MEDICAL ASSISTANT Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
[Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 edition]
Nature of the Work
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians,
podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical
assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the
practitioner's specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually do many different kinds of
tasks, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager,
physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular
area, under the supervision of department administrators. Medical assistants should not be
confused with physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct
supervision of a physician. (Physician assistants are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Administrative medical assistants update and file patients' medical records, fill out insurance forms,
and arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services. They also perform tasks less specific
to medical settings, such as answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence,
scheduling appointments, and handling billing and bookkeeping.
Clinical medical assistants have various duties, depending on State law. Some common tasks include
taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients,
preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical
assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory
tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. As directed by a
physician, they might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer
medications, authorize drug refills, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare
patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical
assistants also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain
supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.
Ophthalmic medical assistants, optometric assistants, and podiatric medical assistants are examples
of specialized assistants who have additional duties. Ophthalmic medical assistants help
ophthalmologists provide eye care. They conduct diagnostic tests, measure and record vision, and
test eye muscle function. They apply eye dressings and also show patients how to insert, remove,
and care for contact lenses. Under the direction of the physician, ophthalmic medical assistants
may administer eye medications. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may
assist the ophthalmologist in surgery. Optometric assistants also help provide eye care, working
with optometrists. They provide chair-side assistance, instruct patients about contact lens use and
care, conduct preliminary tests on patients, and otherwise provide assistance while working directly
with an optometrist. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays,
and assist podiatrists in surgery.
Work environment
Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They constantly
interact with other people and may have to handle several responsibilities at once. Most full-time
medical assistants work a regular 40-hour week. However, medical assistants may work part time,
evenings, or weekends.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete 1- or 2-year programs. Almost
all medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, although there are no formal education
or training requirements.
Education and training
Medical assisting programs are offered in vocational-technical high
schools, postsecondary vocational schools, and community and junior colleges. Postsecondary
programs usually last either 1 year and result in a certificate or diploma, or 2 years and result in
an associate degree. Courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, as well as
keyboarding, transcription, recordkeeping, accounting, and insurance processing. Students
learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, the
administration of medications, and first aid. They study office practices, patient relations, medical
law, and ethics. There are two accrediting bodies that accredit medical assisting programs.
Accredited programs often include an internship that provides practical experience in physicians'
offices or other healthcare facilities.
Formal training in medical assisting, while generally preferred, is not required. Many medical
assistants are trained on the job, and usually only need to have a high school diploma or the
equivalent. Recommended high school courses include mathematics, health, biology, keyboarding,
bookkeeping, computers, and office skills. Volunteer experience in the healthcare field also is
helpful. Medical assistants who are trained on the job usually spend their first few months
attending training sessions and working closely with more experienced workers.
Some States allow medical assistants to perform more advanced procedures, such as giving
injections or taking x rays, after passing a test or taking a course.
Other qualifications
Medical assistants deal with the public; therefore, they must be neat and well
groomed and have a courteous, pleasant manner and they must be able to put patients at ease and
explain physicians' instructions. They must respect the confidential nature of medical information.
Clinical duties require a reasonable level of manual dexterity and visual acuity.
Certification and advancement
Although not required, certification indicates that a medical
assistant meets certain standards of knowledge. It may also help to distinguish an experienced or
formally trained assistant from an entry-level assistant, which may lead to a higher salary or more
employment opportunities. There are various associations—such as the American Association of
Medical Assistants (AAMA) and Association of Medical Technologists (AMT)—that award
certification credentials to medical assistants. The certification process varies by association.
It is also possible to become certified in a specialty, such as podiatry, optometry, or ophthalmology.
Medical assistants may also advance to other occupations through experience or additional training.
For example, some may go on to teach medical assisting, and others pursue additional education
to become nurses or other healthcare workers. Administrative medical assistants may advance to
office managers, or qualify for a variety of administrative support occupations.
Employment
Medical assistants held about 483,600 jobs in 2008. About 62 percent worked in offices of physicians;
13 percent worked in public and private hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities; and
11 percent worked in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors and optometrists.
Most of the remainder worked in other healthcare industries, such as outpatient care centers and
nursing and residential care facilities.
Job Outlook
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the
fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 decade. Job opportunities should be excellent,
particularly for those with formal training or experience, and certification.
Employment change
Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 34 percent from 2008
to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the healthcare industry expands
because of technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging of the population, there
will be an increased need for all healthcare workers. The increasing prevalence of certain conditions,
such as obesity and diabetes, also will increase demand for healthcare services and medical
assistants. Increasing use of medical assistants to allow doctors to care for more patients will
further stimulate job growth.
Helping to drive job growth is the increasing number of group practices, clinics, and other
healthcare facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly medical
assistants who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. In addition, medical assistants
work mostly in primary care, a consistently growing sector of the healthcare industry.
Job prospects
Jobseekers who want to work as a medical assistant should find excellent job
prospects. Medical assistants are projected to account for a very large number of new jobs,
and many other opportunities will come from the need to replace workers leaving the
occupation. Medical assistants with formal training or experience—particularly those with
certification—should have the best job opportunities, since employers generally prefer to
hire these workers.
Earnings
The earnings of medical assistants vary, depending on their experience, skill level, and location.
Median annual wages of wage-and-salary medical assistants were $28,300 in May 2008. The middle
50 percent earned between $23,700 and $33,050. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,600,
and the highest 10 percent earned more than $39,570.
