Administrative medical assistants don’t work directly with patients, but perform vital duties in the office. As an administrative medical assistant you may be responsible for pulling charts, making appointments, checking patients out, manage insurance filing, call in prescription refills, and updating patients’ charts. Many administrative medical assistants work their way up to office manager. Your training will help you perform the administrative skills since you will have a basic understanding of the medical field and terminology.

Clinical medical assistants work directly with patients. You may show patients into the exam room, take their vitals, collect their histories, prepare exam rooms, explain procedures and prescriptions to patients, and gather lab specimens. Some clinical medical assistants perform simple medical procedures such as removing stitches, administering injections, and run basic tests.

Medical assistants with specialization can work in a variety of settings. These include phlebotomy and x-ray. Medical assistants can also train to work in various types of clinical settings. Pediatrics, audiology, elder care, hospice, gastroenterology, and ophthalmology are just a few of the specialists in which clinical medical and administrative medical assistants can work. You could also work in the emergency room, lab, and administering patients care in a hospital.

Certification is important for the career path of a medical assistant. The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is the organization which oversees the certification of medical assistants. As a certified medical assistant (CMA) you will be able to work in any state, and have a higher salary. Employers look very favorably on certification when seeking out qualified CMA’s to hire. The average starting salary for a CMA is $30,000. New England and theMid-Atlantic states have the highest starting salary for CMA’s. Your salary will depend upon your experience and the area in which you live.

The medical field is one of the fastest growing areas in theUStoday. This is expected to continue past 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a medical assistant you will have many career paths to choose from, and a job that is rewarding and fulfilling.

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) states, “Medical assistants are the only allied health professionals specifically trained to work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians’ offices, clinics and group practices. These multiskilled personnel can perform administrative and clinical procedures”. Certification is important. This shows you have passed the strict criteria set forth by the AAMA and are current on your continuing education requirements.

Medical assistant explaining treatment options.

One upcoming career specializations for medical assistants is as a health coach. The health coach is a liaison between the doctor and the patient. A patient may not understand the doctor’s orders or have questions about a procedure or medication. A health coach will work with the patient and answer any questions or concerns they may have. For example if the doctor orders the patient to stop smoking and lose weight, the medical assistant can help draw up a plan the patient understands and can follow, thus adding to the chances of the patient’s success.

Another specialization is in phlebotomy. With phlebotomy training a medical assistant can draw blood and collect samples. This is one of the most popular specializations because it qualifies medical assistants to work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, labs, and long term care facilities. A specialization in x-ray technology also opens up new doors to a medical assistant. Like phlebotomy, a medical assistant with x-ray training can work in several different medical settings.

A medical records specialist

If you prefer not to work with patients you can specialize in medical records and coding. As a medical records specialist you would be responsible for maintaining patient records, making appointments, notifying patients of test results, coding charts for insurance payment, and all of the back office operations of a clinic or doctor’s office. Many medical assistants move into managerial positions as office managers after specializing in medical records and coding.

Choosing a career specialization is an excellent way for a medical assistant to increase their earning potential, increase advancement opportunities and open up new opportunities in the medical field. Medical assistants have become an important and valuable part of the medical community, and the opportunities for specialization are as varied as the advancements in medicine.

Your day will most likely begin by making sure all of the exam rooms are stocked and ready for patients. As patients start to come into the office, you will greet them, weigh them, escort them to the exam room, and take their vitals. You will also interview them about the reason for their visit to the doctor, and make notes in the patient’s records for the doctor to refer to. As the doctor sees patients you may be required to assist in any minor procedures, collect specimens, and draw blood as needed. After each patient you will be responsible for getting the exam room ready for the next person. If the doctor orders medication or a patient needs a refill, you may be able to call it into the pharmacy for them.

If you work in a hospital you may be responsible for much of the patient care. This includes bathing, feeding, changing linen, and helping with any other need the patient may have. You will work under the supervision of a nurse and may be able to administer medication. Some medical assistants choose to work in the lab or be a phlebotomist. Medical assistants can also work in almost all other departments in a hospital such as radiology, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, and as an operating room assistant.

Most medical assistant choose to become certified. This means you can work in any state you choose. The American Association of Medical Assistants encourages medical assistants to pursue certification to ensure the quality of care for patients. You can also choose to further your education and go into nursing or receive additional training to further your job skills. A day in the life of a medical assistant is far from typical, and usually very exciting and challenging.