What You Need to Know About Medical Assistant
Job Description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
Life As a Medical Assistant: What Do They Do?
- Set up medical laboratory equipment.
- Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
- Record patients’ medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
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Things a Medical Assistant Should Know How to Do
These are the skills Medical Assistants say are the most useful in their careers:
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Medical Assistant Jobs
- Doctor Assistant
- Morgue Technician
- Surgery Scheduler
- Visual Training Aide
- Doctor’s Assistant
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 634,400 jobs in the United States for Medical Assistant. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 29% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 184,000 new jobs for Medical Assistant by 2026. The BLS estimates 94,900 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Medical Assistant are Utah, Arizona, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Mississippi, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Medical Assistant
The salary for Medical Assistants ranges between about $24,790 and $47,250 a year.
Medical Assistants who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Medical Assistants make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,460 |
| Alaska | $45,490 |
| Arizona | $33,410 |
| Arkansas | $30,320 |
| California | $38,250 |
| Colorado | $36,180 |
| Connecticut | $38,350 |
| Delaware | $33,350 |
| District of Columbia | $42,010 |
| Florida | $32,870 |
| Georgia | $32,060 |
| Hawaii | $38,040 |
| Idaho | $33,540 |
| Illinois | $35,910 |
| Indiana | $32,580 |
| Iowa | $34,990 |
| Kansas | $31,400 |
| Kentucky | $31,900 |
| Louisiana | $28,740 |
| Maine | $35,160 |
| Maryland | $36,350 |
| Massachusetts | $40,270 |
| Michigan | $32,540 |
| Minnesota | $40,320 |
| Mississippi | $30,470 |
| Missouri | $32,260 |
| Montana | $34,520 |
| Nebraska | $34,670 |
| Nevada | $33,610 |
| New Hampshire | $36,730 |
| New Jersey | $35,840 |
| New Mexico | $30,750 |
| New York | $37,560 |
| North Carolina | $32,710 |
| North Dakota | $36,560 |
| Ohio | $31,900 |
| Oklahoma | $30,960 |
| Oregon | $38,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,770 |
| Rhode Island | $35,830 |
| South Carolina | $32,120 |
| South Dakota | $29,890 |
| Tennessee | $32,370 |
| Texas | $31,580 |
| Utah | $33,000 |
| Vermont | $37,740 |
| Virginia | $35,010 |
| Washington | $41,340 |
| West Virginia | $28,160 |
| Wisconsin | $36,410 |
| Wyoming | $33,830 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Medical Assistants
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Medical Assistants may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Database software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- MEDITECH software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Medical condition coding software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Billing software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Appointment scheduling software
How do I Become a Medical Assistant?
Learn what Medical Assistant education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Medical Assistants?
Below are examples of industries where Medical Assistants work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Medical Assistant may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Medical Assistant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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