Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in various healthcare locations. They help greet patients, answer phones, schedule appointments, update records, fill out forms, and more! They are essential in the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities. Learn about the benefits of this in-demand position!
Short Education and Training Period
You can enter the workforce as an accredited medical assistant quickly! Training for a career as a medical assistant is relatively short. You can typically complete an associate’s degree program in two years, or get a diploma from a vocational school in around a year. A degree is not always required to hold a job as a medical assistant; however, it will help your job opportunities and can increase your pay level. It will also help prepare you for the job so that you feel more confident going into it. Certification is not required, but is preferred and can be completed once you graduate.
Choice of Location and Type of Facility
As a medical assistant, you’ll be able to find work in a variety of healthcare facilities, Including hospitals, clinics, general practices, and chiropractor’s offices. You can also find employment in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and many other settings. Medical assistants can also find work all across the country. If you obtain certification it is recognized in all states, unlike some other medical fields, so you won’t have to re-take it if you move.
Build Fulfilling Relationships with Patients
Medical assistants work closely with patients, oftentimes forming close relationships with them. They work closely with patients directing them through appointments, preparing them for exams, taking vitals, and asking screening questions. Interpersonal skills are very important as a medical assistant where you will connect with patients daily, oftentimes helping them relax before their appointment by helping to answer any of their questions.
Opportunities for Career Advancement
As a medical assistant, you’re bound to have many transferable skills for other healthcare careers. Both soft skills such as communication and empathy and hard skills such as drawing blood and performing EKGs are useful in other healthcare positions. Working in a healthcare setting will allow you to hone your medical-related knowledge and skills. With experience, medical assistants can often move into leadership roles, such as a clinic administrator or team lead. If you refine your skills and work hard, you’ll be in a good position to move up to a management or administration position.
Substantial Job Growth
The need for medical assistants is projected to increase by 19% according to the BLS. Overall, this is 4% higher than the national average. As more of the population ages, more patients are in need of preventative medical services, often provided by physicians. This results in a need for more medical assistants to help with the increased patient load. Additionally, medical assistants often have an array of skills, making them valuable to clinics as they can hire one person to handle multiple tasks, rather than someone who is specialized in only a few areas.
How to Get Started as a Medical Assistant
At Desert Medical Careers, we have years of connections and experience placing individuals in the medical positions that suit their career goals. We help with reviewing your resume to ensure it matches what employers are looking for and provide interview tips based on our experience placing thousands of people in medical positions.
If you’d like to be placed in a medical assistant position, contact Desert Medical Careers at (602) 468-6300 or fill out the form below to get contacted by a DMC expert.
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Resources:
- Desert Medical Careers – https://desmedcar.com/top-healthcare-jobs-fall-2020-2-of-3/
- Rasmussen.edu – https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/blog/benefits-of-becoming-medical-assistant/
- Delta Technical College.com – https://www.deltatechnicalcollege.com/resources/careers/pros-and-cons-of-a-medical-assistant-career/
- Ameritech.edu – https://www.ameritech.edu/blog/the-benefits-of-becoming-a-medical-assistant/
- All Allied Health Schools.com – https://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/blog/medical-assistant-programs-five-reasons/