physician is therefore essential.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this career is extremely good. This is because of:

• The high turnover rate in the profession
• The increase in demand for home healthcare services
• A rise in the elderly population (mainly due to the fact that the baby boom generation has now reached old age)
• An increase in understanding that mentally disabled adults also require home healthcare services

Through 2018 we can expect to see an increase in home care assistant/aide jobs of no less than 50% which is remarkably higher than most other professions. There will, very soon, be large number of job openings in this field, and, as you do not technically speaking need any formal training, you should be able to begin your career immediately (although it must be noted that initially you may find it difficult to seek employment if you do not have any training or experience behind your name). Once you have the all-important first job you will be well on your way to developing a career in this industry.

Salary

The salary for a home care assistant/aide is not bad at all when you consider the nature of the work that you will do. You can expect to earn about $7.35 – $18.22 in this position with an overall salary of around $15,342 – $37,892 a year. This is according to payscale.com. There are slight variations in the roles that you may perform. In Home Health Care you will probably earn about $7.49 – $15.17 an hour, in the Health Care Services you will probably earn about $7.85 – $14.90 an hour, and in Child Care or/ Day Care you will probably earn about $7.52 – $13.68 an hour. Learn4good.com states that you can expect to earn anything from $15,000 to $30,000 as a home care assistant/aide. The differences in salary here depend on a number of factors including:

• The position you hold
• The location where you are employed
• The qualifications that you have

Experience also affects pay. With a year or less of experience you will earn between $8.09 and $10.08 an hour and with one to four years experience you will earn between $8.11 and $10.37 an hour.

This job can be fairly intensive as it requires you to work long hours. However it is an excellent way to become involved in the health care industry. Because more and more people are interested in being treated on the comfort of their own homes, more and more home care assistant/aide jobs are becoming available for people who are skilled in that area. Consequently it is one of the more stable jobs that you could choose to pursue in this already stable field.

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Job Description

Medical Assistant

The differences in job duties are one of the main points of interest when considering medical assistant vs. medication aide/assistant job roles. There are a number of administrative (such as scheduling appointments for patients and keeping medical records) and clinical tasks (such as giving injections and preparing blood samples for laboratory tests) that a medical assistant can perform. There are also medical assistants who specialize in one particular area of the healthcare industry and are trained at assisting physicians in that particular discipline in their doctor’s offices. The most common specialties for medical assistants in office contexts tend to include the following:

• Ophthalmic medical assistants
• Optometric medical assistants
• Podiatric medical assistants

Medication Aide/Assistant

The primary job role of a medication aide/assistant is to distribute medication across a number of different facilities including the following:

• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Correctional facilities
• Other non-hospital, assisted living facilities for the physically or mentally disabled

These aides are meant to ensure that patients take the correct amount of medication at the correct time and that they adhere to their medication regimes. In addition it is often necessary for a medication aide to ensure that the patient does not experience any severe or adverse effects as a result of taking the medication that has been prescribed to them. Although everything that medications aides do is under supervision, it is necessary that they have an advanced understanding of medications as well as the possible effects that those medications may have on a patient.

Work Environment

Medical Assistant

Most medical assistants work in physician’s offices but there are some that are also employed in other healthcare facilities as well. Generally speaking medical assistants are employed full time. Administrative medical assistants tend to have normal office hour jobs, while those working in other areas of the healthcare field tend to be employed in positions that require shift work. Often, in order to meet a need at your pace of employment, you may be required to work both weekends and evenings. All-in-all, however, the working environment for a medical assistant is very good.

Medication Aide/Assistant

As medication aides and assistants are required to work in any area where medication needs to be distributed and administered, such as nursing homes, schools, correctional facilities, or other non-hospital, assisted living facilities for the physically or mentally disabled, they are in fact employable in a wide variety of different work environments across the country. Each of these work environments may come with a number of pros and cons. For example working in a correctional facility where you will be required to administer drugs to patients who are in fact convicted criminals may be dangerous. On the other hand you can work at a school where children need to have medication administered regularly and where the medical situations you encounter may not be as bad.

