| eed for experienced technical and medical workers | | | | accredited school. Medical assistant training programs |
| who have the ability to manage both medical and | | | | are provided by community colleges and vocational |
| administrative functions is increasing. This need is | | | | technical training schools. Study areas include: first aid, |
| especially seen with doctors who want to spend more | | | | medical billing, lab testing, patient care, medical |
| time with their patients. In recent years, medical | | | | terminology, administration, math, science, and more. |
| assistant careers have become more in demand as | | | | After completing a medical assistance program, one |
| the health care industry has seen a tremendous | | | | can sign up to take the certification exam to become |
| increase in job openings in this field. The health care | | | | a Certified Medical Assistance. The course is offered |
| industry is increasingly seeing the value of having | | | | three times per year by the American Association of |
| trained medical assistants on staff. A Medical | | | | Medical Assistants. The certification has to be |
| Assistant (MA) or Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) | | | | renewed every five years. There are some |
| provides a number of medical and administrative tasks | | | | employers that do not require the certification, but |
| in the field of medicine. They assist physicians and | | | | Certified Medical Assistants will normally have more |
| nurses with delivering patient care. | | | | job choices and receive a higher pay than Medical |
| Duties of a medical assistant can include: explaining | | | | Assistants. |
| treatment, medications, diet schedules, and procedures | | | | Employment is projected to grow much faster (35 |
| to the patient, monitoring and recording vital signs, | | | | percent) than average which has placed medical |
| preparing patients for medical exams, assisting | | | | assistants as among the fastest growing occupations |
| physicians during a patient's medical exam, instructing | | | | over the years 2006- 2016. Job opportunities are |
| patients about medications and special diets, | | | | expected to be extensive, particularly for those with |
| preparation and administration of medications, prepare | | | | training, experience, and certification. |
| patients for X-rays, take electrocardiograms, perform | | | | According to the American Medical Association |
| simple lab tests, disposing of contaminated supplies, | | | | website, salary ranges for medical assistants range |
| sterilization of medical instruments, drawing blood, | | | | from about '$22,000 to just over $30,000 annually.' |
| changing wound dressing, and removing sutures. A | | | | Other benefits such as health insurance may also be |
| medical assistant's administrative tasks can include: | | | | offered. |
| maintaining medical records, billing and clerical duties, | | | | As the health care industry expands because of the |
| scheduling appointments, arranging for admission to the | | | | advancements of technology in medicine as well as |
| hospital, and maintaining health supplies. | | | | the aging of the population, there will be an increased |
| Medical assistants can be found working in hospitals, | | | | need for health care workers of all areas. The use of |
| medical clinics, and in specialized medical areas. | | | | medical assistants in the fast growing health care |
| Education programs can be either a one year | | | | industry will increase. |
| certificate or a two-year associate's degree from an | | | | |