Certified Medical Assistant

It may be interesting to note that the medical assistant profession has been around ever since the 1950's, and it continues to have a bright job outlook even today. According to the United States Labor Department, among the fastest growing careers is the medical assistant field. It is also among the leading transitional career of choice for other individuals such as home health aides and certified nurse assistants. A certified medical assistant is a medical practitioner who works alongside physicians and certified healthcare professionals in ensuring that the office runs smoothly and efficiently.

The medical assistant career is very versatile as it can provide you with a wide range of employment opportunities and not just in doctor's offices, hospitals and other medical facilities. Generally, medical assistants work under the direct supervision of a physician, especially when performing clinical duties. Their scope of work is usually determined by the State they are working in, and includes duties such as recording of patient's medical history, taking note of vital signs and providing assistance during routine diagnostic procedures. Some will also be permitted to conduct more complex procedures such as taking X-rays and administering injections, although this will usually require further education or a particular certification.

As for administrative duties, medical assistants are usually involved with the management of patient records, organizing of appointments, basic accounting and bookkeeping, attending to telephone calls, receiving of patients and accomplishing insurance forms. Medical assistants are privileged enough to be employed in well-organized offices, with sufficient ventilation and lighting. They also have a flexible schedule of working either full-time or part-time, and have the choice of working during weekend-shifts, day-shifts or night-shifts. Their job usually requires a decent level of physical fitness, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, manual dexterity, and visual acuity as well.

In order to become a medical assistant, you can either work in the job or receive formal education, although there are wider employment opportunities waiting for those who have undergone an accredited educational program. Individuals can choose to enter in a one-year diploma or certificate program, or a two-year associate’s degree program, with the latter having a more comprehensive scope of education and training. It is here that an individual will be trained in basic laboratory procedures, clinical and diagnostic examinations, first aid and drug administration, as well as pharmaceutical principles. It is important to be certain that the program you are enrolling in is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Getting certified is not usually a requirement, although is highly recommended by the American Association of Medical Assistants as it provides a good indication of competency and proficiency as a medical assistant, as well as opening up more employment opportunities. According to the AAMA, annual salary thresholds for a certified medical assistant can easily go anywhere from $22,000 to more than $30,000. Besides this, benefits like health insurance, paid holidays, sick leave, and 401k retirement plans are not uncommon.