How To Become A Medical Assistant Or Medication Aide/Assistant

Medical Assistant

Useful high school courses for becoming a medical assistant are:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Anatomy

There are no formal educational requirements in rode rot become a medical assistant. However many employers prefer to hire medical assistants who have taken the non-compulsory training on offer from community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, or universities. These programs tend to take about 1 year to complete and usually lead to a certificate or diploma. Some community and junior colleges offer 2-year programs that lead to an associate’s degree. On-the-job training is also an option. In addition to training you must become certified through an appropriate body.

Medication Aide/Assistant

Like medical assistants, medication aides do not need formal training. There are, however, a number of prerequisites that are often required in most states, as well as non-compulsory education options that you could choose to enroll in:

• You must 18 years old
• You must have a high school diploma
• You may have to take introductory courses in anatomy, microbiology, pharmacology, and physiology at a trade school
• You may have to complete a certification exam from your state or region
• You may need to have additional training as a nursing assistant

To a large degree you will be trained on the job and supervised at all times by a medical professional.

Job Outlook

Medical Assistant

The job outlook for medical assistants is very good as there is an expected increase of 31 percent from 2010 to 2020. This is noticeably higher than the expected increases for most other industries. The reason for this is that the baby boom generation has reached maturity, and this has spiked an increase in interest in preventative medical measures. These measures are often provided by physicians in their own offices. An increased case load for physicians means an increased number of number openings for medical assistants who aide these physicians. Medical assistants may, in some cases, also begin replacing nurses due to the fact that you can pay a medical assistant far less than you can pay a nurse.

Medication Aide/Assistant

Like medical assistants, medication aides are often required to take over some of the basic nursing tasks that are encountered in most health care facilities. As they work alongside healthcare professionals in hospitals and other settings they are constantly gaining a wide variety of different skills. This means that many people treat this qualification as a stepping stone to achieving higher status in the healthcare industry. For example it can be easier to enter an accelerated nursing program if you have first worked as a medication aide than if you are fresh out of high school and looking for a career in healthcare.

Salary Differences

Medical Assistant

The hourly rate for a medical assistant is about $9.80 – $16.84 an hour. In most cases you will be eligible to earn about $7.80 – $24.97 an hour for any overtime that you work. In addition you may be eligible for an annual bonus of between $0.00 and $987 a year. Overall your salary will be something in the region of $20,467 – $36,412 a year.

There are a number of employers that pay more than others. The most popular employers are as follows:

• Kaiser Permanente = $11.96 – $25.24
• Family Practice Clinic = $8.11 – $16.11
• Planned Parenthood = $9.79 – $15.61
• Concentra Medical Center Inc = $11.74 – $15.64
• The Medical Group = $10.82 – $16.64

Different industries also pay different rates. Here are the hourly rates of the most popular industries:

• Medical Office = $9.89 – $17.13
• Healthcare = $10.05 – $16.93
• Family Medicine = $9.62 – $16.03
• Health Care Services = $9.90 – $16.50
• Health Clinic = $9.34 – $15.92

The cities which pay the most in this position are Everett in Washington, San Francisco in California, Bellevue in Washington, Seattle in Washington, Boston in Massachusetts, San Jose in California, Olympia in Washington, Torrance in California, Plano in Texas, New York in New York, Tacoma in Washington, Honolulu in Hawaii, Portland in Oregon, Washington in District of Columbia, Hartford in Connecticut, Vancouver in Washington, Worcester in Massachusetts, San Diego in California, Minneapolis in Minnesota, and Sacramento in California.

Medication Aide/Assistant

Medication aides/assistants tend to earn less than medical assistants. The average hourly rate across the country is about $8.61 – $13.15 an hour, while there is the chance of earning overtime rates of about $7.10 – $20.39 an hour. There is the potential for an annual bonus of around $0.00 – $302.01 a year, bringing the overall potential earnings to about $17,943 – $28,462 a year.

Different industries tend to may medication aides/assistants different rates:

• Residential Care / Assisted Living Facility = $8.72 – $13.90
• Nursing Home = $8.69 – $13.95
• Healthcare = $8.65 – $14.02
• Services to the Elderly = $8.28 – $13.52
• Hospital = $8.91 – $14.55

As can be seen here a number of differences emerge when considering medical assistant vs. medication aide/assistant roles within the healthcare industry. If you are looking to break into the healthcare industry by attaining an entry level position, both of these are good options for you. However they both open the door to different career advancement opportunities, so a great deal of consideration needs to go into your choice.

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