The Top 5 Medical Assistant Jobs in Bakersfield
Check out the top 5 medical assistant jobs in Bakersfield. With a growing healthcare industry, these jobs are in high demand. Find out which position is right for you!
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Job Description
Medical assistants are important members of the healthcare team. They perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. Medical Assistants take on many responsibilities, from scheduling appointments and taking medical histories to preparing patients for examinations, administering medications, and performing basic laboratory tests.
Most medical assistants have postsecondary education from a certificate or diploma program. Some states have certification requirements for medical assistants. Most medical assistants complete a one-year or two-year program and earn a certificate or diploma, although some complete postsecondary education courses lasting up to four years. A small number of medical assistants have formal training in other healthcare fields such as nursing or physical therapy.
Duties
Medical assistants play an important role in healthcare facilities. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: greeting patients, scheduling appointments, taking patient medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, conducting laboratory tests and assisting the physician with patient care.
Becoming a medical assistant is a great way to get started in the medical field. With the aging population and the increase in chronic conditions, there is a great demand for medical assistants. Bakersfield is no exception! Here are the top 5 medical assistant jobs in Bakersfield:
1. Family Medicine Medical Assistant
2. Internal Medicine Medical Assistant
3. Pediatrics Medical Assistant
4. Obstetrics & Gynecology Medical Assistant
5. Surgery Medical Assistant
Qualifications
In order to become a medical assistant, you will need to complete a accredited medical assisting program. Upon completion of your program, you will need to obtain certification through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be eligible for certification, you must pass their certification exam. Once you have obtained your certification, you will be able to apply for medical assistant jobs in Bakersfield.
Some medical assistant jobs may require additional qualifications, such as CPR certification or experience in a particular type of medical setting. However, many employers are willing to provide on-the-job training for entry-level medical assistants.
Below are five of the top medical assistant jobs in Bakersfield, California:
1. Clinical Medical Assistant
A clinical medical assistant is responsible for performing a variety of clinical tasks in a healthcare setting. Clinical duties may include taking patient histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting with procedures, and providing patient education. Clinical medical assistants must have good communication skills and be able to work well under pressure.
2. Front Office Medical Assistant
A front office medical assistant is responsible for performing administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. Front office duties may include scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, handling billing and coding paperwork, and answering patient questions. Front office medical assistants must have excellent customer service skills and be detail-oriented.
3. Back Office Medical Assistant
A back office medical assistant is responsible for performing clinical tasks in a healthcare setting. Back office duties may include taking patient histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting with procedures, and providing patient education. Back office medical assistants must have good communication skills and be able to work well under pressure.
4. billing/Coding Specialist
A billing/coding specialist is responsible for handling the billing and coding paperwork in a healthcare setting. Duties may include verifying insurance coverage, processing claims, coded diagnosis and procedure information into the computer system, and preparing bills for patients’ accounts receivable departments . Billing/coding specialists must be detail-oriented and have experience with various computer software programs used in healthcare billing and coding .
5 . Insurance Verification Specialist
An insurance verification specialist is responsible for verifying insurance coverage of patients in a healthcare setting prior to their appointment or procedure . Duties may include contacting insurance companies , checking policy benefits , precertifying procedures , and answering patient questions regarding their coverage . Insurance verification specialists must have excellent customer service skills
Salary
The average salary for a Medical Assistant in Bakersfield, California is $17.00 per hour. The salary range for Medical Assistants in Bakersfield, CA is between $14.14 per hour and $19.86 per hour. This is the equivalent of $34,640 per year.
Career Outlook
Medical assistants perform a variety of duties in physicians’ offices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities. They may be responsible for patient care, clerical work or both. Many medical assistants have completed postsecondary education programs, but some have only completed on-the-job training.
The top five medical assistant jobs in Bakersfield are as follows:
1. General medical assistant: This type of medical assistant performs both clinical and administrative tasks. They may take medical histories, measure vital signs, prepare patients for examinations and assist the physician during the exam. They also may schedule appointments, bill patients and process insurance forms.
2. Specialty medical assistant: Specialty medical assistants are those who work in a specific area of medicine such as ophthalmology, optometry or podiatry. They often have additional training in the procedures specific to their field of expertise.
3. Clinical research coordinator: Clinical research coordinators oversee clinical trials and research projects conducted by pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and other healthcare organizations. They work with investigators to ensure that studies are conducted according to protocol and that data is collected accurately.
4. Health information technician: Health information technicians collect, process and maintain patient health information. They may coding diagnoses and procedures, prepare reports for insurance companies and maintain confidential medical records
5. medical transcriptionist medical transcriptionists listen to recorded dictations made by physicians and other healthcare professionals and transcribe them into written reports.
