Medical Assisting Career: 5 Key Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant

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medical assisting career

Medical assistants play a vital role in the dispensation of quality patient care services. Although these assistants aren’t the first person that come to mind when you think of a hospital, you’ll likely interact with them first before you see a doctor. They perform a wide range of administrative and clinical tasks.

Are you interested in becoming a medical assistant?

If your mind is already made up, thumbs up. But what if you’re on the fence? Maybe you’re not sure whether a medical assisting career is really the right fit for you. You can see more info on the internet.

Well, you need to keep reading this article. We’re fleshing out a couple of key reasons you should absolutely pursue this career.

1. Make a Difference in the Lives of People

Are you the type of person who has an inherent desire to save the world or make a difference? If yes, you would love the opportunity a career in medical assistant will give you.

Medical assistants work with patients every day. Some of these patients are in pain or worried about their health. So are there families.

As a medical assistant, you’ll have an opportunity to make a difference in their lives. Even though you won’t be diagnosing diseases and implementing treatment procedures, your job roles are enough to touch a life.

For instance, you’ll measure patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure, and help physicians with patient examinations. You’ll be able to see how your work impacts patients and their families.

2. Work in Healthcare Without Undergoing Years of Training

Think of any healthcare professional. Nurse? Physician? Pharmacist?

These jobs have one thing in common: you must complete several years of academic training and meet licensing requirements to qualify for employment.

If you want to work in healthcare settings without spending several years in college, why not become a medical assistant?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you don’t even need professional training to become a medical assistant. With a high school diploma, an employer can hire and train you on the job!

However, don’t be the person who wants to become a medical assistant without any academic training. As the profession gets more competitive, employers are giving preference to job seekers who have some level of professional training.

As such, the best way to start out is to pursue an associate degree in medical assisting. The program takes two years to complete. By the time you graduate, you’ll have a good grasp of:

  • Human anatomy
  • Basic clinical procedures
  • Health information management
  • Patient safety protocols
  • Medical laws and ethics
  • Specimen collection and preparation.

What’s more, a career in medical assisting can serve a springboard for advanced healthcare careers such as nursing or pharmacy.

3. An In-Demand Profession

Who wants to graduate college and spend several months hunting for a job? No one!

If you’re hesitant about pursuing a career in medical assisting, one of your worries has to be whether you’ll find a job soon enough. We’ve got good news for you.

The BLS reports that the employment of medical assistants will grow 23 percent from now through the next 10 years. For perspective, the average job growth for all occupations in the United States is a lowly 5 percent. This means there will be plenty of employment opportunities for assistants who are ready to join the practice.

This high demand is driven by the increasing need for quality healthcare services across the country. As baby boomers age, more and more people are going to need healthcare services. Healthcare facilities will need more medical assistants.

4. Competitive Salary

You want to earn a good salary and have a comfortable life. Who doesn’t?

In a medical assisting career, you’ll get just that. Well, your salary won’t run into six figures, but considering the level of training required to get the job, it’s fair to say the salary is competitive.

As of 2018, medical assistants earned an average annual wage of $34,540. This is a mean hourly wage of $16.61. The top earners took home slightly over $47,000 a year.

For perspective, the average annual salary for associate degree holders in the United States is $32,700. This is to say, if you enter the medical assisting profession with an associate degree, you’ll out-earn your academic peers in other industries.

Bear in mind that these salaries aren’t cast in stone. Depending on your employer, you could earn much more. For instance, medical assistants who work in high-end healthcare clinics earn a lot more than assistants who work in community hospitals.

5. Workplace Diversity

When you think of working in the healthcare industry, the first thing that comes to mind is certainly a hospital.

True, hospitals are the primary employers of medical assistants. But if you don’t fancy working in a hospital, you’ve got a couple of options. You could find a job in a physician’s office, outpatient care center, ambulatory care facility, or in a chiropractor’s office.

This freedom to choose from various potential workplaces makes this career a good choice for people who love flexibility. If you find a job in a physician’s office and find that you need another environment, you won’t have to think of leaving the profession. Just find the same job in a hospital!

A Medical Assisting Career Is Calling You

You have every compelling reason to pursue a medical assisting career. Whether you’re looking for a competitive salary, clear advancement prospects, or a job that enables you to touch a life, you’ll have it all as a medical assistant. To find an excellent school just search for medical assistant program in Phoenix or a major city near you.

Need any more convincing?

Keep tabs on our blog for more education and career tips.

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