Top 5 Medical Assistant Jobs in North Charleston, SC

Get a jump start on your medical assistant career by checking out the top 5 jobs in North Charleston, SC.

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Job Description

A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who performs a variety of tasks to support medical staff and patients in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They may work in both administrative and clinical roles. Medical assistants perform a variety of duties, including scheduling appointments, taking patient medical histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, giving injections, assisting with minor surgical procedures, and more.

Education requirements for Medical Assistants vary by state but most programs only require a high school diploma or equivalent. Many community colleges offer certificate or associate degree programs in medical assisting. Some employers may prefer to hire candidates who have completed an accredited program. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and theAccrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) are the two main accrediting bodies for medical assistant programs.

Most states do not require certification for medical assistants but many employers prefer to hire those who are certified. The two main certifying bodies for medical assistants are the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA). To earn certification from either organization, candidates must pass an exam. Certification from either organization is generally valid for five years.

Duties

One of the most important duties of a medical assistant is to keep the patient area clean and organized. This may include tasks such as stocking supplies, cleaning equipment, and taking out the trash. Medical assistants may also be responsible for handling paperwork and scheduling appointments.

Another important duty of medical assistants is to collect blood samples from patients. This may involve drawing blood from a vein or collecting urine samples. Medical assistants must be able to properly sterilize equipment and maintain a clean work area. They may also be responsible for clerical work, such as answering phones and filing paperwork.

The duties of a medical assistant vary depending on the specific job setting. However, most medical assistants perform similar duties regardless of where they work.

Education

In order to become a medical assistant, you will need to earn your high school diploma or equivalent. After that, you will need to complete an accredited medical assisting program. These programs typically last about two years and lead to a certificate or associate degree.

Certification

Most employers require medical assistants to have completed a postsecondary education program and to have received certification. Students in medical assisting programs take courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology Medical Law and Ethics, and more. Many programs also include an externship, which gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. Upon successful completion of a program, students are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The CMA credential is valid for 60 months, after which point recertification is required.

Salary

In North Charleston, SC, the average salary for a medical assistant is $32,610 per year. Here are the top 5 paying medical assistant jobs in North Charleston, SC.

1. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer- $66,180 per year
2. Pharmacy Technician- $33,140 per year
3. Physical Therapist- $32,350 per year
4. Radiation Therapist- $31,760 per year
5. Medical Assistant- $30,590 per year

Job outlook

The medical assistant job outlook for North Charleston, SC is positive. The area is expected to see a 21% growth in medical assistant jobs from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.1 This growth can be attributed to the increasing number of aging baby boomers and the growing need for healthcare services in general.

There are currently 1,770 medical assistants employed in North Charleston, SC.2 The average medical assistant salary in North Charleston, SC is $14.84 per hour or $30,880 per year.3

If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, there are a few things you should know. Medical assistants typically have at least a high school diploma, although some jobs may require postsecondary education or certification. Most medical assistants complete a formal training program that lasts between one and two years. After completing their training, many medical assistants become certified by taking an exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Once you’re certified, you’ll be eligible for a variety of medical assistant jobs in North Charleston, SC. Some of the most popular positions include:

-Clinical medical assistant: Clinical medical assistants work directly with patients. They might take vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature, prepare patients for examination, and assist the physician during the exam itself.
-Administrative medical assistant: Administrative medical assistants handle some of the non-clinical tasks associated with running a healthcare practice. They might schedule appointments, handle billing and insurance paperwork, and maintain patient records.
-Specialty medical assistant: Specialty medical assistants provide support to doctors who specialize in a particular area of medicine. They might take X-rays or administer injections under the supervision of the physician

Pros and Cons

There are many different medical assistant jobs in North Charleston, SC. Below is a list of the five most popular medical assistant jobs, along with the pros and cons of each.

1. Clinical medical assistant: Clinical medical assistants generally work in doctor’s offices or clinics. They may be responsible for taking patient histories and vital signs, scheduling appointments, and giving injections or other treatments as directed by the physician. Pros: Clinical medical assistants generally have a good working knowledge of the medical field and are able to work independently. Cons: Clinical medical assistants may sometimes be expected to work long hours or evenings and weekends.

