Of the many careers in healthcare, few offer as many anticipated opportunities as medical assisting. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical assistant jobs are predicted to increase by 16% through the year 2031. Comparing this percentage with the 5% average growth rate for all occupations illustrates the opportunities that may be available. Learn more about the rising demand for medical assistants and the vital role they play in healthcare from Prism Career Institute. We provide medical assistant training in Philadelphia, PA, and at our campuses in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ.
Why Medical Assistant Jobs Are Increasing
The 16% spike in medical assistant positions equates to approximately 123,000 new jobs each year until 2031. Many of these openings stem from personnel either retiring from the workforce or transferring to other career fields. This trend is common among many professions, so what explains the significant boost in medical assistant career opportunities? The following are some reasons this occupation may be experiencing such rapid growth:
An Aging Population
While census data indicates that the Millennial generation makes up the largest percentage of the population in the US, baby boomers are a close second. As baby boomers continue to age, the healthcare needs of this group will likely compound, driving the demand for various medical services.
Since medical assistant responsibilities encompass a wide variety of administrative and clinical tasks, hospitals, physician’s offices, and other facilities will require more of these professionals to provide essential services to patients.
Transferable Skills
Another of the main reasons medical assistant jobs are in such high demand is their highly versatile skill sets. Between helping doctors during patient visits, logging patient information into electronic records, and preparing supplies for laboratory tests, the tasks these professionals complete are integral to the healthcare system.
Roles for medical assistants appear across an array of healthcare settings, as well, further reinforcing the number of careers available to them. Nearly every specialty employs these workers, from dermatology to cardiology. Specific medical assistant career paths to consider include:
- Administrative medical assistants: While many medical assistant jobs require applicants to take on clerical and clinical duties, some restrict tasks to office responsibilities, such as handling insurance claims, scheduling appointments, and contacting patients via telephone.
- Clinical medical assistants: For those asked to perform only medical tasks, their daily routine may involve preparing lab and imaging tests, tending to wounds, sanitizing examination rooms, and relaying instructions to patients.
- Medical billers and coders: These professionals organize patient data, especially insurance information, to ensure the facility receives payment for services. They may interact less with patients than other medical assistants.
- Phlebotomists: These medical assistants work primarily in labs, drawing blood and getting samples ready for testing, research, transfusions, and similar applications.
The Importance of Medical Assistant Jobs
More hospitals and practices are realizing how crucial medical assistants are to the success of their operations, which may also explain the many openings for these healthcare professionals. The following are a handful of the benefits medical assistants provide that enhance the entire healthcare system:
Create a More Efficient Organization
Since medical assistants have such wide-reaching knowledge of the healthcare process, they can help maintain better communication between patients, their doctors, and other parties, such as insurance providers. By ensuring people understand what their physicians are prescribing or what their insurance covers, they may reduce confusion and ultimately contribute to a higher quality experience for the patient.
Empower Physicians to Better Do Their Jobs
Medical assistants also take on tasks that doctors may otherwise need to do themselves. In this way, they give providers more time to devote to their primary responsibility – delivering compassionate, patient-focused care.
Affect How Patients View Healthcare
Often the first staff patients speak to when they come in for an appointment, medical assistants can influence patients’ attitudes about the facility or healthcare altogether. A caring medical assistant may be the difference between a patient who’s reluctant to seek diagnosis and treatment and one who works diligently to prioritize health and wellness.
Start Your Journey Toward a Medical Assistant Career
Individuals who wish to enter this rapidly growing field must first investigate medical assistant programs to determine which will best prepare them for their desired career path. At Prism Career Institute, our medical assistant program features a comprehensive curriculum taught by skilled instructors who provide students with the administrative and clinical knowledge to apply for many medical assistant positions.
The program also includes an externship that enables students to gain on-the-job training from an experienced healthcare professional. Contact us today to learn more about our medical assistant programs in Philadelphia, PA, as well as Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ.