Medical Assistant Job Description and Responsibilities

So you want to become a medical assistant, huh? It’s an exciting career path, and the good news is the demand for medical assistants is growing fast. But how do you actually become one? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to launch a successful career and learn to be a medical assistant in just a few steps.

How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant

As a medical assistant, your job will be to support doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in providing patient care. Your day-to-day duties may include: 

– Greeting patients, helping them fill out forms, and preparing them to see the doctor.

– Recording patients’ vital signs like blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respirations. 

– Assisting doctors during patient exams. This could mean positioning patients, handing instruments to the doctor, or documenting the visit.

– Performing routine tests like drawing blood, collecting urine samples, or performing EKGs. 

– Explaining doctors’ instructions to patients and answering any follow up questions they may have. 

– Maintaining accurate patient records including medical histories, examination results, diagnostic test results, treatment plans, and correspondence with other physicians.

The specific responsibilities of a medical assistant depend on the facility and specialty. In a doctor’s office, you may handle more administrative work, while in a hospital you may focus more on clinical tasks. The key qualities for this role are compassion, attention to detail, adaptability, and a desire to help people.

If you’re looking for a fast-growing career in healthcare and enjoy both administrative and clinical work, becoming a medical assistant could be very rewarding. With the proper training and certification, you’ll be assisting physicians and ensuring high quality care for patients in no time.

Finding a Medical Assistant Job and Advancing Your Career

So, you want to become a medical assistant? It’s a rewarding career, but does require proper training and certification. Here are the key steps to become a certified medical assistant:

1. Complete an accredited medical assisting program.

You’ll need to earn either a certificate or associate’s degree from an accredited program. Most medical assistant programs take 9 months to 2 years and include coursework as well as an internship. Look for programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). 

2. Become certified (optional but recommended). 

While not always required, becoming certified demonstrates your competence and can enhance your career opportunities. The two main certifying bodies are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You must pass an exam and meet certain eligibility criteria.

3. Look for job opportunities at physicians’ offices, hospitals and clinics.  

Once certified and with the right experience, you can find work at doctors’ offices, hospitals, urgent care centers and other healthcare facilities. Build your resume, search online job boards, and network. The median pay for medical assistants in the U.S. is over $34,000 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

With the right training and dedication, you can launch a successful career as a medical assistant. It may take work, but helping others and building a career in healthcare can be extremely rewarding. Keep at it and don’t get discouraged –  the opportunities are out there!