| The medical assistant position offers a chance to | | | | for medical assistants will continue to grow. This is |
| enter into the medical field that can lead to a | | | | because medical assisting involves both ends of |
| stable and reliable career path. Medical assistants | | | | the healthcare business and a good medical |
| play a vital role in both the administrative and | | | | assistant can allow the matters of clinical and |
| clinical aspects of medicine. This means working | | | | administrative duties to flow smoothly by |
| with patients and doctors alike and becoming | | | | performing well. |
| efficient in numerous aspects of business in the | | | | Going forward, medical assisting can lead to nearly |
| healthcare industry. | | | | every career outcome by furthering training. |
| To get started in medical assisting there is some | | | | From working as a medical assistant, one will |
| training that is required. Potential medical assistants | | | | generally make a decision to advance their training |
| will have to find a academic program that will | | | | in either one of two directions. If they find they |
| prepare them with the variety of skills that will be | | | | are more at home in the office environment, |
| required to be successful in administrative and | | | | there are many degree opportunities in healthcare |
| clinical responsibilities. The basic curriculum students | | | | management at both the Bachelor's and Master's |
| will need to know ranges from familiarity with | | | | level. Taking this path can lead to upper level |
| medical law, records, billing, insurance, | | | | management positions in hospitals or insurance |
| communications. On the clinical end students will | | | | companies. Those that feel drawn towards the |
| learn patient preparation, become trained in | | | | clinical aspect may choose to go on to study |
| aspects of medical testing and practice as well. | | | | medicine with the goal of becoming a registered |
| This will prepare the student to handle a range of | | | | nurse or even a doctor. Becoming a medical |
| duties that will often exceed those of a nurse or | | | | assistant will allow the opportunity for a person |
| medical office assistant. In a sense, a medical | | | | that is new to the medical field to get experience |
| assistant will be expected to perform both to | | | | and learn about the various positions before |
| some degree. | | | | making that important decision on the direction of |
| With this preparation students can go on to sit for | | | | their career. |
| professional exams to become a Certified Medical | | | | The median salary for medical assistant positions |
| Assistant or CMA. Another professional exam | | | | will start off in the upper twenties or lower |
| exists to become a Registered Medical Assistant | | | | thirties. The pay can vary depending on the |
| or RMA. Those considering a future as a medical | | | | number of duties expected in the position as well |
| assistant will want to be sure that the training | | | | as the experience and training held. Some medical |
| program they choose will provide eligibility and | | | | assistants will look to continue quickly in their |
| preparation for whichever one or both of these | | | | training to attain an LPN and take on more clinical |
| credentials, depending on the requirements for the | | | | responsibilities to increase their pay. Other available |
| position they seek. Most training programs will also | | | | training on the administrative end, such as a |
| require students to complete a training at a | | | | course in ICD-9, or continue training to become |
| medical facility. This is essential to learn the basics | | | | certified in other areas. Those looking into |
| of patient care that will be part of the medical | | | | increasing their pay and advancing in the area of |
| assistant role. | | | | healthcare management can become a Certified |
| Coming out of thorough training program, medical | | | | Professional Coder Apprentice or a Registered |
| assistants will find an abundance of opportunities | | | | Health Information Administrator, depending on |
| that await them. The United States Department | | | | their interests. |
| of Labor even predicts the opportunities available | | | | |