Working in the medical field allows you to help keep those in your community happy and healthy. While doctors and nurses might be the first positions that come to mind when talking about medical settings, there are a wide range of different career opportunities available, including different medical assistant roles.
At Prism Career Institute, you can learn the skills and techniques you’ll need to thrive as a medical assistant, regardless of where your work takes you. Here, we discuss how to decide on your path as a medical assistant.
What Is a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants are members of the healthcare industry who work alongside doctors, including pediatricians, oncologists, cardiologists, and those in other disciplines. They typically work in doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals, allowing qualified candidates different opportunities. These professionals are given a range of responsibilities, making each day feel different.
Some common medical assistant duties include:
- Recording and updating patient’s medical histories
- Preparing patients for exams
- Discussing treatment procedures
- Performing phlebotomies
- Collecting specimens for lab testing
- Assisting doctors during exams
- Handling basic lab tests
- Performing electrocardiograms
- Helping patients understand medications
- Administering medications and vaccinations
- Transmitting refills of prescriptions
- Changing dressings
Aside from these clinical-related tasks, medical assistants will need to take on administrative duties as well. This includes things like answering phone lines, greeting patients, filling out forms for insurance, scheduling appointments, and general bookkeeping. These professionals are imperative when it comes to the communication between patients and their doctors, helping everyone stay connected.
Medical Assistant Roles to Ponder
While many in these positions may have some overlap in their day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll be interested to know that there are various directions you can go in with this training. These may include:
Patient-Focused Positions
Those who wish to build strong relationships with patients will be glad to know that there are specialty positions that let you focus on patient care. These jobs are sought after because they allow you to work directly with patients to help doctors create treatment plans. These specialties are particularly intriguing because there are different work environments that may suit your preferences. For instance, those who are great with children should consider working in a pediatrician’s office, while those who want to help the elderly can apply at senior centers and nursing homes.
Medicine-Focused Positions
If you’re most interested in the actual medical aspects of the practice, medical assistants are still a great option. You’ll find positions that work alongside surgeons, orthopedic specialists, or allergists. Medical assistants who work in lab environments can use their knowledge and abilities to help with all sorts of exciting tasks.
Clerical-Focused Positions
If working with technology is up your alley, look for a medical assistant job that stresses administrative tasks. These positions emphasize the ability of professionals to effectively communicate, both through verbal and written mediums. Those who do these jobs well help to ensure smooth, efficient practices.
Our Medical Assistant School
The medical assistant program at Prism Career Institute is committed to helping students get more than just a quality education. Our curriculum is geared toward helping you get the knowledge and training you need to get your diploma. You’ll experience challenging courses like medical law and ethics, pharmacology, electrocardiography (EKG), and more, giving you a well-rounded education. However, our program also helps students gain other invaluable skills needed for the healthcare industry, including infection control, career development, and professional communication.
Because we offer students the opportunity to take day or evening courses, you’ll be able to fit your education into your busy schedule. The program is available at all our locations in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, New Jersey, as well as Philadelphia, PA. The 40-week program is designed to offer a nice mix of lectures (including online lessons), lab work, and externship hours. This combination helps students realize their potential while getting a well-rounded education. After students have completed their coursework and externship, they are eligible to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. They can even take the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) or Certified Electro-cardiology Technician (CET) exams.
Start Your Medical Assistant Career Journey Today
If any of the medical assistant roles sound interesting, you’ll want to visit Prism Career Institute. We offer campuses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, offering in-depth programs that help challenge students in the best way possible. Our financial aid office is here to help make your education easier to afford if you qualify, so you can explore the career of your dreams. We even offer a medical assistant career guide that can help you dive deeper into the field to determine if it’s right for you. Contact us today if you have any questions about any of our programs or are interested in enrollment.