Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Assistant

Medical Assistants spend their days helping healthcare facilities and doctors give top of the notch service to patients in need. Becoming a Medical Assistant does not take too long, but it’s important to know the ins and outs of the process and the outcome. Is it worth becoming a medical assistant? What do they do? Can you make a lot of money? All of your questions will be answered in this extensive list of frequently asked questions about the field of medical assisting. Let us know if we missed anything!

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant?

A sure fire way to becoming a medical assistant is attending a program that will get you certified. Technically, it is possible to get a job as a medical assistant without any certification, but it will be a challenge when there are many others who are already more qualified than you with their education. The experience of a short program is necessary to get your hands on a good paying job and to win over your employer with professionalism. Getting certified as a medical assistant is important because if you were to get a job without the hands-on experience you gain at a program, you can endanger patients who are expecting proper care. This iffy work can leave your healthcare facility with a lawsuit on their hands and it is a great way to let go. Be sure to get the right practice before you enter the field.

How Do I Go To School To Be a Medical Assistant?

Being a medical assistant requires you to have proper training in order to perform your day to day activities. It’s crucial to find a program that will give you the credible courses and experience to act your duties. During your education you will not only learn and take tests to apply your knowledge, but you will also get hands-on experience in your labs. Looking for a school is fairly easy. With some quick research online you can begin to visit schools and get a vibe if it is the right place for you. Getting a tour is easy. Just call schools in your area and take a quick visit. An admissions adviser will have a chat with you and show you around and even let you peek into classes to see if it is an environment you can see yourself in. Once you arrive, admissions officers will usually give you all the information you need to see if you are a proper match. After they ease you of any worries you may have, you can then decide if you want to apply. Many are hesitant due to financial restraints or their curiosity of heading into such a strong learning environment, but once you get in touch with an admissions adviser the process is fairly simple. One quick phone call can have you planning out your future in just a few minutes.

What Kind of Classes Can You Expect in Your Education?

Medical assisting is not just about drawing blood, it is much more than that. Medical assisting as a clerical aspect aside from its clinical aspect. In your courses you will learn the ins and outs of managing a front desk, bedside manners, and assisting doctors and nurses with their duties. Through all your courses you will always have patient care in mind no matter the situation. Whether it’s a phone call or a simple vital check, it is crucial to make sure you are prepared to meet your patients goals. Some courses include Anatomy, Physiology, Human Diseases, and even intro to medical assisting where you can get a crash course on what to expect in the career. It’s important to ensure the program you are looking for includes sections on marketing yourself in your career. Oftentimes, it’s not just important to know the work that goes into the field, but also how to advertise that you are capable of that work. Double check that there is a resume writing course and career services portion of your education.

What Kind of Jobs Can You Have a Medical Assistant?

As stated above, it’s important to make sure there is a career services portion of your education. A Career Services department will give you all the tools you need to get a job after your certification process. Your employment opportunities are fruitful once you are a certified medical assistant. Some options included working in doctors offices, hospitals, urgent cares, plastic surgery clinics, rehab centers, mental health facilities and many more places that need the assistants of medical assistants. Getting a job requires you to get assistance from your career services center. Oftentimes, part of your curriculum will involve an externship. An externship is where you volunteer or get class hours at a healthcare facility. Sometimes, if you are a good student, employers will invite you to be a permanent part of their time and attempt to hire you. It is normal when facilities and schools have a partnership in which they funnel in talented students. Getting a job in the field of medical assistant is not hard once you are certified because there are bountiful opportunities and a lot of job growth in the field. Where there is a demand for workers, there is also a demand for you to get properly educated and hired!

Is Working In The Field of Medical Assisting Hard?

This is a tricky question. To be a great medical assistant you have to genuinely care about taking care of others and then this field is probably not hard. It’s okay if you are going into the field if you want a stable career, but make sure you learn how to care for others along the way. Honestly, whether you like it or not, you will learn how to care for others before you are certified but hopefully learn to like it. All you need to succeed in the field is a mind that is ready to put in work. It isn’t just answering phone calls and setting up scalpels for doctors. It’s time management, making sure patients are comfortable, it’s patience, it’s communication skills, filing papers, drawing blood, changing bandages, and everything in between. Under direct orders from our supervisor which is usually a doctor, you will be their right hand. As the back bones of the medical industry you will ensure everything is running smoothly and properly along with your team members. So back to the original question: is it hard? Maybe. New question: are you willing to put in the work?