When it comes to choosing the right career path, becoming a medical assistant can provide a variety of benefits. The need for medical assistants in the healthcare field is expected to increase by about 16% in the next 10 years. This means graduates have more options in terms of finding a job they are most passionate about. At Prism Career Institute, our medical assistant program in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, has the resources necessary to give students the experience they need to succeed. Here, we discuss what medical assistants do and the different jobs offered.
What Do Medical Assistants Do?
Medical assistants are trained to complete a variety of clinical and administrative jobs in many healthcare sectors. They can work in physician offices, hospitals, and other settings. Specific jobs for medical assistants can vary depending on which healthcare setting you choose to work in. Some general tasks medical assistants may oversee include:
- Patient prep
- Updating/filing insurance forms and patient medical records
- Explaining medical procedures to patients
- Billing and coding
- Gathering patient medical history and vitals
- Filling out hospital administration forms
- Completing referrals and lab services
Because medical assistant careers are available all over the country, this makes it easy for graduates to obtain a job in any location. This makes medical assisting a great option for people looking to explore new places while having a steady career. Not only does medical assisting offer job security and consistent hours, but graduates can make a good living depending on the type of work and setting in which they work.
Jobs for Medical Assistants
Medical assisting can take place in many healthcare settings, such as:
Hospitals
Hospitals are a popular setting for medical assistants to work in. Medical assistants can work in many areas of the hospital, such as inpatient care areas, laboratories, and outpatient clinics. Here, they are in charge of helping physicians and other healthcare workers provide patient care. They typically assist with clinical duties, clerical support, and laboratory activities, as well as collecting specimens for testing.
Because hospitals are open 24/7, medical assistants can be expected to work unpredictable shifts at any time of the day. Often, patient care at hospitals is urgent, meaning you must be flexible and ready to lend a hand when necessary. This is a great option for graduates who want to gain experience in a variety of different medical fields, allowing them to discover which they enjoy working with most.
Doctor’s Offices
Doctor’s offices are also another popular setting for medical assistants to work in. This can include offices in a variety of fields, including pediatrics, family medicine, gynecology, cardiology, geriatrics, and more. Because many of the same regular patients return consistently for care, this allows you to create personalized patient relationships.
Every medical specialty requires medical assistants, too, so assistants can seek work in gynecology, dermatology, cardiology, or any other medical specialties that interest them.
Medical Research Centers
Medical research centers are places where medical professionals’ complete clinical trials and other research. Here, medical assistant responsibilities include delivering tests, collecting samples, preparing samples, and recording patient information and data.
Insurance Companies
This can be a great job for medical assistants who like to work with numbers and can work well on their own. Although they may not have the chance to create patient relationships, they are still an important part of the medical care journey. Because medical assistants know and understand medical jargon used on paperwork, they can be an incredibly helpful resource for insurance companies. Medical assistants with a job at an insurance company could be responsible for looking over patient records and gathering insurance claims, hospital admissions, and laboratory services.
Nursing Homes
Medical assistants play a large role in keeping things organized at nursing homes or assisted living facilities. They can file and organize patient records and insurance claims, and they can schedule medical appointments for residents. A medical assistant career in a nursing home allows you to create close, personal relationships with those in the community. You could be responsible for completing routine health exams, such as exam prep and monitoring heart rate.
Urgent Care Facilities
Similar to a hospital, urgent care facilities specialize in giving care to patients with varying medical conditions. Because of this, graduates can earn experience in a wide array of medical fields. Urgent care facilities allow medical assistants to not only meet new patients every day but also explore their options without the fast-paced, high-stress environment of a hospital.
Start Your Journey Today
At Prism Career Institute, we are here to help graduates prepare for working in the healthcare field. Although additional training may be required for some working environments, we aim to give students the resources necessary to thrive. We offer daytime courses at campuses in Philadelphia, PA, as well as both daytime and evening courses at Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, all with opportunities for financial aid to qualifying students. To learn more about our medical assistant program, contact us or apply online today.