Qualified Medical Assistant Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Qualified Medical Assistants Job Overview
Qualified medical assistants are trained professionals who assist physicians, podiatrists, and chiropractors by taking care of their
administrative tasks. They are not the same as physician assistants who directly assist physicians in examining, diagnosing and treating
patients.
Qualified Medical Assistants Schools and Degrees
Qualified medical assistants need to complete postsecondary medical assisting programs. They can either opt for 1-year diploma courses, or
2-year associate degrees. They have to be proficient in the fields of anatomy, medical terminology, and physiology. They also have to learn
about medical insurance processing, book keeping, medical transcription, and accounting. After completion of the courses, they have to undergo
internship at a registered healthcare facility.
Job Requirements
Qualified medical assistants need to complete medical assistance programs after completing their secondary examinations. Medical assistants who obtain further specialized certifications, such as certifications in the fields of optometry, opthalmology, or podiatry, can expect to gain a preference in the job market.
Qualified medical assistants need to have a pleasing personality and well-groomed look, since they have to interact directly with patients. They must maintain the confidentiality of sensitive medical information. Additionally, visual acuity and manual dexterity are required in most clinical operations.
By gaining experience and additional certifications and degrees, qualified medical assistants can switch to other career streams. Some qualified medical assistants become instructors in their field. Others go on to become healthcare professionals or nurses.
Nature of Work
Qualified medical assistants maintain files containing medical records of patients, take care of filling up insurance forms, and arrange for laboratory services or hospital admissions, whenever necessary. They also take care of other, non-medical tasks, such as, scheduling appointments of patients with physicians, taking care of timely payment of bills and book-keeping, and handling correspondence. In some of the smaller facilities, qualified medical assistants may have to perform additional duties, such as, collecting and preparing specimens to be sent to the laboratories, sterilizing medical instruments after examinations, and disposing the contaminated instruments and containers. They may also have to give patients instructions regarding special diets and medications, prepare patients for examinations, perform minor tests such as an E.C.G., and draw blood from patients to be sent for testing.
Qualified medical assistants usually work for 40 hours every week. However, some medical assistants working at smaller healthcare facilities may have to work on weekends and holidays as well.
Qualified Medical Assistants Jobs and Outlook
In 2006, approximately 417,000 qualified medical assistants were employed in various healthcare facilities in the US. In the next ten years, this field is expected to have one of the highest growth rates, with a projected increase of about 35%. The highest levels of employment are offered by the following industries:
Employment Services
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
Offices of Physicians
Outpatient Care Centers
Qualified medical assistants who opt for 2-year associate degrees will obviously have an edge in the job market, compared to medical assistants with just a 1-year diploma. The mean hourly wage of qualified medical assistants in the US is around $13.59. They earn about $28,270 every year, on an average.
Job Numbers and Growth
Nationally, there are 417,000 qualified medical assistants. The occupation is characterized by a low joblessness level. The unemployment rate for employees was 4% in 2008.
Area Job Conditions
Looking at employees per capita, St. George (Utah), Hanford (California), and Yuba City (California) rise to the top of the list. Fort Smith (Arkansas), Charlottesville (Virginia), and Danville (Virginia) have the fewest per capita.
The highest salaries for qualified medical assistants are in and around Vallejo (California), San Francisco (California), and Rochester (Minnesota). The lowest-paying areas are Monroe (Louisiana), Lake Charles (Louisiana), and Lubbock (Texas).
Training and Education
Successful workers find it useful to have moderate-term on-the-job training. According to recent surveys, 10% of employees had received a degree. Qualified medical assistants with some schooling beyond high school, but not a college degree, total about 59%. A high school degree was all that was needed for 31% of workers. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Qualified medical assistants working less than full time, whether by design or chance, were 23% of the total.
Qualified Medical Assistants by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.