Although the majority of medical assistants are employed in physicians' offices, a substantial amount also work in general hospitals performing similar administrative and clinical duties. Read on to find out the details of your expected responsibilities as a medical assistant, as well as education information and employment statistics.
Medical Assistants' Duties and Responsibilities in Hospitals
As a medical assistant in a hospital, your typical tasks don't differ too much from a medical assistant in a physician's office or other similar healthcare facility. You are responsible for performing various administrative activities common to a medical office, such as greeting patients, setting up appointments, managing patients' medical records and filling out insurance forms. You may also perform some basic clinical procedures under the direction of a doctor, such as taking and recording patients' vital signs, collecting medical histories, drawing blood and changing dressings.
In smaller hospitals, you may be responsible for both administrative and clinical tasks, but if you work in a larger hospital, you might be assigned solely to one or the other. If you have clinical duties, you'll be expected to have knowledge of proper sanitation procedures, safety precautions and basic medical equipment operation.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMedicalAssistants"> Important Facts About Medical Assistants</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> On-the-Job Training </td><td> Several months for individuals without a postsecondary education</td></tr>
<tr><td> Licensure </td><td> None required</td></tr>
<tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Technical and analytical ability, attention to detail, clear written and spoken communication, critical-thinking skills, social awareness, reading comprehension skills</td></tr>
<tr><td> Similar Occupations </td><td> Dental assistants, nursing assistants, orderlies, occupational therapy assistants and aides, physical therapist assistants and aides, psychiatric technicians and aides</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---EducationalRequirements"> Educational Requirements</h3><p>You can learn the basics and become better prepared for entry-level positions through certificate or associate's degree programs. Formal education is preferred by many employers. The coursework in these programs includes introductory human biology classes as well as courses in medical billing and coding, records transcription, computer applications and medical terminology. You will also study clinical topics, such as specimen collection, clinical lab procedures and basic patient care. Medical assistant educational programs also frequently provide an internship or similar work experience in order for you to receive hands-on training at a medical facility.
</p><h3 id="section---OptionalCertification"> Optional Certification</h3><p>Certification is not required to work as a medical assistant, but it is usually preferred by employers. If you want to earn certification, you can choose from several different professional organizations offering credentials. Earning certification typically requires passing an exam and/or graduating from an accredited program.
</p><h3 id="section---EmploymentAndSalaryInfo"> Employment and Salary Info</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a 16% increase in job opportunities was projected for medical assistants during the 2021-2031 decade, thanks in large part to the need for medical services from a growing baby boomer population (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS also reported that medical assistants employed in general medical and surgical hospitals earned an average annual salary of $38,190 as of May 2021. This was almost $1,400 more per year than the average yearly income for all medical assistants. The BLS also found that medical assistants employed at hospitals earned $37,610 per year on average.</p>
