Medical Assistant

Medical assistants serve in support roles to such healthcare professionals as doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and podiatrists. They primarily work in private offices, often sitting at the reception desk to greet visitors. If you seek a healthcare career requiring minimal training combined with diverse and challenging work that of medical assistant may be an ideal option. Before you find out what Medical Assistant education requirements and training involve, let me first show you what the career entails.

Career Overview

The tasks of a medical assistant vary depending on the type of practice for which they work and it size. Within smaller practice settings, medical assistants may be responsible for handling both administrative and clerical tasks, in addition to clinical services. Medical assistants are generally supervised by physicians/healthcare providers, physician assistants, head nurses, or office managers. Medical assistants that are employed by larger practices usually specialize in one area (e.g. internal medicine, cardiology, or neurology) and are supervised by department managers.

Administrative Medical Assistants perform routine office support and clerical tasks that include recording patient information in charts and maintaining files, completing insurance forms and submitting to carrier for reimbursement, scheduling patient appointments, as well as patient billing.

Clinical Medical Assistants are responsible for varied tasks which can include taking patient medical histories, testing vital signs (blood pressure and heart rate), preparing patients for examination, discussing procedures, and assisting the healthcare provider during the exam by preparing equipment and handling instruments. Other tasks can include:

Preparing laboratory specimens for evaluation by the physician.
Conducting laboratory procedures under the direct supervision of a physician or physician assistant.
Performing blood tests and preparing patients for radiology (X-ray) exams.
Providing patient education with regard to proper nutrition and medication usage.
Disposing of used equipment and material.
Telephoning prescriptions and refill orders into the pharmacy.
Monitoring electrocardiograms.
Removing stitches and changing wound dressings.

Ophthalmic assistants work with ophthalmologists in providing eye care to patients. Duties include:

Conducting eye exams that measure visual acuity and evaluate eye muscle strength.
Providing eye drops or salve and applying eye dressings post-surgery to protect damaged areas.
Maintaining all instruments and equipment.
Assisting the ophthalmologist during surgical procedures by handing instruments and adjusting equipment.

The duties of Optometric assistants include:

Acting as chair-side assistant to optometrist during visual exams.
Conducting preliminary visual exams such as reading eye charts.
Providing patient education with regard to the insertion and care of contact lenses.

Podiatry medical assistants assist podiatrists during foot surgery, create casting impressions of patient feet, and take/develop X-rays for further evaluation.

Career Outlook

This career offers attractive growth opportunities. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of growth is expected to be about 34 percent through 2018, which reflects a much faster rate than for most other occupations. This growth arises from three primary factors: 1) an increased demand for healthcare workers in nearly all professions due to the aging of the population with accompanying need for medical care; 2) the increased incidence of such chronic conditions as obesity and diabetes resulting in higher demand for medical services within private medical settings; 3) the rising emphasis on preventative healthcare so that increasing numbers of people are becoming more proactive with regard to health monitoring.

Medical Assistant Education Requirements and Training

As per the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), there are no mandatory educational or training requirements to begin a career as a medical assistant. Most entry-level medical assistants are trained on-the- job by supervisory staff or experienced medical assistants. However, the AAMA does advise that rising numbers of employers prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from a program that has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Those who graduate from an accredited program are eligible to take the certification exam given by the AAMA. Those who pass will be awarded the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential.

Graduating from an accredited program can result in enhanced job prospects, higher entry-level salaries, as well as opportunities for promotion.

Medical assisting programs are offered at two year community colleges and private vocational schools. Most programs are one year in duration with coursework in anatomy and physiology, medical billing and terminology, accounting office procedures, and insurance processing. Additional training is provided in clinical and laboratory procedures and pharmacology. Most programs also offer a practicum experience, providing students with actual work experience in private medical offices, hospital- based settings and other facilities.

Visit the Web site of either the CAAHEP or ABHES to locate an accredited training program in your area.

Certification Process for Medical Assistants

Certification can be obtained through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The process includes:

1. You must be a graduate of a training program that has received accreditation by either the CAAHS or ABHES.

2. Apply to take the certification examination that is administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (a division of the AAMA) by completing an online application form and submitting required paperwork:

i. If you are a recent (less than one year) graduate of an accredited program the only paperwork required will be a letter from the director of your program verifying program completion.

ii. Those who graduated over 12 months ago will need to supply an official transcript verifying program completion.

