Medical Assistant

Career Spotlight - Medical Assistant

Work Characteristics

Clinical and administrative tasks are carried out by medical assistants in order to ensure smooth running of the offices of podiatrists, chiropractors, physicians and other medical practitioners. Their responsibilities differ from one office to another, based on the size and location of the practice and specialty of the practitioner. In a small setup they carry out both clinical and administrative duties and are answerable directly to the physician or an office manager. In big setups they usually specialize in a specific area, under supervision of administrators.

Administrative duties involve answering phones, keeping and maintaining records, greeting patients, scheduling appointments, filling insurance forms, laboratory services, arranging for admission to the hospital and bookkeeping and billing.

Clinical duties differ from state to state but usually include preparing patients to be examined by the physician, helping the physician during examination, observing vital signs and recording patient’s medical history. Collecting and preparing lab specimens also fall under their scope of work. They also carry out general examination such as blood tests and stool tests and charting diet plans and writing prescriptions based on the physicians diagnosis.

Work Environment

Usually work is carried out indoors in clinics and hospitals. 40 hours a week is what is usually put in by medical assistants. Many also work part time on weekends or evenings.

Educational Requirements

Formal education obtained from medical assistant courses and medical assisting programs is the desired qualification. Vocational technical colleges offer such courses along with community colleges and post secondary vocational schools. Course material consists of physiology, anatomy and medical terminology. Typing, recordkeeping, typing, accounting, insurance processing and transcription is also taught.

Formal education in this field is not a must but is usually preferred. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement.

Job Prospects and Salary Expectations

Growth in opportunities for this career is expected to be faster than most other careers. Expansion of the health care industry ensures a healthy future for medical assistants.

The earnings of medical assistants vary, depending on their experience, skill level, and location, and type of medical office setting. Median annual earnings of wage-and-salary medical assistants were $26,290 in May 2006, while the middle 50 percent earned between $21,970 and $31,210. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,860, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $36,840. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical assistants in May 2006 were: