IU Health Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook

Interested in becoming a medical assistant? Here’s what you need to know about IU Health medical assistant salaries and job outlooks.

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IU Health medical assistant Salary

The median salary for a medical assistant at IU Health is $34,000. The job outlook for Medical assistants is positive, with a projected growth rate of 29% from 2016 to 2026.

IU Health Medical Assistant Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists the median annual salary for Medical Assistants as $34,800 per year, or $16.73 per hour, as of May 2016. The top 10% of earners in this profession make more than $49,380 per year, while the bottom 10% earn salaries of $24,620 or less annually.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are vital members of the healthcare team. They perform clinical and administrative tasks to keep doctors’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities running smoothly.

Clinical duties include taking and recording medical histories, measuring patients’ vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting with office procedures, and collecting and processing lab specimens. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, maintaining medical records billing and coding for insurance purposes, and ordering supplies.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma from an accredited program. Some states have approved certification exams for medical assistants. Employers also may require certification.

Job prospects should be excellent for medical assistants. Employment is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations from 2016 to 2026. Candidates with formal education will have the best job opportunities.

The Education and Training Required to Become a Medical Assistant

In order to become a medical assistant, you will need to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. In some cases, you may be able to find a position with on-the-job training, but most employers prefer that you have completed an accredited medical assistant program. These programs typically last between one and two years and include both classroom and clinical instruction.

Upon completion of your medical assistant program, you will be eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Although not required in all states, certification can make you more attractive to potential employers.

The Skills Required to Become a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are unlicensed professionals who perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from state to state, but usually include tasks such as scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, taking medical histories and recording vital signs. In some states, medical assistants may also be allowed to give injections and perform basic laboratory tests.

Most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some have completed postsecondary education programs that last from several months to a year. Most of these programs include both classroom instruction and hands-on training in a medical office or clinic setting. Although certification is not required for all medical assistant positions, it may be helpful in getting a job or advancing in your career. The Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential. To earn this credential, you must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass a national certification exam.

The Certification Required to Become a Medical Assistant

To become a medical assistant, you will need to earn your certification. The certification process varies by state, but generally includes completing an accredited medical assistant program and passing an exam. Some states also require medical assistants to be licensed.

Once you have earned your certification, you will be able to start working as a medical assistant. The job outlook for medical assistants is positive, with employment projected to grow 19% from 2019 to 2029.* This growth is due in part to the increasing demand for healthcare services as the population continues to age.

Medical assistants play a vital role in healthcare teams by performing tasks such as taking patient histories and vital signs, scheduling appointments, and assisting with procedures. They may also provide administrative support, such as handling insurance paperwork. If you are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, becoming a medical assistant is a great way to get started.

*Bureau 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 March 09, 2020).

The Licensure Required to Become a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health professionals. They may work in outpatient or inpatient facilities, or in both settings.Many medical assistants have postsecondary degrees from accredited medical assisting programs; however, some states allow prospective medical assistants to be trained on the job. Most states permit medical assistants to perform routine tasks without formal education or certification; however, certain tasks may require certification.

Some states have laws governing the licensure of medical assistants. Regulations generally include passing an exam as well as completing an accredited medical assistant education program. Medical assistants who are certified may use the title “Certified Medical Assistant” (CMA) or “Registered Medical Assistant” (RMA). In some cases, MA certification may be required for certain job duties, such as taking X-rays or administering medications. Certification for medical assistants is offered by several organizations, including the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Healthcare Association (NHA), and the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

The Job Duties of a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are unlicensed clinicians who perform both clinical and administrative tasks in doctors’ offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities. The duties of medical assistants vary from state to state and from facility to facility, but there are some core tasks that are common among most medical assistant job descriptions.

Clinical duties of medical assistants include taking patient histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, explaining treatment procedures to patients, assisting with diagnostic tests and procedures, scheduling appointments and surgeries, and more. Many medical assistants are also responsible for giving injections (under the supervision of a licensed clinician), performing EKGs and phlebotomy (drawing blood).

Administrative duties of medical assistants include answering phones, greeting patients when they arrive at the office or clinic, updating patients’ Medical records verifying insurance coverage, billing and coding insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, ordering office supplies, and performing other clerical tasks as needed.

Medical assistants must be able to multi-task and stay organized in order to do their job effectively. They must also have excellent communication skills (verbal and written), be proficient in computer applications relevant to the healthcare field (such as electronic health records or EHRs), and have a strong understanding of Medical Terminology In some cases, prior experience working in a healthcare setting may be required or preferred.

Most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma or equivalent; however, many employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed an accredited medical assisting program. Medical assistant programs typically last between 1-2 years and award a certificate or diploma upon completion. Some programs may also offer an Associate’s degree in Medical Assisting.

The Work Schedule of a Medical Assistant

In most cases, medical assistants work full time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about three in five medical assistants worked full time in 2016. They may work evenings or weekends to cover for colleagues or to meet the needs of patients. Medical assistants typically work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, or outpatient facilities. Some travel with doctors who make house calls or visit several locations during the day.

The Benefits and drawbacks of Being a Medical Assistant

Working as a medical assistant has a number of benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before beginning your career in this field. On the plus side, medical assistants enjoy relatively good salaries and job security. The median pay for medical assistants was $33,610 per year in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Furthermore, the BLS projects that employment of medical assistants will grow by 29% from 2016 to 2026 – much faster than the average for all occupations.