Medical Assistants

Whether you’re finishing high school or your college education, almost every graduate in today’s economy has the same fear. If you’re stepping out into the real world with a diploma in hand, the job market right now might seem a little … intimidating, to put it lightly.

You’ve seen the headlines. Each day brings news of more layoffs and projections for a continuing sluggish job market. No matter what part of the nation you live in, jobs seem harder and harder to find. So is there any good news out there for recent high school grads? Believe it or not, the answer is yes. Despite the poor economy, there are growing demands for skilled workers in the healthcare field. And, with the proper training, you can learn how to make your way as a medical assistant.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many jobs in the medical field are growing faster than the national average with growth opportunities being described as excellent. With thousands of Americans now searching for ways to establish themselves in a field that is always in demand and offers them a career rather than just a job, many of them are attending career colleges – sometimes referred to as trade schools – where they are trained to take on a specific job after graduation. This is quite different from the approach taken at a traditional college or university where you study a general field and then determine – for yourself – how to apply your education in the professional world.

“So many high school graduates believe that in order to have a career in the medical field, you have to be a doctor or nurse,” said Terry Hess, President and CEO of Laurus Technical Institute. “Those career fields both require significant time and money. But you can actually make a solid career for yourself that means something to you and the lives of your patients right of out of high school. Medical assistants are an important part of any medical office, and the medical staff and its patients often rely on them to deliver services to patients.”

With short-term training as a medical assistant, you can go straight from high school to a career in a growing field. Graduates from career colleges are now assisting doctors and medical facilities across the state with important duties such as record keeping, diagnostic tests, patient examinations, prescription preparation and a host of other issues.

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, chiropractors and other health practitioners running smoothly. Students who are pursuing certification as medical assistants learn the fundamentals of medical diagnostic techniques, anatomy and physiology of the body, CPR, standard clinical and laboratory procedures, injections, electrocardiography (EKG), and more. Once they complete their program, graduates can go to work as clinical medical assistants, administrative medical assistants, medical receptionists, medical insurance billers, medical bookkeepers and laboratory assistants.

Of course, the duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, and those duties often depend on the location and size of the practice or the practitioner’s specialty. In some small practices, for example, medical assistants usually handle several tasks that involve both administrative and clinical duties. Your work might involve updating and filing a patient’s medical records, filling out insurance forms, and arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services.

On the clinical side, your daily job tasks might include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. You might also instruct patients about medications 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.
Some medical assistants arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.

And, there’s more good news: In January 2009, employment declined in nearly all major industries except healthcare, which, according to the BLS, continued adding jobs. These growths can be attributed to the health needs of an aging baby boomer population who rely increasingly on wellness and medical care. And the BLS also predicts that careers involving business services will add 4.1 million new jobs from 2006-2016.

Now, with your degree in hand, what decision will you make? If you’re looking for an important career with stability, a position as a medical assistant might take some of the fear out of your post-high school ambitions.

Editorial is provided by Kevin Kuzma, editor of Career College Central Magazine.