Nature
of Work
Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks
to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors,
and optometrists running smoothly. They should not be confused with
physician assistants who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under
the direct supervision of a physician.
The duties of medical
assistants vary from office to office, depending on office location,
size, and specialty. In small practices, medical assistants are
usually "generalists," handling both administrative and
clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician,
or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize
in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.
Medical assistants perform
many administrative duties. They answer telephones, greet patients,
update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms,
handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital
admission and laboratory services, and handle billing and bookkeeping.
Clinical duties vary
according to state law and include taking medical histories and
recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients,
preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician
during the examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory
specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose
of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They
instruct patients about medication and special diets, prepare and
administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug
refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw
blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove
sutures, and change dressings.
Medical assistants may
also arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase
and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining
rooms neat and clean.
Assistants who specialize
have additional duties. Podiatric medical assistants make castings
of feet, expose and develop x rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery.
Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide medical
eye care. They administer diagnostic tests, measure and record vision,
and test eye muscle function. They also show patients how to insert,
remove, and care for contact lenses; and they apply eye dressings.
Under the direction of the physician, they may administer eye medications.
They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist
the ophthalmologist in surgery.
Working
Conditions
Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They
constantly interact with other people, and may have to handle several
responsibilities at once.
Most full-time medical
assistants work a regular 40-hour week. Some work part-time, evenings,
or weekends.
Employment
Medical assistants held about 329,000 jobs in 2000. Sixty percent
were in physicians’ offices, and about 15 percent were in
hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities. The rest
were in nursing homes, offices of other health practitioners, and
other health care facilities.
Training,
Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Most employers prefer to hire graduates of formal programs in medical
assisting. Such programs are offered in vocational-technical high
schools, postsecondary vocational schools, community and junior
colleges, and in colleges and universities. Postsecondary programs
usually last either one year, resulting in a certificate or diploma,
or two years, resulting in an associate degree. Courses cover anatomy,
physiology, and medical terminology, as well as typing, transcription,
recordkeeping, accounting, and insurance processing. Students learn
laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical
principles, medication administration, and first aid. They study
office practices, patient relations, medical law, and ethics. Accredited
programs include an externship that provides practical experience
in physicians' offices, hospitals, or other health care facilities.
Formal training in medical
assisting, while generally preferred, is not always required. Some
medical assistants are trained on the job, although this is less
common than in the past. Applicants usually need a high school diploma
or the equivalent. Recommended high school courses include mathematics,
health, biology, typing, bookkeeping, computers, and office skills.
Volunteer experience in the health care field is also helpful.
Two agencies accredit
programs in medical assisting: the Commission on Accreditation of
Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau
of Health Education Schools (ABHES). In 1999, there were about 450
medical assisting programs accredited by CAAHEP and over 140 accredited
by ABHES. The Committee on Accreditation for Ophthalmic Medical
Personnel accredited 14 programs in ophthalmic medical assisting.
Although there is no
licensing for medical assistants, some states require them to take
a test or a course before they can perform certain tasks, such as
taking x-rays.
Employers prefer to hire
experienced workers or certified applicants who have passed a national
examination, indicating that the medical assistant meets certain
standards of competence. The American Association of Medical Assistants
awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential; the American
Medical Technologists awards the Registered Medical Assistant credential;
the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants awards the
Podiatric Medical Assistant Certified credential; and the Joint
Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology awards the
Ophthalmic Medical Assistant credential at three levels: Certified
Ophthalmic Assistant, Certified Ophthalmic Technician, and Certified
Ophthalmic Medical Technologist.
Medical assistants deal
with the public; therefore, they must be neat and well-groomed and
have a courteous, pleasant manner. Medical assistants must be able
to put patients at ease and explain physicians’ instructions.
They must respect the confidential nature of medical information.
Clinical duties require a reasonable level of manual dexterity and
visual acuity.
Medical assistants may
be able to advance to office manager. They may qualify for a variety
of administrative support occupations, or may teach medical assisting.
Some, with additional education, enter other health occupations
such as nursing and medical technology.
Job
Outlook
Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster
than the average for all occupations through the year 2010 as the
health services industry expands due to technological advances in
medicine, and a growing and aging population. It is one of the fastest
growing occupations.
Employment growth will
be driven by the increase in the number of group practices, clinics,
and other health care facilities that need a high proportion of
support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who
can handle both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants
primarily work in outpatient settings, where much faster than average
growth is expected.
In view of the preference
of many health care employers for trained personnel, job prospects
should be best for medical assistants with formal training or experience,
particularly those with certification.
Earnings
The earnings of medical assistants vary, depending on experience,
skill level, and location. Median annual earnings of medical assistants
were $23,000 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,460
and $27,460 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,700,
and the highest 10 percent earned more than $32,850 a year. Median
annual earnings in the industries employing the largest number of
medical assistants in 2000 were as follows:
Offices and clinics of medical doctors $23,610
Hospitals 22,950
Health and allied services, not elsewhere classified 22,860
Offices of osteopathic physicians 21,420
Offices of other health practitioners 20,860
Related
Occupations
Workers in other medical support occupations include dental assistants,
medical records and health information technicians, medical secretaries,
occupational therapist assistants and aides, pharmacy aides, and
physical therapist assistants and aides.
Excerpted
and adapted from Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2001-02 edition.
US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
