BLS.gov: Medical Assistants Needed

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment of Medical assistants will grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 2018 and 2028. With an aging population and advances in medical technology, the demand for Medical Assistants is expected to continue to grow.

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Job outlook for medical assistants

Medical assistants are expected to experience much faster than average job growth in the United States from 2016 to 2026.* They will play a vital role in healthcare as the population ages and healthcare services become more accessible. There will be a growing demand for their services in physicians’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings.

Medical assistants perform many administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health professionals. Their duties vary with the size and location of the practice, but they typically include taking and recording medical histories, measuring patients’ vital signs, updating patient records, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, filing insurance forms, answering phones, and handling billing.

*The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm

What do medical assistants do?

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically trained to work in outpatient settings such as medical offices and clinics. They perform administrative and clinical tasks that support the work of physicians and other health professionals.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate. Others may have an associate degree in medical assisting. A small number enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn through on-the-job training or formal training programs.

What are the requirements to become a medical assistant?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical assistants held about 634,400 jobs in 2016. Most worked in physicians’ offices, but they also worked in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other healthcare facilities. Many worked full time, although about 1 in 4 worked part time.

To become a medical assistant you will need a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training. Some states require medical assistants to be certified.

How much do medical assistants make?

In May 2019, the median annual wage for medical assistants was $34,800. This means that half of medical assistants earned more than this amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,630.

What is the job outlook for medical assistants?

Medical assistants held about 634,400 jobs in 2016. The vast majority of medical assistants, 608,800, worked in doctors’ offices. hospitals; and clinics, including those run by the Veterans Health Administration and other Federal Government agencies. State and local governments employed 5,700 medical assistants in 2016. A small number worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools; insurance carriers; home healthcare services; outpatient care centers; and general medical and surgical hospitals.

What are the duties of a medical assistant?

Medical assistants are critical members of the healthcare team. They work alongside physicians, performing a variety of clinical and administrative tasks.

The duties of medical assistants vary by state, but generally include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, administering medications and injections, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting with diagnostic tests. In some states, medical assistants may also be allowed to perform limited laboratory tests and take X-rays.

Medical assistants typically work in outpatient care facilities such as clinics and physician offices. Some may also work in hospitals or other inpatient care facilities. With experience, medical assistants may advance to supervisory positions or become certified medical assistants.

What are the hours like for a medical assistant?

The typical work week for a medical assistant is 40 hours, although some may work more than 40 hours per week on occasion. They typically work Monday through Friday, although their hours may vary depending on the needs of their employer. Medical assistants typically do not work evenings or weekends, although they may be required to do so on occasion.

What are the benefits of being a medical assistant?

As a medical assistant you would perform administrative and clinical tasks to help keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the size and type of the practice. However, many of their duties are similar from one office to another.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate. However, some states require medical assistants to be licensed or certified.

Medical assistants held about 708,000 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of medical assistants were as follows:
-Offices of physicians (44 percent)
-Hospitals; state, local, and private (23 percent)
-Offices of other health practitioners (11 percent)

Medical assistants held about 708,000 jobs in 2016. The largest employers of medical assistants were as follows:
-Offices of physicians (44 percent)
-Hospitals; state, local, and private (23 percent)
-Offices of other health practitioners (11 percent)

In addition to routine clerical duties (answering phones, scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records), medical assistants perform many tasks that are important to the smooth running of a doctor’s office or clinic.

What are the challenges of being a medical assistant?

Doctors and other medical professionals rely heavily on medical assistants to keep their offices and clinics running smoothly. Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health professionals.

While the job can be very rewarding, it also comes with some challenges. Medical assistants need to be able to handle a variety of tasks at once, often under pressure. They must be able to keep calm in chaotic situations, have excellent communication skills, and be able to work well as part of a team.

What is the future of medical assistants?

BLS.gov projects that employment of medical assistants will grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2016 to 2026. The growth of the aging baby-boom population and continued demand for health care services will increase the need for preventive medical services, which are often provided by medical assistants.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate, although some have completed a 2-year degree program. Many community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools offer programs in medical assisting. Some programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Medical assistants held about 634,800 jobs in 2016. Most worked in physicians’ offices, and about 1 in 5 worked in hospitals. A small number worked in other settings, such as outpatient care centers; educational services; and local, state, and private organizations.

During an office visit, a medical assistant might take a patient’s vital signs by weight and blood pressure. Medical assistants take patients’ histories and explain procedures to them prior to examination by physicians or other health practitioners.