Are you interested in a healthcare job that lets you help people recover from injury? If so, becoming an orthopedics medical assistant may be the best career choice for you.
Prism Career Institute offers healthcare-related training programs, including a Medical Assistant program, at our campuses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Here, we discuss becoming an orthopedics medical assistant, the job outlook, and more.
What Is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who performs a variety of administrative and clinical duties under a doctor’s supervision. Medical assistants are crucial to fostering medical environments that run smoothly and creating positive patient experiences. The job duties of a medical assistant will depend on what type of setting they are in and what their specialty is. However, some common ones include:
- Scheduling appointments
- Maintaining patient medical records and histories
- Processing billing and coding claims
- Taking and recording vital signs
- Preparing patients for examination
- Communicating with patients
- Drawing blood or collecting samples
- Dressing wounds
One benefit of a medical assistant career is that they have the flexibility to choose what type of workplace they work in and what they want to focus on. Medical assistants can work at hospitals, clinics, cancer centers, pediatric offices, orthopedic offices, and other medical settings.
What Is an Orthopedics Medical Assistant?
An orthopedics medical assistant is a medical assistant who specializes in orthopedics, or conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. They often work in orthopedic offices and help the medical staff with typical medical assistant duties. They also complete orthopedics-specific tasks, like preparing medications and injections, removing dressings or casts, and assisting with procedures.
To become an orthopedic medical assistant, prospective students generally need a high school diploma or GED. The next step is to enroll in a postsecondary education certificate or degree program like the one offered at Prism Career Institute. These programs teach the necessary skills to help students succeed as medical assistants. Usually, students must also complete hands-on training either through an externship or apprenticeship. Different states have different requirements for medical assistants, so prospective students should make sure to know their specific state’s rules. If a student is interested in a specialization like orthopedics, they may need additional training after finishing their classes at Prism Career Institute.
Orthopedics Medical Assistant Job Prospects, Mobility, and Salary
Medical assistant careers offer strong job prospects and mobility. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 14% through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. On average, nearly 114,600 medical assistant job openings are projected each year over the decade. Medical assistants are essential to helping all healthcare facilities run smoothly, so they will continue to be necessary in the field.
Medical assistants often work full-time, and some may work evening, weekend, or holiday shifts if they work in hospitals. Their salary can vary depending on the candidate’s experience, skill level, certifications, and other factors. Regardless of the salary, medical assistants often enjoy their jobs because of the rewarding feeling of helping patients feel better. Interacting with patients and helping them navigate the healthcare system also can offer satisfaction for many medical assistants.
The Medical Assistant Program at Prism Career Institute
The Medical Assistant program at Prism Career Institute can be a great springboard for a career as an orthopedic medical assistant. Our program provides classroom instruction and hands-on learning to help students learn the skills they need to become medical assistants. However, additional training may be required for further specialization.
Our Medical Assistant program is taught at our campuses in Philadelphia, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and West Atlantic City, NJ. The program can be completed in around six months and features small classroom environments and individualized attention to help students succeed. Classes are available both remotely and in-person, during the day and during the evening, to increase education access for busy people. Prism Career Institute also offers competitive tuition rates and financial aid for those who qualify. For more information about our Medical Assistant program at Prism Career Institute, read through our catalog for program details or our medical assistant career guide.
Enroll in Our Medical Assistant Program Today
Are you ready to make a career change and become an orthopedics medical assistant? If so, Prism Career Institute is the place to go in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with our Medical Assistant program. If you’re still not convinced, take our free healthcare career quiz to see how ready you are for a healthcare career. To learn more about our medical assistant program, contact us or apply online today.