Washington State Registered Medical Assistants – What You Need to Know

Washington State Registered Medical assistants – What You Need to Know. Medical assisting is a rapidly growing occupation in the United States This position requires both clinical and administrative skills. The scope of work for a medical assistant varies from state to state.

Checkout this video:

What is a medical assistant?

A medical assistant is a person who has completed a formal medical assisting education program and has passed a nationally recognized exam, such as the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Medical assistants perform both administrative and clinical tasks in physicians’ offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics and other healthcare settings. They are often the first point of contact with patients and play a vital role in maintaining the efficient operation of a medical practice.

Administrative tasks performed by medical assistants include answering phones, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage and coding and processing insurance forms. Clinical tasks performed by medical assistants include taking patients’ histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting during examination and performing routine laboratory tests.

In Washington State, there is no legal requirement for medical assistants to be certified or registered. However, many employers prefer to hire certified or registered medical assistants because they have demonstrated that they have the knowledge and skills required to perform the job adequately.

Duties of a medical assistant

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically trained to work in outpatient settings such as medical offices and clinics. Their duties vary with the size, location, and specialty of the practice. Although many of their tasks are clerical, they also perform numerous clinical duties, such as taking medical histories, preparing patients for examinations, drawing blood, and giving injections. They explain laboratory procedures and discuss test results with patients. With additional training they may perform electrocardiograms (EKGs), operate diagnostic equipment, take X-rays, remove sutures, change dressings, give immunizations, assist in minor surgery, instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare patients for X-rays or surgery.

Education and training requirements

In order to work as a medical assistant in the state of Washington, you must complete an accredited medical assisting program and pass the national certifying exam.

Most medical assisting programs will take between one and two years to complete, and will offer you the chance to earn either a certificate or an associate’s degree. If you choose to earn a degree, it is important to make sure that the program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Once you have completed your education and training, you will then need to pass the national certifying exam administered by either the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA). Once you have passed the exam, you will be registered as a medical assistant in Washington state and will be able to begin working in this rewarding field.

Certification

In order to work as a medical assistant in the state of Washington, you must be certified by the Washington State Department of Health. There are two ways to become certified: by taking an approved medical assisting training program or by passing an exam administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

If you choose to take an approved medical assisting training program, you must complete a minimum of 35 hours of classroom instruction and 110 hours of clinical externship. Upon completion of an approved program, you will be eligible to take the AMT certification exam.

If you choose to take the AMT certification exam, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete an exam application. The exam consists of two parts: a written examination and a skills demonstration. You must pass both parts of the exam in order to be certified.

Once you are certified, you must renew your certification every two years by completing continuing education credits or retaking the AMT certification exam.

Job outlook

Medical assistants are in high demand in Washington state. According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, job growth for medical assistants is projected to be 36.5 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. With an aging population and advances in medical technology, the demand for medical assistants is expected to continue to grow.

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health care professionals. They may take medical histories and record vital signs, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examinations, assist with minor office surgery, schedule appointments and handle billing and insurance paperwork.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma from a community college or vocational-technical school. Some states have certification requirements for medical assistants.

Salary

In Washington, the median hourly wage for medical assistants was $17.36 in 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.03, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $22.14.

Working conditions

Medical assistants work in all types of medical facilities, including doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic laboratories. Their duties vary with the size of the facility and its specialty. In small practices, medical assistants often are responsible for many administrative and clinical tasks and may work without supervision. In larger practices, they usually are assigned specific tasks.

What to expect in the job market

Medical assistants are in high demand in Washington State. The job market for medical assistants is expected to grow by 27% from 2016 to 2026, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department. That’s faster than the average for all occupations.

If you’re thinking about becoming a medical assistant, you can expect to find a lot of job opportunities. Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities will be looking for qualified medical assistants to help them provide quality care to patients.

To become a medical assistant in Washington State, you must complete an accredited medical assistant program and pass the nationalCertified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Once you have your CMA credential, you will be able to apply for jobs and start your career in this growing field.

10 things you should know about medical assistants

Medical assistants in Washington State are unlicensed health care providers who work under the supervision of a licensed physician or surgeon. They perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to support the medical practice.

The Washington State Legislature has authorized the Medical Quality Assurance Commission (MQAC) to regulate medical assistants. The commission has adopted rules that define the medical assistant’s scope of practice, educational requirements, and credentialing process.

Here are 10 things you should know about medical assistants in Washington State:

1. Medical assistants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
2. They must complete an accredited medical assistant program that includes both classroom and hands-on instruction.
3. After completing an accredited program, they must pass a national certification exam administered by either the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA).
4. Once they have obtained national certification, they must apply for state certification from the MQAC.
5. In order to maintain their state certification, medical assistants must renew their national certification every five years and complete continuing education requirements every two years.
6. Medical assistants are allowed to perform certain delegated tasks under the supervision of a licensed physician or surgeon, but they cannot diagnose or treat illness or disease, prescribe medications, or perform any procedure that requires piercing of the skin or entry into a body cavity.
7. The MQAC has a discipline process for complaints against medical assistants accused of misconduct, which can result in disciplinary action including revocation of certification.
8. Accredited medical assistant programs in Washington State are offered by many community and technical colleges, as well as some private institutions.
9. There are currently more than 5,000 certified medical assistants working in Washington State.
10 If you have questions about medical assistants in Washington State, you can contact the MQAC at 360-236-4700 or [email protected]

FAQs

-How do I become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) in Washington State?
-What are the requirements for registration?
-How do I renew my registration?
-What if I let my registration lapse?
-What are the consequences of not being registered?
-Where can I find more information about registration?