The Medical Assistant Profession
Let's talk about the unsung hero of the medical office - the medical
assistant! A health care professional that is caring, sharing, and always the very first person to give their best
to the employer, medical office team, and their community. It is the perfect field for men and women with a warm,
outgoing nature, good communication skills, and (funny that I should mention it!) dexterity.
Thinking about Becoming a Medical
Assistant?
If so, this is the best time to begin your research! Check out educational programs available at
community colleges and other health care schools in your area, or research available online courses. From there,
the possibilities are endless.
How endless? Case in point: There currently are thousands of medical offices and emergency medical care
facilities in the USA, and according to AHA Hospital Statistics, there are more than 5,700 registered hospitals,
which together create a high need for expertly trained allied health professionals and health care support
teams. Add to that the various private clinics, facilities, rehabilitation, nursing homes, and home
health care services, and it is no wonder why health care occupations are such a popular field.
Where Do Medical Assistants Work?
People choose the medical assistant career for various reasons! Medical Assistants
are employed in physician's private offices and group practices. Their main focus is on keeping the medical
office's work flow going smoothly in the administrative or clinical areas, or labs. This allows physicians and
nursing staff to focus on their patients health, and well being, and provide direct medical care, rather than
being bogged down with the clerical and organizational workload the facility requires to run.
Medical Assistant's Work Place
Despite great time pressures and a very demanding work environment, the majority of medical
assistants enjoy what they do, finding their jobs intellectually stimulating, meaningful, and rewarding. A large
group of them work for family and specialty physicians, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other
health care providers. Their daily routine and responsibilities consists of frequent interaction with doctors,
patients, medical billing staff, insurance companies, pharmacies, and other health care professionals while they
assess their patient's medical needs. Needless to say, their typical work days are very busy.

Medical Assistant's Pay
In this highly competitive job market where licensing for medical assistants remains largely
unregulated we have come to realize that pay is not only influenced by education, experience, and professional
credentials, but also how individuals market themselves, and stand out from the rest.
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