Background of Medical Office Assistant

• Definition and Nature of the work:

Medical assistants aid physicians by performing administrative duties and handling basic clinical tasks. They work in doctors' offices, hospitals, and medical clinics.  The job description of a medical assistant varies from office to office.  Others are responsible for medical records, bookkeeping, and answering telephones.    Clinical duties vary according to state law.  Some medical assistants may help doctors examine and treat patients.  They may check the height, weight, temperature, and blood pressure of each patient.  Assistants write down patients' medical histories and run simple laboratory tests. Medical Office Assistants greet patients, file records and correspondence.  They keep medical records up to date and handle tax and insurance forms.  At the doctor's request they arrange for laboratory tests or for a patient's admission to the hospital. 

• Education and Training Requirements:

A high school diploma is required to enter this field.  Most employers prefer to hire graduates of formal training programs. These are 40 semester hours, 34 week diploma programs. an internship is an additional  4 weeks. www.trios.com A core curriculum and course requirements outline can be found at www.national-college.edu Vocational schools offer one-year programs resulting in a certificate or diploma.  One should study anatomy, physiology, medical terminology. They learn laboratory techniques, clinical procedures, and first aide. They are also given practical training in computer skills, accounting, and insurance processing.  A medical assistant can become certified or registered by various associations such as the American Association of Medical Assistants or the American Medical Technologists. This involves meeting certain training and experience requirements, as well as passing a national test.

• Advancement Possibilities

Advancement can come with experience and further training.  Medical Assistants who show leadership qualities can become supervisors.
The medical office assisting is projected to grow much faster than average through the year 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The best job prospects are for medical assistants with formal training, experience, or both.  Medical assistants with word processing and computer skills will also have an advantage.

• Working Conditions

Doctors' offices, hospitals, and clinics are busy and challenging places in which to work.  The duties are generally varied.  Medical assistants work 40 hours a week.  Those who work in private offices may work some evenings and Saturdays.  You may go here for more information:

 American Association of Medical Assistants
20 North Wacker Dr., Ste. 1575
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 899-1500
http://www.aama-ntl.org/

American Medical Technologists
107000 W. Higgins Rd.
Rosemont, IL 60068
(847) 823-5169
http://www.amt1.com/

• Earnings and Benefits

Earnings depend on training, experience, size of practice, and geographic location.  Those with a degree generally earn more than one with little or no training.  The median income for medical office assistants was $24,610 per year in 2004.  Wages are higher in the Northeast and the West.  Benefits include paid holidays and vacations, and those who work in clinics, hospitals, and group practices also receive health insurance and pension plans.

For additional background information go to:

From U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Statistics. "Medical Assistants." Available online at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm from homepage at: http://www.bls.gov/

Citing this material:

<a href="http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/455/Medical-Assistant .html ">Medical Assistant Job Description, Career as a Medical Assistant, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job</a>