What You Need to Know About Medical Assistant
Medical Assistant Definition 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.
Life As a Medical Assistant
- Set up medical laboratory equipment.
- Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
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Skills Needed to be a Medical Assistant
When polled, Medical Assistants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Medical Insurance Coding Specialist
- Ocular Care Aide
- Eye Technician
- Clinical Office Technician
- Autopsy Assistant
Medical Assistant Employment Estimates
There were about 634,400 jobs for Medical Assistant in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Salary for a Medical Assistant
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 each U.S. state?
| 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 do Medical Assistants Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Medical Assistants may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming a Medical Assistant
Education needed to be a Medical Assistant:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Assistant?
Where Medical Assistants Are Employed
Below are examples of industries where Medical Assistants work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Medical Assistant might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Medical Assistant in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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