2. Administrative medical assistant: Administrative medical assistants generally work in doctor’s office or clinics, but may also work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for tasks such as billing and coding, scheduling appointments, and answering phones. Pros: Administrative medical assistants generally have a good working knowledge of office procedures and are able to work independently. Cons: Administrative medical assistants may sometimes be expected to work long hours or evenings and weekends.

3. Billing and coding specialist: Billing and coding specialists generally work in doctor’s offices or clinics, but may also work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for tasks such as verifying insurance coverage, coding diagnoses and procedures, and processing claims. Pros: Billing and coding specialists generally have a good working knowledge of the billing process and are able to work independently. Cons: Billing and coding specialists may sometimes be expected to work long hours or evenings and weekends.

4. Medical office manager: Medical office managers generally work in doctor’s offices or clinics, but may also work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities. They are responsible for tasks such as supervising staff, handling finances, ordering supplies, and keeping records. Pros: Medical office managers generally have a good working knowledge of office procedures and are able to work independently. Cons: Medical office managers may sometimes be expected to work long hours or evenings and weekends.

5. Hospital administrator: Hospital administrators generally work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities . They are responsible for tasks such as managing finances, handling personnel issues, overseeing departmental operations, and developing hospital policy . Pros : Hospital administrators often have a broad knowledge of the healthcare industry and are able to manage complex organizations . Cons : Hospital administrators may sometimes be expected to work long hours or evenings .

Best places to work as a Medical Assistant

There are many great places to work as a medical assistant in North Charleston, SC. Here are the top 5 places to work, based on salary, benefits, and job satisfaction:

1. MEDICAL ASSISTANT- CHARLESTON SURGERY CENTER
2. PEDIATRIC MEDICAL ASSISTANT- CHARLESTON PEDIATRICS
3. OB/GYN MEDICAL ASSISTANT- WOMEN’S CARE OFCharleston
4. GENERAL SURGERY MEDICAL ASSISTANT- LOWCOUNTRY SURGERY CENTER
5. URGENT CARE MEDICAL ASSISTANT- CHARLESTON URGENT CARE

How to become a Medical Assistant

In order to become a medical assistant, there are several things that you will need to do. First, you will need to complete a training program. Many community colleges, technical schools, and even some hospitals offer these programs. After you have completed a program, you will then need to pass a certification exam. Once you have passed the exam, you will be a certified medical assistant and will be able to find a job in this field.

FAQ’s

Are you thinking about becoming a medical assistant but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. A quick search for “medical assistant jobs” on Indeed.com yields over 2,000 results in the North Charleston, SC area alone. With so many options, it can be difficult to know where to begin your job search.

Here are five of the most common questions we get from people looking for medical assistant jobs in North Charleston, SC:

1. What are the most common medical assistant job duties?
2. What is the average salary for a medical assistant in North Charleston, SC?
3. What are the education requirements for a medical assistant?
4. What are the different types of medical assistants?
5. How do I become a certified medical assistant?

Medical assistants are an important part of any healthcare team. They perform administrative and clinical tasks to support doctors and other healthcare professionals in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records and billing patients. Clinical duties may include taking patient histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting with Specialty procedures like X-rays and laboratory tests. Medical assistants typically work full time, although some positions may be part time or variable hours. Salary ranges vary depending on experience and education level but according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2018 . Most employers require at least a high school diploma or equivalent but some positions may require postsecondary education or formal training from a vocational school or community college . There are two main types of medical assistants: certified and non-certified . Certified medical assistants have completed an accredited program and passed a certification exam whereas non-certified medical assistants have not pursued certification . To become certified , interested individuals must first graduate from an accredited Medical Assisting program and pass the certification exam administered by either the American Association of Medical Assistants or National Healthcare Association . Once certified , medical assistants can use the credential “CMA” (Certified Medical Assistant) or “RMA” (Registered Medical Assistant). Some states also have their own certification requirements that certified Medical Assistants must meet in order to practice .