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What is a Medical Assistant?
Job Description & Duties Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant
- Schedule appointments for patients.
- Record patients’ medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
- Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
- Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
- Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
- Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
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Medical Assistant Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Medical Assistants say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Medical Assistant Jobs
- Ocular Care Aide
- Chiropractor Assistant
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- Health Services Information Specialist
- Optometric Technician
Is There Job Demand for Medical Assistants?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 634,400 jobs in the United States for Medical Assistant. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 29% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 184,000 new jobs for Medical Assistant by 2026. There will be an estimated 94,900 positions for Medical Assistant per year.
The states with the most job growth for Medical Assistant are Utah, Arizona, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Mississippi, or Illinois. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Medical Assistants Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Medical Assistants is somewhere between $24,790 and $47,250.
Medical Assistants who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Medical Assistants make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $28,460 |
| Alaska | $45,490 |
| Arizona | $33,410 |
| Arkansas | $30,320 |
| California | $38,250 |
| Colorado | $36,180 |
| Connecticut | $38,350 |
| Delaware | $33,350 |
| District of Columbia | $42,010 |
| Florida | $32,870 |
| Georgia | $32,060 |
| Hawaii | $38,040 |
| Idaho | $33,540 |
| Illinois | $35,910 |
| Indiana | $32,580 |
| Iowa | $34,990 |
| Kansas | $31,400 |
| Kentucky | $31,900 |
| Louisiana | $28,740 |
| Maine | $35,160 |
| Maryland | $36,350 |
| Massachusetts | $40,270 |
| Michigan | $32,540 |
| Minnesota | $40,320 |
| Mississippi | $30,470 |
| Missouri | $32,260 |
| Montana | $34,520 |
| Nebraska | $34,670 |
| Nevada | $33,610 |
| New Hampshire | $36,730 |
| New Jersey | $35,840 |
| New Mexico | $30,750 |
| New York | $37,560 |
| North Carolina | $32,710 |
| North Dakota | $36,560 |
| Ohio | $31,900 |
| Oklahoma | $30,960 |
| Oregon | $38,260 |
| Pennsylvania | $32,770 |
| Rhode Island | $35,830 |
| South Carolina | $32,120 |
| South Dakota | $29,890 |
| Tennessee | $32,370 |
| Texas | $31,580 |
| Utah | $33,000 |
| Vermont | $37,740 |
| Virginia | $35,010 |
| Washington | $41,340 |
| West Virginia | $28,160 |
| Wisconsin | $36,410 |
| Wyoming | $33,830 |
What Tools & Technology do Medical Assistants Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Medical Assistants:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Database software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- MEDITECH software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Medical condition coding software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Billing software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Appointment scheduling software
How do I Become a Medical Assistant?
Individuals working as a Medical Assistant have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Medical Assistant may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Medical Assistant sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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