The certification exam is comprised of 200 multiple-choice questions of which 180 will be scored. The remaining 20 questions are being pre-tested and not counted. Because these pre-test questions are spread throughout the entire exam, you will not be able to determine which they are. The exam handbook provides complete details about the exam. You can access this guide by visiting the Web site of the AAMA.

3. The examination fee is $125. for those who are members of the AAMA, CAAHEP, or ABHES. Non-members are required to pay $250. You may pay by credit or debit card, cashier’s check or money order (personal checks are not accepted).

4. You will be notified of your eligibility to sit for the exam within 30 days after you submit your application and required paperwork.

5. When you receive your eligibility letter you can then schedule your exam by making an appointment at a Prometric test center near you. The exam is administered on a rolling basis throughout the year.

6. Preparation is important. You can enroll in a review course offered by local chapters of the AAMA and/or take a practice test available on this agency’s Web site.

7. Once you have passed the exam you will receive an official CMA certificate and wallet-size identification card. You will also be listed on the AAMA site where prospective employers can verify your status.

8. It is required that you renew your certification every two years. This can be done by passing an advanced examination administered by the AAMA or enrolling in continuing education coursework. Visit the AAMA Web site for additional information regarding recertification.

Earnings of Medical Assistants

The following provides median entry level medical assistant salary ranges in select cities :

Los Angeles CA	$31,825-$32,,851
Boulder, CO	$29,291-$30,756
Boca Raton FL	$28,609-$29,410
Atlanta, GA	$28550-$29,979
New York ,NY	$33,821-$35,514
Dallas, TX	$28,408-$29,8

Figures from salary.com

Medical Assistant Programs

Medical assistant programs are offered in a variety of settings, even online, and can prepare you to begin a challenging and rewarding career within the ever-growing health career sector.

Career Overview

Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform many administrative and clinical tasks within private physician offices, as well as hospitals and other care facilities. As per the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics, this is a career that is projected to be in great demand through the year 2018 with an anticipated growth rate of 34 percent. This growth is due to the aging of the population and rising need for medical services, along with an emphasis on preventative care so that greater numbers of people are scheduling regular doctor appointments.

Administrative duties may include:

Greeting patients who visit the office.
Answering telephones and scheduling appointments.
Updating patient medical records (most often performed using software applications).
Coordinating hospital admissions and laboratory procedures.
Performing billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical duties (which vary according to state law) may include:

Taking patient medical histories.
Explaining treatment procedures to patients and their family.
Preparing patients for examination
Assisting physicians and nurses during physical exams.
Performing basic laboratory tests.
Teaching patients and their family about medication usage and proper diet.
Preparing and dispensing medication as directed by physician.
Calling in prescription refills to the pharmacy.
Drawing blood (may need formal phlebotomy training depending on state requirements).
Performing electrocardiograms.
Changing bandages and removing sutures and bandages.

Medical Assistant Education Programs

As per the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), there are no minimum educational requirements to begin a career as a medical assistant and you may apply for a job directly out of high school. However, the AMA strongly recommends that those with an interest in this career complete an accredited medical assistant program and apply for certification. Graduating from an accredited medical assistant program can expand your job prospects, enable you to enter the field at a higher salary, and enhance opportunities for career advancement.

Medical assistant programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Those who graduate from an accredited medical assistant program will be eligible to sit for the certification exam administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), a division of the AAMA. Those who pass will the test will be awarded the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential.

Medical assisting programs are offered at two year community colleges and private vocational schools. If you attend a community college you will graduate with an Associate in Science (A.S.) or Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree. Graduates of vocational schools will be awarded a certification or diploma upon program completion. Those who attend a community college can expect that the first year of study will be devoted to liberal arts courses. Certificate programs offer only coursework directly related to medical assisting and are, therefore, the faster route to completing a medical assistant program. Both associate and certificate medical assistant programs provide students with hands-on experience in private medical offices, hospital- based settings, and other healthcare facilities.

As per the AAMA coursework in medical assistant programs includes:

Human anatomy, physiology, and pathology
Medical terminology
Keyboarding and computer applications
Recordkeeping and accounting
Coding and insurance processing
Laboratory techniques
Clinical and diagnostic procedures
Pharmacology
Medication administration
First aid
Office practices
Patient relations
Medical law and ethics

Visit the Web site of either the CAAHEP or ABHES to locate an accredited medical assistant program in your area.

Certification of Medical Assistants

Certification can be obtained through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Upon graduating from a medical assistant program and passing a national exam administered by the NBME, the AAMA will award you the Certified Medical Assistant Credential (CMA). As per the AAMA, this certification is considered the “gold standard of medical assisting professionalism” and will provide the certified medical assistant with prestige among colleagues, along with higher salaries and enhanced job security.

