Medical Assistant Career Path
Medical Assisting is an entry-level position that can open doors to various rewarding careers. It has the lucrative advantage of being fairly easy to get your foot in the door, requiring only a high-school degree or equivalent, while exposing the Medical Assistant to myriad of options and networking opportunities. The high demand for Medical Assistants, and advancement options offered, make it a solid career choice.
As a Medical Assistant, you will be afforded the chance to gain hands on experience in a number of related positions. Doing so provides you the opportunity to decide which suits you best and pursue it. Following are some of the similar positions you will be exposed to and may wish to transition into:
Medical Records Technician
People holding this position ensure data is correctly recorded and used. They serve as a crucial connection between doctor and patient. A Medical Records Technician is needed to properly distribute necessary information to patients and staff and often supervise administrative tasks. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLR) states the mean salary of this position at $35,920 annually.
Medical Transcriptionist
As a Medical Assistant you will be exposed to medical terms regularly. This training can be successfully parlayed into a career in Medical Transcription. Insurance companies, medical offices both large and small, and hospitals all value efficient Medical Transcriptionists. BLS reports the average annual salary to be $33,500. There is also a higher than average instance of telecommuting for people holding this title.
Medical Coding and Billing Specialist
Medical Assistants are often able to cross train for a Medical Coding position while on the job. Both clinical and administrative tasks prepare you for this career. Being apprised of the latest insurance policies, medical billing procedures and lab protocol puts you in a position to correctly process the vital data needed to be a successful Medical Billing Specialist. With a mean annual wage of $35,920, soaring into the $60,000 range for those with experience and/or working in specialties such as pharmaceutical, as well as a steady, growing demand, this may be an appealing option for you.
Medical Assistant
An Overview
A visit with a doctor is really a visit with a whole team. Medical Assistants are an important role in that team. A Medical Assistant may be seen in the front office or filling a crucial role behind the scenes, but they are sure to be found in both small doctor's offices and large medical organizations.
A Medical Assistant is a broad title, and encompasses a both traditional office assistant responsibilities including answering the phones and filing, as well as tasks including accurately recording a patient's medical history and taking their vital signs.
Despite economic trials, this profession continues to grow at a consistent and fast pace. Medical support staff remains in very high demand. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth rate of 30.9% from 2020 to 2030 for Medical Assistants. This is an additional 162,900 new positions. Such continued growth places Medical Assistants firmly among the top in demand jobs in healthcare.
Salary
The median yearly salary for a Medical Assistant in 2020 was $39,100 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top paid among them made $60,810, working primarily in doctor's offices and hospitals. Geographically, Medical Assistants made the highest salaries in San Francisco, Massachusetts, and California.
Training
Medical Assistants do not require any formal or specialized training or degrees. With a high school diploma, you can begin your career with on the job training. Though not generally necessary, there are a variety of certification programs and associate's degrees that increase the likelihood of being hired and receiving a higher salary. Some of these are offered in the field and teach medical terminology, some clinical procedures and laboratory protocol.
Summary
While certifications and education will likely aid in the ease of finding a position as well as the salary offered, Medical Assistants do not require formal training or education. They are in high demand and are extremely likely to remain so. A Medical Assistant enjoys varied job responsibilities, both in the examining room, laboratory and office.
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