If you are keen on working in the healthcare sector and want a quick start to your career, you should definitely consider the role of a medical assistant. As the name indicates, medical assistants are responsible for assisting physicians in a medical setting, typically at outpatient clinics and hospitals. A medical assistant may have to do both clinical and administrative tasks, and they often have to coordinate with nurses and other healthcare professionals, for specific cases. There are many options for Medical Assisting Programs in Phoenix, but before you join, here are some things worth knowing.
Work at a glance
So, what’s the role of a medical assistant? Firstly, they are responsible for maintaining, updating, and retrieving patient records when needed. They also help patients by offering assistance and information as needed. As a part of their admin work, they also take care of inventory details, and before the physician actually checks the patient, medical assistants prep them for the appointment. They also maintain an appointment schedule, and as needed, they may help doctors and physicians with some of the procedures. In some cases, medical assistants may have to administer medications too.
Note that the role of a medical assistant is not same as that of a nurse. However, in a clinic setting, all healthcare professionals are expected to work with one another and coordinate things, to ensure the best care for patients.
Requirements
As mentioned earlier, you must complete a Medical Assisting Programs program from a known school. If you have a bachelor’s degree, you may find it easier to get a job. You also need some experience in a medical setting.
Career outlook
The 2020 pandemic has been an eye-opener in many ways. Experts have realized that there is a dearth of medical professionals in the world, and allied healthcare roles, such as medical assistants, are as important. You can only expect the demand to grow many times in the next few years, so the career outlook is awesome. The average annual salary for medical assistants in the US is around $36151, but as you gain experience, you can expect to earn more. Some states have better pay for MAs than others, so it also depends on where you live.
There is no denying that medical assistants are and will always remain in demand, so if job security is your priority, this could be the ideal choice for your career.