10 Jobs Similar to Medical Assistant

If you’re interested in a career in healthcare but don’t want to be a doctor or a nurse, a medical assistant might be a good fit for you. Here are 10 jobs similar to medical assistant that you might want to consider.

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Job Description

A medical assistant is an allied health professional that supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the office running smoothly. The precise nature of the job varies from one office to another, but most Medical Assistants have a fairly consistent set of duties.

In general, medical assistants are responsible for basic office duties such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and greeting patients. They also often handle more specific tasks such as taking patient medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting with minor office procedures, and giving routine vaccinations. In some cases, medical assistants may also be responsible for handling billing and insurance paperwork.

Duties and Responsibilities

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the size and type of practice. In small practices, medical assistants usually are responsible for both administrative and clinical duties, while in large practices, they generally are assigned specific tasks. Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate.

Duties and responsibilities of medical assistants include:

-Answering phones
-Greeting patients
-Updating and filing patient medical records
-Scheduling appointments
-Arranging laboratory services
-Instructing patients about medication and special diets
-Preparing patients for examination
-Taking patient vital signs
-Recording patient information in medical records
-Administering medications as directed by a physician
Coding and filling out insurance forms
handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping

Salary

Medical assistants are one of the most versatile and in-demand jobs in the medical field. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep doctors and other medical professionals organized and focused on patient care. If you’re interested in a career in healthcare but don’t want to go to medical school, becoming a medical assistant could be the perfect solution.

While most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, many have completed postsecondary education programs as well. Salary potential for medical assistants is excellent, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2018. Here are 10 jobs similar to medical assistant that offer great salary potential.

1. Dental Assistant: Median annual salary of $38,660
2. Pharmacy Technician: Median annual salary of $32,700
3. Physical Therapy Assistant: Median annual salary of $48,090
4. Occupational Therapy Assistant: Median annual salary of $60,220
5. Speech-Language Pathologist: Median annual salary of $77,510
6. Audiologist: Median annual salary of $75,980
7. Registered Nurse: Median annual salary of $71,730
8. Nurse Practitioner: Median annual salary of $107,030
9. Physician Assistant: Median annual salary of $108,610
10. Anesthesiologist: Median annual salary of $265,990

Employment Outlook

Medical assistants are in demand and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects medical assistant employment will grow by 29% from 2019 to 2029 — that’s almost double the average growth rate for all occupations! If you’re interested in a career in healthcare but don’t want to go to school for years, consider a job as a medical assistant. MA’s provide support to doctors and other healthcare professionals and perform routine clinical tasks, such as taking vital signs, administering injections, drawing blood and updating patient medical histories. If you like working with people and want a career with good job prospects, read on to learn more about 10 jobs similar to medical assistant.

Education and Training

A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who provides basic patient care, administrative support, and clinical assistance to physicians and other medical personnel. As the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, so does the demand for qualified medical assistants.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in medical assisting, you may be wondering what other jobs are similar. Here are 10 jobs that may be a good fit for you:

1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
2. Registered Nurse (RN)
3. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
4. Patient Care Technician (PCT)
5. EMT/Paramedic
6. Pharmacy Technician
7. Phlebotomist
8. medical billing and Coding Specialist
9. Health Information Technician
10. Laboratory Technician

Certification

Many employers will require candidates for medical assistant positions to have completed a postsecondary education program and to be certified. The certification process usually involves passing an exam administered by a professional organization, such as the American Association of Medical Assistants, or a state-level organization, such as the American Medical Technologists.

Skills

In order to be a medical assistant, you need to have certain skills. These include:
-Strong communication skills. Medical assistants must be able to clearly and effectively communicate with patients, doctors, and other members of the healthcare team. They need to be able to understand and relay complex information.
-Organizational skills. Medical assistants must be able to keep track of patients’ medical histories, schedules, and treatments. They need to be able to prioritize tasks and handle a high volume of work without making mistakes.
-Interpersonal skills. Medical assistants need to be able to build rapport with patients and maintain a professional demeanor at all times. They need to be able to defuse difficult situations and deal with difficult people calmly and efficiently.
-Detail-oriented. Medical assistants must pay close attention to detail in order to accurately and completely document patient information. They also need to be able to follow instructions carefully in order to properly administer medications and treatments.
-Physical stamina. Medical assistants need to be able to stand for long periods of time and do light physical labor such as moving patients from their beds to wheelchairs or assisting with examinations.

Advancement Opportunities

One of the great things about working as a medical assistant is that there are many advancement opportunities available. If you’re looking for a new challenge or want to earn more money, consider one of these 10 jobs.

1. Medical Office Manager – As a medical office manager, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a medical office. You’ll need to have excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as experience working in a medical office.

2. Clinical Manager – A clinical manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a clinical area, such as a doctor’s office or hospital department. You’ll need to have strong leadership and management skills, as well as knowledge of medical procedures and regulations.

3. Practice Administrator – A practice administrator is responsible for the overall administration of a medical practice. You’ll need to have excellent business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge of the healthcare industry.

4. Healthcare Consultant – As a healthcare consultant, you’ll advise healthcare organizations on how to improve their operations. You’ll need to have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as knowledge of the healthcare industry.

5. Healthcare Administrator – A healthcare administrator is responsible for the overall administration of a healthcare facility, such as a hospital or nursing home. You’ll need to have strong leadership and management skills, as well as knowledge of healthcare regulations.

6. Hospital Executive – A hospital executive is responsible for the overall operation of a hospital or healthcare system. You’ll need to have strong leadership and management skills, as well as knowledge of the healthcare industry.

7 .Physician Assistant – As a physician assistant, you’ll provide direct patient care under the supervision of a physician. You’ll need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as knowledge of medical procedures and regulations

Working Conditions

The working conditions for medical assistants are usually good. They work in well-lit, ventilated, and clean areas. Most medical assistants work in doctors’ offices, clinics, or other outpatient care facilities. A few work in hospitals. Some medical assistants may be exposed to contagious diseases, blood, and other body fluids. They must take precautions to avoid contact with these substances.

Job outlook

Medical assistants are in high demand due to the growing healthcare industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 19 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.1 With an aging population and advances in medical technology, there will be an increased need for medical assistants in doctors’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities.

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants,
on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm (visited January 27, 2020).