Seven Things You May Not Know About Medical Assistants

Patient population is growing, and hospitals and healthcare facilities are striving to keep up with that need. Medical assistants are an important part of the healthcare team. Medical assisting could be the right move for someone looking to work with patients and begin a career in healthcare. Here are seven things you may not have realized about medical assistants:

1. Medical Assistants are in HIGH Demand

Current growth in the healthcare sector is driven by the aging baby boomer population, and it’s predicted that this sector will continue to grow in the years to come. To handle this increased volume of patients, physicians are relying more on medical assistants for support. Because of this, medical assisting is one of the fastest growing careers.

2. Medical Assistants Play an Important Role in Patient Care

One of the key duties of a medical assistant is to interact with patients and put them at ease. For example, one of the responsibilities may include taking complex medical language and putting it into terms that patients can more easily understand. A medical assistant is often the first and last person a patient will interact with, and developing a good relationship is crucial to quality patient care.

3. There are Many Different Types of Medical Assistants

Not all medical assistants will have the same experiences. Some medical assistants focus more on clinical roles, others will have a more administrative focus, and some might be a mix of the two. A medical assistant with an administrative role might help manage billing, insurance, and keeping medical records. A clinical medical assistant may work alongside physicians and nurses. These duties could include assisting with examinations and recording vital signs. The duties and responsibilities can vary with every location and specialty.

4. Medical Assistants can Advance into Other Healthcare Roles

By continuing education, medical assistants can become healthcare managers, administrators, nurses, and more. With experience, medical assistants can advance into leadership roles with more duties and responsibilities. Many medical assistants can apply credits toward a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management, or a nursing program. When you explore the healthcare field as a medical assistant, the possibilities are endless.

5. Medical Assistants can Specialize Based on Their Interests

Based on your interests in the medical field, you can find a role that works for you. If you’re interested in a particular specialty, there may be a role for a medical assistant in that office. In a hospital or larger practice, you may get a more varied experience and find your interests as you go.

6. Strong Interpersonal Skills are an Important Part of What Makes a Good Medical Assistant

Medical assistants need to be able to work with physicians, nurses, administrators, and all other members of the healthcare team, as well as the patients. So while having a good bedside manner and developing a good relationship with the patients is paramount, another responsibility is to be an effective team player with the healthcare team as a whole.

7. Learning to be a Medical Assistant Puts You on a Fast Track to a Career in Healthcare

You can earn a diploma in medical assisting and begin working in a year – or less! If you choose to begin with an associate’s degree, you can still start a healthcare career in less than two years.

Becoming a medical assistant can open doors to the healthcare field and provide a rewarding career! Here at Athena Career Academy, we offer an accredited medical assistant program to get you started on a career in healthcare. Contact us today for a campus tour!