Medical assistants play a vital role in the world of health care. Medical assisting careers consist of all the jobs needed to help physicians on their day to day tasks. Some medical assistants branch into different sectors of the medical industry to become versatile employees, but they all help doctors in one way or another. If you are looking for a job that requires minimal education and offers exciting rewards after graduation, medical assisting may be right for you. Here is a look at some of the most common medical assistant careers available today.
Medical Assistants
The most obvious medical assisting career is the role of a medical assistant. This person acts as a secretary of sorts for a physician in a hospital or private practice. He or she is responsible for organizing paperwork, scheduling appointments, insurance billing, coding, and maintaining medical records. In a clinical setting, a medical assistant may be responsible for preparing patients before an examination, drawing blood, recording vital signs, reviewing medical histories, and interviewing patients before they see a doctor. Medical assistants are not certified nurses, so the work they can do with a patient is limited. Nevertheless, they can do a lot of the background work to help a doctor work most effectively with a patient.
Registered Nurses
If you want to be more than a medical assistant, you could go through a degree program to become a registered nurse. This will require additional schooling, but it could provide a significant raise in your yearly salary. Registered nurses are responsible for general patient care, such as administering medications or gathering blood work for a doctor to analyze. RNS can work in many areas of the medical field, from radiology to emergency rooms and beyond. Some RNs go on to become dental assistants, surgical technologists, X-ray technicians, and massage therapists. Where you end up with this degree is entirely up to you.
Medical Data Assistants
Medical data assistants are specialized medical assistants that work in offices and clinics. These professionals are responsible for putting medical data into databases, which requires an extensive knowledge of medical terminology. Medical data assistants often work at the front desk of offices, carrying out the general task of medical assisting careers. They use their knowledge of medical terms to input information that standard medical assistants may not be able to understand. They are crucial in getting medical reports accurate from the start.
Phlebotomists
Phlebotomists are responsible for dealing with patient’s blood during medical exams. They use venipuncture and microcollection to gather blood for medical testing. Most phlebotomists work in teams supervised by a lead phlebotomist, a lab technician, or a physician. After gathering blood, a phlebotomist will exam it using lab equipment. Then he or she will report the findings to the doctor in charge of the patient.
Medical Transcriptionists
Medical transcriptionists are sometimes called “word technicians.” They are responsible for transcribing and editing many different forms of medical documentation, including medical reports, medical letters, and medical publications. If you want to be involved with this medical assisting career, you will need to have a clear understanding of the English language, as well as the ability to listen and edit as needed. Many medical transcriptionists start as traditional transcriptionists before deciding to specialize in the medical field.
Physical Therapy Assistants
Physical therapy assistants help physical therapists with their daily tasks. They must be familiar with standard physical therapy practices, such as cold/heat treatment, ambulation, and Rom exercises. Most physical therapy assistants work in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, home health services, physical therapy clinics, or outpatient care centers. They get to interact with people every day to help them get back to physical fitness.
Pharmacy Aides
A pharmacy aide is responsible for assisting pharmacists with their daily tasks. Most people in this profession will work in pharmacies, but some work in hospitals and clinics that offer their own pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmacy aides record drug orders that come into the pharmacy, and they manage most of the orders that come into a pharmacy. They must report to medical supervisors about the stocking needs of the pharmacy, ensuring the pharmacy has an adequate supply of drugs at all times. Most pharmacy aides will also work registers and handle customer service needs as they come about.
Choosing between Medical Assisting Careers
The list above is just a small sample of the medical assisting careers available to you. If you are having a hard time choosing which one is right for you, you might want to get involved with your degree program a little more. That should give you a more detailed overview of what your job duties may be, which should help you make a wise decision. With the right degree and passion for health care, you should get into a career that is perfect for you.
