Comparing Medical Assistants and Medical Administrative Assistants

If you’re trying to decide between a career as a medical assistant or a medical administrative assistant, this blog post is for you. We compare the two roles and discuss the key differences.

Checkout this video:

Job duties of Medical assistants vs. medical administrative assistants

The job duties of a medical administrative assistant are more clerical in nature, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and handling patient billing. Medical Administrative Assistants may also be responsible for managing medical records

Medical assistants, on the other hand, have more clinical duties, such as taking patient medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians with procedures. Medical assistants may also be responsible for giving patients injections or performing basic laboratory tests.

Educational requirements

The education required for a medical administrative assistant is typically a certificate or diploma from a medical administrative assistant program at a community college, vocational school, or online school. A medical administrative assistant certificate program generally takes one year or less to complete, while a diploma program may take two years or more.

A medical assistant on the other hand, may choose to earn either a certificate or an associate degree. Certificate programs in medical assisting typically take one year or less to complete, while Associate Degree programs generally take two years.

Certification

There are two types of certification for medical assistants: the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential, which is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential, which is offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Although there are differences in the eligibility requirements and fees for these two credentials, both certify that an individual has met standards for knowledge and skills in medical assisting.

Both CMAs and RMAs are required to complete an accredited medical assisting program and pass a certification exam. In addition, RMAs must have completed at least 5 years of work experience as a medical assistant, while CMAs must have completed at least 2 years of work experience.

The CMA credential is valid for 60 months, after which recertification is required. recertification can be done either by passing the CMA exam again or by completing 60 continuing education credits. The RMA credential is valid for 48 months, after which recertification is required. Recertification can be done either by passing the RMA exam again or by completing 48 continuing education credits.

Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2018, with the top 25 percent earning more than $39,370 and the bottom 25 percent earning less than $29,280. For medical administrative assistants, the median annual salary was $37,110 in 2018, with the top 25 percent earning more than $43,290 and the bottom 25 percent earning less than $32,240.

Job outlook

Medical assistants and medical administrative assistants are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow by 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. A number of factors — an aging population, a growing number of walk-in clinics and group practices, and an emphasis on preventive care — are expected to contribute to this growth.

Pros and cons of each career

Pros and cons of each career
Medical assistants and medical administrative assistants are both important members of the medical team, but they have different roles. Medical assistants usually work directly with patients, while medical administrative assistants usually work behind the scenes managing paperwork and scheduling appointments. Here are some pros and cons of each career to help you decide which one is right for you.

Medical assistant
Pros:
-You get to interact directly with patients and help them with their needs.
-You’re able to work in a variety of medical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices.
-The job outlook for medical assistants is good, with a projected growth rate of 29% from 2019 to 2029.1
Cons:
-The job can be demanding, and you may have to work long hours, weekends, and holidays.
-You may have to deal with unhappy or impatient patients.
-The pay is not as high as some other medical careers.2
Medical administrative assistant
Pros:
-You don’t have to deal directly with patients.
-Your job is mostly sedentary, so you won’t have to stand for long periods of time.
-The pay is higher than that of a medical assistant.3
Cons:
-You may have to deal with a lot of paperwork.
-You may have to work long hours to meet deadlines.
-The job outlook is not as good as that of a medical assistant, with a projected growth rate of only 22% from 2019 to 2029.4

Which career is right for you?

Medical administrative assistants and medical assistants play very different roles in the healthcare industry. If you’re considering a career in either field, it’s important to understand the difference between the two positions.

Medical administrative assistants are responsible for managing the administrative side of a medical practice. This includes tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling patient records, billing and coding insurance claims, and handling correspondence. Medical administrative assistants must have strong organizational skills and be able to juggle multiple tasks at once. They also need to be comfortable working with computers and have good customer service skills.

Medical assistants, on the other hand, are responsible for providing direct patient care. This can include tasks such as taking medical histories, checking vital signs, administering injections, and performing basic laboratory tests. Medical assistants must have excellent communication skills and be able to work well under pressure. They also need to be comfortable working with patients of all ages.

Both medical administrative assistants and medical assistants play important roles in the healthcare industry. If you’re interested in a career in either field, it’s important to do your research to find the position that’s right for you.

The future of medical assistants and medical administrative assistants

The future of medical assistants and medical administrative assistants is changing. With the advancement of technology, there is an increasing demand for medical administrative assistants. Medical administrative assistants perform many of the same duties as medical assistants, but they also have a more in-depth knowledge of insurance and coding. In addition, medical administrative assistants are responsible for managing the billing and scheduling for their office.

10 things you didn’t know about medical assistants and medical administrative assistants

If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant or medical administrative assistant, you might be wondering what the difference is between the two roles. Here are 10 things you may not know about these two important positions in the medical field.

1. Medical assistants can perform both clinical and administrative tasks, while medical administrative assistants typically just focus on administrative tasks.
2. Medical assistants usually have more direct contact with patients than medical administrative assistants do.
3. Medical assistants need to be comfortable working with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, while medical administrative assistants typically work with adults only.
4. Medical assistants need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, while medical administrative assistants may work at a slower pace.
5. Medical assistants need to be able to handle blood and other bodily fluids, while medical administrative assistants don’t typically have to deal with these things.
6. Medical assistants need to have strong communication skills, while medical administrative assistants need to have excellent writing skills.
7. Medical assistants need to be detail-oriented, while medical administrative assistants need to be able to see the big picture.
8. Medical assistants need to be able to work independently, while medical administrative assistants often work in teams.
9. Medical assistants typically work in hospitals or clinics, while medical administrative assistant jobs can be found in a variety of settings, including doctor’s offices and insurance companies.
10. Medical assistant programs typically take about one year to complete, while medical administrative assistant programs can take anywhere from six months to two years to complete

5 popular myths about medical assistants and medical administrative assistants

There are many myths about medical assistants and medical administrative assistants. Let’s explore five of the most popular ones:

Myth #1: Medical assistants and medical administrative assistants are the same thing.

Wrong! While both roles involve working in the medical field, they are actually quite different. Medical assistants typically work directly with patients, while medical administrative assistants focus more on behind-the-scenes tasks such as scheduling appointments and managing Medical records

Myth #2: Medical administrative assistant is a better title than medical assistant.

This is simply not true! Both titles are equally respected within the medical field. It really just depends on your preference and what you feel most comfortable with.

Myth #3: Medical assistants only work in hospitals.

Wrong again! While many medical assistants do work in hospitals, there are also positions available in other settings, such as doctor’s offices, clinics, and even insurance companies.

Myth #4: You need to be certified to be a medical assistant or medical administrative assistant.

This is not always the case. While certification can give you an edge when applying for jobs, it is not always required. Many employers will provide on-the-job training if you do not have prior experience or certification.

Myth #5: Medical assisting is a dead-end job.

This could not be further from the truth! In fact, many medical assistants go on to pursue further education and training to become nurses, physicians, or even healthcare administrators.