What is the Fastest Way to Become a Medical Assistant?
When patients visit a hospital, they may be more familiar with doctors and nurses. However, medical assistants are the unsung heroes who fuel the daily operations of healthcare facilities. These professionals carry out both administrative and clinical tasks to assist doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals. It is through their hard work that doctors can usually see more patients within a shorter period.
If you enjoy working in healthcare but you don’t think you’re ready for the call of nursing, then the medical assistant field is an excellent option to consider. Medical assistants are in demand because they help maintain quality operations in hospitals, clinics, senior homes, and other healthcare facilities.
Understanding the role of medical assistants
Medical assistants get the best of both worlds. You may be involved in managing patient records and scheduling appointments, after which you may proceed to carrying out tests on patients (such as blood tests, cardiograms, and other lab duties).
Medical assistants wear many different hats within the healthcare environment. This is one of the reasons why demand for medical assistants is at an all-time high. Between 2016 and 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there’ll be a 29% rise in employment for medical assistants.
Demand for quality healthcare continues to rise daily. As baby boomers age, they’re looking to maintain active and healthy lifestyles. Advancements in technology have also made medical treatment more effective. This means that there’s a growing emphasis on preventative care, coupled with better medicines that can treat a wide range of ailments.
Medical assistants are at the forefront of delivering quality care to patients. Some interact directly with sick patients by carrying out tests, while others complete critical administrative duties such as scheduling appointments and handling billing/insurance information.
Duties and responsibilities
Medical assistants are the backbone of any healthcare facility. They ensure that daily operations run smoothly while supporting the work of doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other specialists.
As a medical assistant, you can expect to carry out a combination of clinical and administrative duties that include:
- Maintaining patient medical records
- Carrying out lab tests
- Explaining treatment and medication to patients
- Addressing patient inquiries in person and over the phone
- Handling billing and payment
- Coordinating doctor and nurse schedules
- Preparing rooms for patient treatment
- Communicating prescription information to patients
Depending on your specialization, you may also assist doctors during surgical or general treatment procedures. Medical assistants can specialize in women care, pediatrics, physiotherapy, health/wellness, and much more.
This career path gives you the flexibility of working within the healthcare sector without committing too much preparation time. Indeed, if you don’t have the time or resources to go to medical or nursing school, you can still contribute to the country’s growing healthcare field by becoming a medical assistant.
Skills needed within the medical assisting field
If you have an interest in medical assisting, you may be wondering what it takes to be successful within this field. Most medical assistants have a passion for patient care, strong organization skills, awareness of current technologies, and communication. They can also relate different concepts and find solutions for patients and doctors alike.
If you enjoy learning about healthcare delivery, coordinating activities, and bookkeeping, then you may enjoy a career in medical assisting.
Obtaining a formal education in medical assisting
An associate’s degree in the medical assisting field can help you get started on this career path. The course generally consists of both hands-on and theoretical concepts that apply to delivering patient care. For example, you should learn how to collect specimens, check a patient’s vitals, process invoices, and answer any questions the patient or their family has.
During this applied sciences course, students also could learn about physiology, clinical procedures, anatomy, and other scientific principles that affect the delivery of quality care to patients.
Career opportunities
With a formal education, your career in medical assisting could be bright. You should be able to pursue many different opportunities within the healthcare field, including:
- Physician assistant
- EKG technician
- Lab technologist
- Medical assistant
- Clinical technician
- Phlebotomist
You could also progress within your field to hold a leadership position. For example, many medical assistants eventually become hospital managers, personnel supervisors, and hiring directors, with the right experience and further education.
Are you ready to start your journey?
At ECPI University, we offer an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Science in Medical Assisting program. This course is offered year-round at an accelerated pace. Are you ready to become part of the exciting healthcare industry? Contact one of our friendly admissions counselors today for more information.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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