“What kind of jobs can I get with a medical assistant degree?” Medical assistant degree programs cover all the key aspects of working in the healthcare industry, from clinical to administrative operations. Wherever you go, these skills will help you secure your place in the healthcare workforce. Most of all, a medical assistant degree can help you to improve your salary.
If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, you’re probably wondering what kind of jobs you can get with your new degree. Here’s a quick rundown:
Medical assistants perform many routine duties in the clinical setting. They may be asked to take patient histories and monitor vital signs, such as temperature and pulse rate. They also may be responsible for preparing patients for examination by collecting equipment, arranging furniture, and making sure that all necessary supplies are available.
Medical assistants often work on teams with other health care professionals and may assist doctors during examinations or treatments. They may collect tissue samples or blood samples and send them to pathologists for analysis. They may help patients schedule appointments with various specialists, such as ophthalmologists or cardiologists.
In some cases, medical assistants might even perform basic diagnostic tests themselves under the supervision of doctors or registered nurses.
What jobs can you get with medical assistant degree
Introduction
Medical assistants are highly trained and skilled professionals who work in a variety of different health care settings, including hospitals, physicians’ offices, clinics, and surgery centers. They have a wide range of responsibilities that may include clinical tasks such as drawing blood, taking vital signs, performing EKGs and preparing patients for examinations. They also perform administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, billing and coding insurance claims, answering telephones and greeting patients. The roles and responsibilities of medical assistants vary depending on their employer or the state they work in; however, all medical assistants are required to pass an exam upon completion of their training program.
What jobs can you get with a medical assistant degree?
- Medical assistants can find jobs in a number of specialties, including:
- Pediatrics
- Orthopedics
- Psychiatry
- Dermatology
- Internal medicine
Main duties of medical assistants
Medical assistants provide help to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in the treatment of patients. They assist with routine and administrative tasks, such as taking patient histories and performing diagnostic tests. Medical assistants also perform many clinical tasks that are part of the medical assistant education program they complete while working towards their medical assisting degree. The following paragraphs give an overview of some of the things that medical assistants do to support physicians:
- Provide patient education: Medical assistants must be good communicators who can speak to patients in a way that is clear and concise. They must also have knowledge about how to explain procedures in simple terms so that patients understand what’s going on during their appointments. In addition to communicating well with patients, you’ll need strong interpersonal skills so you can work effectively with other healthcare professionals in your practice or organization—including doctors, nurses, registered dieticians (RD), physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT), respiratory therapists (RT), certified nursing assistants (CNA) etcetera—and communicate well with them about patient care plans for each visit/treatment session/procedure etcetera).
Medical administrative assistant
Medical administrative assistants are much like medical assistants, but they have more experience and training. They may work in a variety of healthcare settings and perform a wide range of duties that include filing, answering phones and managing the flow of patients.
This job is perfect for someone who has a passion for helping people but doesn’t want to be too hands-on with patient care.
Medical receptionist
Medical receptionists are responsible for providing administrative support to doctors and other medical professionals. Receptionists answer phones, schedule appointments, and greet patients as they enter the office. A good medical receptionist is organized, has good communication skills (including both verbal and written), and can multitask effectively.
A degree in healthcare administration or a related field is not required for this job; however, some employers prefer applicants who have at least an associate’s degree in healthcare administration or business management.
Admissions coordinator
- Coordinates paperwork for new patients and refers them to the appropriate physician.
- Assists patients with scheduling appointments, answering questions and filling out forms.
- Informs patients of hospital policies and procedures.
- Assists hospital staff with patient care
Office manager
An office manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business, including managing employees and overseeing administrative duties. These professionals may also help run meetings, take minutes during meetings, and assist with communication between employees.
Many people who want to become an office manager decide to earn their degree in this field first. There are many different types of degrees that can help you prepare for an office management career. Examples include:
- Associate’s degree in health information technology (HIT)
- Associate’s degree in business administration with a concentration on management or general business administration
- Bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership or general management
Emergency room specialist
The emergency room specialist is the person who treats patients in the emergency department. They are responsible for taking care of a patient before they see a doctor and after they have been examined by a physician. The role of an emergency room specialist can vary depending on their employer, but usually includes:
- Taking vital signs like temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure
- Collecting and recording information about your medical history
- Administering medications or treatments ordered by doctors
- Giving out discharge instructions to patients when their treatment has ended
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) / Licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, are required to complete a training program and pass a state licensure exam. They provide basic care for patients in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Licensed vocational nurses, or LVNs, also commonly referred to as licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), perform many of the same duties as an LPN. However, LVN programs are typically shorter than those offered by other schools.
Learn more about becoming an LPN here: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-nurses-and-nurse-anesthetists..
Billing and coding specialist
A billing and coding specialist is a medical assistant who specializes in processing insurance claims. They are responsible for assigning the proper codes to each procedure performed, as well as billing the patient. This involves checking that all necessary information has been included, such as a doctor’s signature. The bill is then sent to the insurance company or Medicare.
Billing and coding specialists must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, along with some college coursework in medical billing and coding. You’ll also need knowledge of various healthcare organizations’ regulations regarding fees charged for services rendered (e.g., Medicare). Finally, it’s helpful if you’ve gained experience by working under a licensed biller or coder before applying for certification yourself (or even better—working directly within that field).
Health information technician
Health information technicians work in healthcare, assisting doctors and nurses with their daily tasks. They are trained to collect and organize medical records, as well as help schedule appointments and make sure all necessary treatments are given.
Health information technicians who are certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) can receive licensure from their state board of health after completing an internship or externship program and passing a national exam.
Clinical research coordinator
As a clinical research coordinator, you would coordinate the activities of clinical trials, which are studies that examine the safety and effectiveness of new medical products such as drugs and devices. You’ll work with researchers who are testing new treatments for various diseases.
Your typical tasks include:
- Coordinating the activities of clinical research investigators. These investigators may be doctors or nurses who volunteer to participate in clinical trials to help develop new treatments for particular illnesses. They’re also called study subjects or participants. You’ll help them complete their assigned tasks and answer any questions they have about their care or treatment during the trial period. You may need to find replacement investigators if any drop out before completion of the study’s protocol (the set length of time set aside for each phase of testing).
- Communicating with participants’ doctors regarding any changes that may happen during a trial so these changes can be recorded accurately in patients’ files without affecting future tests on different patients using similar medications/devices/etc..
Medical assistants play an important role in the healthcare field.
Medical assistants play an important role in the healthcare field. They are one of the most common healthcare workers, and they make up a large portion of the workforce. The medical assistant is the backbone of any medical office or clinic, assisting doctors, nurses and other members of the medical team with various tasks including taking patient histories and recording vital signs.
Universities that offer degrees in medical assisting typically provide students with courses covering anatomy and physiology as well as clinical procedures such as intravenous therapy and suturing wounds. Students also learn about healthcare organizations; health care laws; laboratory tests; coding procedures (including ICD-10); insurance billing procedures; basic accounting skills; information systems management techniques; human resource management practices; business ethics principles (including confidentiality); communication skills (written/verbal).
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a career in healthcare, but don’t want to spend years in school, a position as a medical assistant might be right for you. You’ll need training in the field and some hands-on experience, but once you have your degree, there are plenty of opportunities available. Whether or not this is the right career path for you will depend on your interests and personal preferences—so take some time to consider all of your options before choosing!
