The healthcare industry is in demand for highly trained office staff in: medical office administration, procedures, Medical Terminology and technology, medical law and ethics. Prospects will be best for those with a Medical Assistant certificate. As EHR systems continue to become more common, Medical Assistants with computer skills will be needed to use them. Most Medical Assistant Clinical Specialists work in hospitals or physicians' offices. Others work in Nurse care facilities or for government entities. Medical Assistants held over 500,000 jobs in 2016. Most of these Assistants work in physicians' offices and other healthcare facilities. In 2016, more than half of all Medical Assistants worked in physicians' offices. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages. An aging population will need more medical tests, treatments, and procedures. This will mean more claims for reimbursement from insurance companies. Additional records, coupled with widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) by all types of healthcare providers, could lead to an increased need for Clinical Medical Assistants to organize and manage the associated information in all areas of the health care industry. Prospects will be best for those with a Medical Assistant. As EHR systems continue to become more common, Medical Assistants with computer skills will be needed to use them. Most Medical Assistant Clinical Specialists work in hospitals or physicians' offices. Others work in Nurse care facilities or for government entities.

According to the United States Department of Labor: Most Medical Assistants have a postsecondary education award such as a certificate. Others enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn through on-the-job training.

The scope of responsibilities depends on the services a medical facility provides. Some tasks can be learned on the job, but these days employers prefer employees with experience, degree, certificate, or a combination of all of them. In a busy medical facility there is usually little time and only a few resources available to train a new employee. Therefore more knowledgeable you are in this profession and more tasks you can perform without supervision from day one, the more valuable you are.

Medical Assisting

Medical Assistants are skilled Health Professionals that work in physicians' offices, hospitals, clinics and other health care settings. They work closely with patients and doctors in an occupation that significantly increases productivity in a clinical setting or health care office. Medical Assistants have a wide range of roles and responsibilities. The most typical tasks consist of recording medical histories and vital signs, discussing treatment procedures to patients and preparing them for examinations and test procedures. Additionally, Medical Assistants collect and catalog laboratory specimens, implement standard laboratory tests and assist physicians during examinations. Subsequently, they are responsible for disposal of the contaminated supplies and sterilizing the medical equipment used for testing. Depending on the size of the practice, Medical Assistants are likely to become office for particular tasks and procedures under the supervision of an administrator, physician or department manager. Some areas of specialty include preparing patients for x-rays, taking electrocardiograms, removal stitches, and replacing dressings. As well as, arranging and administering medications and instructing to the patients the use and dosage per the physicians directions. Medical Assistant s duties are varied according to the State law of the health care provider's location.

As a Medical Assistant you must enjoy working with people! Medical Assistant s work closely with doctors, nurses and other medical Health Professionals, but their main focus is patients. As a CMA you will interact with patients on a daily basis. You have to be emphatic, highly patient, diplomatic, outgoing, active listener, and a great communicator, for people you get to see, might be frustrated, sick and in pain, scared. Health Professionalism and discretion is a must, since handling sensitive and confidential information is part of the job. Other skills should include: multitasking, prioritizing, dependability, calm and composed behavior in an emergency situation and when working under pressure, team player, strong work ethic, etc.


Important Skills To Have Analytical skills. Medical Assistants must be able to understand and follow medical charts and diagnoses. They may be required to code a patient's medical records for billing purposes.

Detail oriented. Medical Assistants need to be precise when taking vital signs or recording patient information. physicians and insurance companies rely on accurate records.

Interpersonal skills. Medical Assistants need to be able to discuss patient information with other medical personnel, such as physicians. They often interact with patients who may be in pain or in distress, so they need to be able to act in a calm and Health Professional manner.

Technical skills. Medical Assistants should be able to use basic instruments so they can take a patient's vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

According to Salary.com The median annual Medical Assistant salary is $33,733, as of June 28, 2019, with a range usually between $31,771–$37,214, however this can vary from state to state and on a variety of factors.