| Medical assistants may be referred to as the 'right | | | | technology schools also offer externship training. To |
| hand' of physicians. They help the physicians with not | | | | apply for training, you have to have first completed |
| only their clerical duties in their office, but also perform | | | | 10th grade levels in the Test for Adult Basic Education. |
| other clinical duties. | | | | Move into an administrative position |
| These clinical duties include the preparation of patients | | | | With experience and some additional training, you can |
| for examination and treatment, taking of blood | | | | move into an administrative or management position |
| pressure, temperature and pulse, administration of | | | | without any formal education program. However if you |
| medication, carrying out phlebotomy and other medical | | | | wish to advance in the clinical area, you need to |
| procedures, taking x-rays and electrocardiograms, | | | | undergo some schooling, which is available in some |
| sterilization of equipment and even helps with minor | | | | universities and colleges. |
| office surgery. | | | | Though medical assistants are not licensed, it is |
| These assistants may also carryout clerical duties like | | | | possible to take a certification examination to become |
| the maintenance of medical records, scheduling | | | | Certified or become a Registered Medical Assistant |
| patients, taking care of telephone calls and takes | | | | through the respective credentialing institution. |
| responsibility of billing, collecting and making insurance | | | | On completing your training, it is easier for you to get a |
| claims. | | | | degree in some fields like Health Service Management. |
| Get training in community colleges | | | | If you have certificates like Certified Medical Assistant |
| Basically, the duties differ from an office to another. | | | | or Registered Medical Assistant, it is accepted by |
| While assistants in small offices have generalist duties, | | | | some college and university transitional programs like |
| the assistants in large offices have to carry out clerical | | | | nursing and emergency medical services. |
| and clinical duties. To carry out all these duties, these | | | | Expected salary of a medical assistant |
| assistants should preferably undergo some official | | | | As a medical assistant, you can expect to receive |
| training, though it is possible for them to get trained on | | | | somewhere like $13 to $14 per hour, which is a |
| the job. | | | | reasonable salary. While you may find most medical |
| You can get formal training in schools of technology or | | | | assistants in physician's offices, they also work in |
| community colleges. The programs offered in | | | | health maintenance organizations, medical clinics and |
| community colleges are usually for two years, wherein | | | | hospitals. |
| you receive an associate degree. | | | | Work is usually for 40 hours in a week, including |
| You can expect to learn about anatomy, medical | | | | weekends in clean and air conditioned offices. Though |
| terminology, word processing, insurance coding, | | | | you may have to wear a uniform, your work schedule |
| procedures carried out in the administrative office, | | | | is a flexible one. Moreover, many employers are today |
| some laboratory procedures like phlebotomy and | | | | offering fringe benefits too. All this makes medical |
| medical office management. | | | | assistant training and a career in the field an enticing |
| In addition to this training, some community colleges and | | | | and lucrative one. |