More and more employers are mandating that candidates be CMAs. According to the AMA, its offices now receive “100 or more requests per day to verify that current or potential medical assistant employees are CMAs.”

Eligibility for certification includes:

1. You must be a graduate of a medical assistant program that has been accredited by either the CAAHES or ABHES.

2. Apply online to take the certification exam administered by the NBME. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions and covers both the administrative and clinical aspects of medical assisting. The exam handbook, available on the Web site of the AAMA, provides detailed information regarding the certification examination.

3. The fee to take the examination is $125. For AAMA, CAAHEP, or ABHES members and $250 for non-members. You may pay by money order, bank check or credit/debit card (personal checks are not accepted).

4. Study for the exam. The AAMA offers several options for study:

a. Review the exam content outline available on the AAMA Web site.

b. Take the AAMA practice exams to test your knowledge in the areas of anatomy and physiology and medical terminology.

c. Enroll in a AAMA exam review course offered by an accredited medical assistant program in your area or by a local chapter of the AAMA.

d. Having graduated from a medical assistant program will prove to be a benefit as you study since much of the coursework in these programs will have included topics covered in the exam.

5. The exam is given at a Prometric test center located throughout the country. Instructions for registering for the test will be provided with you admittance letter sent by AAMA. The exam may be taken throughout the year. However, it is advised you schedule early to ensure the date, time, and location of your choice.

6. When you pass the examination you will receive an official CMA certificate from the AAMA, along with wallet-size identification card. You will be able to use the designation CMA on your résumé and on all job applications across the country. Your name will also be listed in the AAMA database so employers may verify your status. You can also feel very proud in having earned the highest credential available in the field of medical assisting!

7. You will need to renew certification very two years. You can complete this requirement by passing an advanced examination administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners or completing AAMA-approved continuing education coursework.

Medical Assistant Programs – Selected Reviews

Brown Mackie College:

Brown Mackie College has locations in many areas of the country. The campus locations offer a range of training opportunities including a program in medical assisting. The medical assisting program is designed to prepare students to work in the medical field under the direction of doctors and nurses in a medical facility. The coursework includes studies in medical procedures as well as basic administrative functions. Upon completion of the program, students are able to find entry level positions in the medical field in a variety of settings. The program takes less than a year to complete.

Sanford Brown Institute:

With locations in many states across the country, Sanford Brown Institute offers a variety of programs including a medical assistant program. The program is designed to provide training to help you handle both clinical duties and administrative functions. Upon completing the program, students receive a certificate and are able to get entry level positions in the medical profession. Medical assistants may work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, doctor’s office, and other medical facilities. Programs combine both clinical and administrative training to prepare students for a wide range of medical jobs. The program can be completed in under a year.

Remington College:

Remington College offers a medical assisting program that prepares students for a career in the health care field. Medical assistants may work in a clinic, hospital, doctor’s office or other medical facility. The medical assistant program offers students a certificate of completion that allows them to find good paying jobs in the medical arena. Remington College has various campus locations across the country. Programs begin often and you can complete the course in as little as 8 months. The curriculum provides both clinical and administrative training.

Everest College:

Everest College offers medical assistant programs through its many locations across the country. The medical assistant program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to join a medical team with an entry level position. The course offers students hands-on training including patient care and communication, clinical assisting, pharmacology, medical insurance and bookkeeping, laboratory procedures, therapeutic care, and cardiopulmonary procedures. After the classroom work is completed, students will take part in a 160-hour externship at a local medical facility. The program prepares students to provide high quality patient care.

Florida Medical Training Institute

The Florida Medical Training Institute offers a medical assistant program at both the Melbourne and Jacksonville campus locations. The course provides 950 hours of training including 200 hours of clinical training, 500 hours of classroom, and 250 hours of lab training. Students will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program. The program is completed in about 9 months. Graduates are prepared for entry level careers working at hospitals, clinics, private practices, and other health facilities.

Heald College

Heald College offers a Medical Assistant program that can be taken on campus at one of the many locations in California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The program offers students a combination of classroom study and clinical laboratory study to give them the skills necessary to work in a variety of settings. The Medical Assistant program prepares students for a variety of career options including clinical medical assistant, lab assistant, and patient services representative. Two educational options are available – an Associate in Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting and a Diploma in Medical Assisting.