Medical Assistant

Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative functions to keep health care delivery settings running smoothly. Since they perform a wide range of responsibilities in the medical practice setting, their duties can vary greatly from office to office. In small practices, they are usually generalists; in large practices, they tend to be more specialized. Medical assistants may prepare patients for examinations and treatments by taking and recording temperature, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and by putting patients at ease. They may give injections, perform venipuncture, prepare laboratory specimens, and perform simple lab and evaluation tests including electrocardiography. They assist doctors during exams and treatment. Medical assistants are also responsible for front office duties, such as greeting patients, making appointments, handling correspondence and insurance claims, and performing some bookkeeping duties.

Job Outlook
As the health care industry expands, employment of medical assistants is expected to grow faster than average through the year 2005. Fast growth is expected in outpatient settings, with most job openings occurring as a result of experienced assistants leaving the occupation.

Work Environment
Medical assistants are likely to find jobs in physician offices, clinics, and other health care settings. Medical assistants work primarily in outpatient settings such as podiatrist offices, but they are also employed by inpatient facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes. They can work directly with patients in providing care, or they can work with them indirectly through their office responsibilities. For many small practices, the medical assistant's dual role in clinical and office work is invaluable. They may be expected to work evenings and weekends.

Length of Training/
Requirements
Medical assistants may receive training on the job or through programs at community colleges or proprietary schools. Most programs require an internship or supervised work period in a practice setting. Programs range from seven months to two years.

Salary
Salary depends on education, geography, job setting, and experience. Current salaries range from $24,000 - $30,000.

Educational Programs
Allied Health Careers
ATI Training Center - Dallas
ATI Training Center - Hurst
Bradford School of Business
Career Centers of Texas - El Paso
Cisco Junior College
Education America - Dallas
Education America - Ft. Worth
Education America - Houston
El Centro College
El Paso County Community College
Houston Community College System
Kilgore College
Laredo Community College
Mountain View College
National Institute of Technology - Central Houston
National Institute of Technology - North Houston
National Institute of Technology - San Antonio
PCI Training Center
Richland College
San Antonio College
Southern Careers Institute
Tarrant County Junior College Northeast
Tarrant County Junior College South
Texas Careers
Texas School of Business
Transworld Academy
Ultrasound Diagnostic School
Victoria College
Westrern Technical Institute

Professional Associations
American Medical Technologists
710 Higgins Rd.
Park Ridge, IL 60068
708/823-5169

American Association of Medical Assistants
20 N. Wacker Dr., Ste. 1575
Chicago, IL 60606-2903
312/899-1500