by 
The Curious Bag
-
Medical assistants are health-care professionals who assist doctors and nurses in a physician's office or a group practice. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the demand for medical assistants would increase by 35 percent from 2006 through 2016, resulting in the creation of 148,000 new jobs.
Types of Duties
Medical assistants have clerical and patient-care responsibilities in most settings.
Features
Medical assistants greet patients, answer phones, set appointments and update medical records. Assistants escort patients to examining rooms, check their vital signs, prepare any urine, fecal, blood or tissue samples for diagnostic testing, clean and sterilize instruments and ensure examining areas are stocked with supplies.
Time Frame
Most medical assistants work primarily daylight, weekday hours. Some physicians practices offer evening or weekend hours and require a medical assistant to be present for these shifts.
Education
Medical assistants typically earn a one-year training program diploma or two-year associate's degree before performing work in the field. There is no license required to be a medical assistant, but some professionals receive voluntary certification with an organization like the American Association of Medical Assistants by passing a written examination.
Compensation
In November 2009, the average annual salary for medical assistants was between $19,408 and $37,891, according to payscale.com.
Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assitants
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC