Is There A Future In Medical Assisting?
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing
occupations over the 2006-16 decade. Employers recognize the benefits medical assistants brings to their
business. Therefore, they are readily hired by large and small, single and multiple group practices, wellness
clinics, emergency centers, and even regional medical centers, major hospitals, and correctional institutions
across the USA.
Medical Assistants Employed in U.S. In
2005
- Offices of physicians: 219,790
- General medical and surgical hospitals: 51,430
- Offices of other healthcare practitioners: 40,700
- Outpatient medical care centers: 17,090
- Other ambulatory healthcare services: 5,710
Future Career Outlook
In many places, the medical assistant has replaced Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) staff, especially in medical
offices. Employers have discovered that medical assistants are flexible and skilled enough to fill the gap between
their nursing staff and other healthcare practitioners. While LPNs would just as easily find their place in a busy
medical office it is the medical assistant's training in all clinical AS WELL AS administrative areas of the
medical office. This gives them the advantage.
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