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Becoming a Medical Assistant
Like many positions within the healthcare industry, the number of open Medical Assistant jobs is expected to increase steadily in the coming years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that Medical Assistant employment will grow 23% from 2018 to 2028.
The BLS attributes growth in the healthcare field to several factors:
- People are living longer and staying more active, which means the need to diagnose medical conditions is increasing.
- The average age of the U.S. population is getting older, primarily due to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, who comprise the largest age demographic in the country.
- Americans prefer to see a medical specialist whenever possible, which means more health care providers who concentrate in a particular area of medicine are opening offices, thus necessitating more personnel.
- The Affordable Care Act requires all U.S. citizens to carry health insurance, which is likely to increase the number of doctor visits as well.
What do Medical Assistants do?
Most Medical Assistants work in physicians’ offices and other healthcare facilities, including outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, clinics, and for specialists such as podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. Their duties may vary depending upon where they work.
For large organizations, Medical Assistant’s may have specific tasks (administrative or clinical, for example). In most small, private medical practices, MA’s have responsibilities on both sides of the practice.
Clinical tasks may include assisting the physician with patient examinations, giving injections as directed by the physician, measuring a patient’s vital signs, and preparing blood and other specimens for laboratory tests. Administrative responsibilities may include scheduling patient appointments, and recording patient history and personal information.
You can complete the Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in as little as 16.5 months. The medical assistant training you’ll receive at Career College of Northern Nevada includes hands-on education that will prepare you to succeed and become a Medical Assistant.
Contact us today!
If you’re ready for a career in an industry where you can make a difference in people’s lives, become a Medical Assistant. For more information about the Medical Assisting program at CCNN, call 775-241-4445.
