Medical Assisting Myths

Medical assistants are the grease that makes the wheel of healthcare run. These professionals take on a wide number of roles and provide valuable support to nurses, doctors, and several other licensed medical professionals. Even though they play a vital role in the administration of health care, there are several myths about the medical assistant profession.

The following will debunk the top 10 myths about being a medical assistant:

1. The Market for Medical Assistants is Declining

Medical Assisting Job GrowthThe aging baby boomer population is helping increase the demand for medical assistants. These professionals will take on an increasing role in healthcare by offering more support to nurses and doctors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are projected to experience job growth of 29% between now and 2022, which is much faster than other professions.

2. Medical Assistants Are the Same as Nurses

Simply put, a medical assistant is not the same as a nurse. Medical assistants are highly-trained and skilled allied health professionals. These professionals act as patient advocates and are relied upon by doctors to provide patient care.

3. Medical Assistants Earn Minimum Wage

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical assistants was $29,370 in May 2012.

4) Medical Assistants Are Simply Paper Pushers

Medical assistants are much more than administrative drones. Instead, these professionals roll up their sleeves and assist doctors and other medical professionals. In a matter of fact, the majority of the time a patient spends in a doctor's office is with a medical assistant. As the doctor's right hand, medical assistants:

  • Assist the physician during the exam
  • Take the vital signs of the patient
  • Prepare the items necessary for the exam
  • Give the patients medication ordered by the physician
  • Apply splints, casts or dressings
  • Collect specimens or draw blood
  • Obtain ECGs
  • Conduct laboratory tests

5. Medical Assistants Do Not Perform Administrative Tasks

Medical assistants are some of the most diverse medical professionals in the industry. One minute they may be hands-on with the patient, then they may perform administrative tasks. Some of the most common administrative tasks performed by medical assistants are:

  • Answering phones
  • Scheduling the patient's outpatient care
  • Keeping patients records up to date
  • Filling out insurance forms
  • Making sure the patient has their prescriptions and understands the instructions
  • Medical coding
  • Arranging and scheduling appointments
  • Coordinating laboratory services and hospital admissions
  • Managing bookkeeping, billing, and correspondence

6. Anyone Can Be a Medical Assistant with OTJ Training

While the educational requirements of a medical assistant can vary from state-to-state, most employers do require some type of post-secondary degree program. The most likely path toward this career is obtaining a two-year associate's degree. These programs teach the students various curriculum, such as clinical procedures, laboratory techniques, record keeping, medical terminology, and even certain specializations.

7. Medical Assistants Only Work Behind the Scenes

Medical assistants are one of the few medical professionals that work behind the scenes and front-and-center in the healthcare field. In addition to performing health care functions, medical assistants are responsible for greeting patients and making sure they feel at ease in the doctor's office. These professionals are also responsible for explaining the physician's instructions.

8. Medical Assistants Only Work in Doctors’ Offices

One of the most exciting aspects of being a medical assistant is diversity. Medical assistants have the opportunity to work in doctors’ offices, and a wide range of other health care settings, such as:

  • Surgical Centers
  • Hospitals
  • Urgent Care Centers
  • Clinics
  • EKG Technicians
  • and More

9. A Medical Assistant is a Stagnant Career Choice

In the quickly growing healthcare field, pursuing a career as a medical assistant opens the door to a wide range of possibilities. Medical assistants often move on to the back office of practices as:

  • Clinical Assistants
  • Office Managers
  • Medical Office Assistant
  • Insurance Coder
  • Medical Biller

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10. It Takes Two Years to Become a Medical Assistant

One of the fastest ways to begin a career as a medical assistant is through ECPI University's College of Health Science, Medical Careers Institute. ECPI University allows students to earn their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Science - Medical Assisting in only 15 months through our year-round program. This accelerated curriculum allows students to take only two classes at a time and earn college credits every five weeks. Best of all, students can take day, night, and/or online classes in the most convenient manner possible. Contact ECPI University’s admissions department TODAY! It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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