Medical Assistant Schools
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To Be Successful in Medical Assisting

Doctors seek medical assistants who are flexible and possess strong customer service and interpersonal communication skills. Medical assistant job candidates are expected to be in good physical health and able to remain on their feet for several hours without a break, posses good hand and eye coordination and excellent near vision to see details at close range such as calibration markings on a syringe, small print on medication labels and medication bottle inserts, skin changes and blood vessels to draw blood. Those who wish to become a medical assistant must have a solid understanding of front and back medical office procedures, be organized, alert and familiar with the electronic (EMR) and traditional filing systems (medical charting) to retrieve and process information quickly and accurately. Most of all, the medical assistant job applicant must be able to fit in with the rest of the medical office team. Although typically a medical office is divided into different areas, such as the front office (reception and administrative areas), the back office (examination and treatment areas) and storage and archive areas where medical charts are kept, the practice should be regarded as one whole unit where every one is part of the team and the common goal is to serve the public to stay and get well.

Jobs and Skills

To become a medical assistant there must be some form of training to solidify skills, develop attitudes and learn values that will shape how to interact with patients and the public. Many medical assistants receive their job training either directly on the job, or through community and junior colleges, community and private vocational training institutions, or military training institutions. Typically, these programs consist of theoretic and practical instruction and end with a practicum at an approved externship site for senior medical assistant students. Such programs cover a wide range of clinical and administrative skills as it applies to an ambulatory medical office setting. Upon graduation many upcoming medical assistants elect to sit for a certification exam of their choice and then solidify other important work related skills, such as interpersonal communication and problem solving through various continuing education programs, skill enrichment seminars, continuing education classes and in-service work shops through their professional membership organizations or organized staff meetings.

Introduction to Medical Assisting

The medical assistant is a fully integrated, non-licensed member of the medical office team with duties that are

distinct from the practice of medicine and nursing. They work side-by-side with doctors, clinicians and other

allied health professionals in various supporting positions essential to the medical office's function where they

handle daily office routines ranging from clinical, to administrative and managerial responsibilities. The medical

assistant is mobile, flexible and hired into many different positions. An increasing number of doctors are

replacing their Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) with skilled medical assistants. They have discovered that a well

trained medical assistant is sufficiently qualified to meet their needs. While undoubtedly, nursing staff is always a

great asset to a medical office, there are now at least 1-2 medical assistants for each doctor on the medical

office team, one in the front office reception and administrative area and another one in the back office assisting

the doctor and patients. The nature of this job requires direct physical contact and verbal and non-verbal

interaction with others along with good leadership and proper supervision.

Employment and Occupation Facts

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the health sector

continued to create jobs throughout the recession and now accounts for

nearly one in nine jobs. Medical assistants are employed in a wide range

of disciplines and held about 527,600 jobs within the health care system

in 2010. The projected employment rate for 2020 is 690,400 working

medical assistants in ambulatory medical practices, preventive care

clinics, therapy and rehabilitation centers, vision care and optical stores,

laboratories, pharmacies, alternative medical service centers, veterinary

and dentist's offices, college campuses, mental health and corrections

institutions and various other types of private and public facilities where

ambulatory medical and health care services are provided.

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Standards for Medical Assistants

Educational and performance standards not laws, but rather individual dispositions by employers, companies,

schools or organizations that go along with rules enforced by cities and states. Vocational training institutions

and professional membership associations such as AAMA and AMT have published standards for their student

body and working medical assistants, which are regarded as exemplary among medical assistants and those

who hire them. They are their statements about what a medical assistant should know and be able to do. Due to

skill-focused technical progress, a highly educated staff can be seen as a source of competence and

competitiveness in the work force (Kravis, Lipsey 1992).

Wages and Pay

Employers also set their own compensation rates. The doctor decides how much wage he or she is willing pay

for a certain position. As in any job earnings also depend greatly on work place location, medical office size,

medical specialty, nature of work, prior work experience, skill level and performance evaluations. It must be

clearly understood that the medical assistant is NEVER a salaried professional, so when you review statistics

titled medical assistant salary figures, the word salary is a misnomer. Medical assistants almost always are paid

in hourly wages and their take home pay differs greatly.

Career Training and Advancement

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has determined that education and training enhances a job seeker's

employability and earnings. Advancement opportunities also abound for those who have gained their job skills

through direct on the job training. There is a common belief among medical assistant students that they have to

study hard to earn high grades because employers are targeting graduates with outstanding academic records,

however, medical assistants who have obtained their skills through direct on the job experience, without former

vocational training can further their competence and gain an edge on the labor market through career focused

workshops, seminars, continuing education courses (CEU) and medical specialty field certifications.

Medical Assistant NET Terms of Service and Use:

We recommend that you research and familiarize yourself with employer's expectations and typical pay rates in

your area before you dive right in. It is always best to begin your medical assistant career path with realistic

expectations. Those who seek additional education or training can easily find what they need throughout this

extensive website. The information contained herein is intended for people with an interest in becoming a

medical assistant and those already working in this field. It is believed to be factual and accurate at the time it

was published, however is not intended to be legal, financial or professional advice, nor any other type of advice

whatsoever for any reason and should not be relied on in that manner. Our Terms of Service are here.