Allied Technicial Institute

In a typical work environment in a physician’s office, a medical assistants work may involve greeting a patient, taking them to an examination room, and asking them general health care questions. Such history taking may include asking about what medications the patient is taking, if they have had any problem since their last visit, and also may include asking the patient their reason for their current visit.

If a patient needs blood work done, then a medical assistant is often asked to take a blood sample by the physician. Medical assistant work often requires the professional to check the patient’s vital signs, which includes heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and often temperature if the patient has a fever. This information is recorded in the medical chart for the physician to review before greeting the patient. By performing these time consuming tasks, the medical assistant is increasing the efficiency of the doctor’s office. Medical assistant work also may be to facilitate scheduling the next clinical appointment for the patient. Occassionally, a physician may require assistance with a minor office based procedure, such as draining an abscess, in the presence of a physician the medical assistant can assist with this procedure.
Medical assistant work may also be to perform a variety of office clerical work if required for a certain job. This may include obtaining health insurance information, as well as relaying physician’s orders to patients and pharmacies. Working in a busy doctor’s office can be stressful, and requires patience and good time management skills. Medical assistants often help maintain patient’s charts, a vital part of any patient’s health care. The job of a medical assistant requires a modest amount of additional education beyond high school, but requires a lot of versatility and attention to detail to be successful. Some medical assistants work almost entirely as administrative medical office assistants and help maintain office records, as well as process paperwork for insurance purposes.

If you have ever had an interest in health care, then working as a medical assistant might be a great way to get experience in health care. Most people who are interested in a medical assistant education should complete a medical assistant training course, offered at a variety of community colleges and vocational schools. Medical assistant courses vary considerably in length, with some lasting a short as three weeks, to other which may be 12 to 24 months in duration. Your training often includes a required externship, or real world work experience in a physician’s office. Those who already have nursing degrees, or other health care professionals, can sometimes be eligible to register as a medical assistant based on past academic work completed.
The tuition for a medical assistant course is variable, a basic 9 week course may charge a $5,000 tuition, while other similar associate degree programs may charge a $1,000 tuition. Tuition may also depend on whether you qualify as an in state or an out of state student. Online medical assistant courses may last anywhere from six to eight weeks, and may have a tuition around $700. Be sure that any program that you select for medical assistant is accredited before making a tuition payment.

A medical assistant course will focus on the basics of being a medical assistant which includes basic course work in anatomy, basic pharmacology and physiology, as well as basics in medical billing and terminology. You may also learn some basic office procedures, such as giving injections. If you are thinking about working as a medical assistant in high school, then consider taking courses in biology and mathematics, as well as those that require typing skills.
Only by enrolling in an accredited medical assisting program can you be licensed as a CMA, or certified medical assistant. While many clinics may hire a person who is not a CMA, but has extensive medical assistant experience, many employers are requiring that their medical assistants be a CMA at the time of hiring. After you finish your medical assistant course, you are eligible to take the medical assistant certifying examination. This will allow to apply to be a CMA. This certifying examination is offered three times each year, and you must register to take the examination.
Medical assistants work most commonly in a physician’s clinic assisting the physicians and nurses with the job of running the clinic. However, medical assistants also find employment in hospitals, medical laboratories, state and federal government institutions, chiropractor’s office and nursing homes. The daily routine of a medical assistant involves obtaining health information from patients, taking a patient’s vital signs, performing phlebotomy, performing an EKG, instructing patients on their medications, and assisting with minor office procedures.

Medical assisting skills are expected to be in high demand, at least through the next decade. This is due to the increasing burden on the United States health care system, due in part to the aging of the

United States population. Older citizens require, on average, more doctor’s visits, and this means more clinic visits with a need for medical assistants to help optimize efficiency. As there is a looming doctor shortage in the United States, medical assistants are being used more frequently to ease the work demands on physicians. Increasingly, medical assistants are also becoming office managers and help to optimize the overall running of a given doctor’s office. The salary of a medical assistant depends on experience, and also on location, with average salaries being around ten dollars an hour, or about an average of $26,000 a year.
Many medical assistants may decide to further their career in health care and apply for nursing school after having worked as a medical assistant for many years. Additional certifications may allow medical assistants to achieve a modestly higher salary. Such additional certifications include those in medical sonography.