Medical assistant roles are important in enhancing the quality and efficiency of patient care in modern medical settings. A medical assistant usually works under the supervision of a healthcare provider such as a physician or registered nurse. In a clinical setting, assistants can be involved with patient care, medical records, and the administrative functioning of the clinic or medical office. If you feel your current career is a dead-end or you want to do something that makes a difference, becoming a medical assistant might be right for you. Keep reading to find out more about working as a medical assistant and why you should get a certification to give yourself the best shot at success.
Medical Assisting Jobs: What do you do?
People in medical assisting jobs support other healthcare professionals in providing care by doing things like preparing exam rooms and running common medical tests. They also handle administrative duties like scheduling appointments and updating medical records. Medical assistants work in doctor’s offices, urgent care clinics, hospitals, and pretty much every other type of medical facility you can think of.
Medical assisting jobs often call upon you to do some relationship building. People are often anxious when visiting a medical facility, especially if they’re undergoing tests to diagnose a condition or starting treatment after receiving a diagnosis. A good medical assistant can help put patients at ease and help them navigate the sometimes-confusing world of modern healthcare.
As they progress in their careers, some medical assistants will have the opportunity to specialize in particular types of care, such as pediatrics or cardiology.
The Importance of Certification
Medical assisting certifications are credentials you obtain by taking an exam which proves you have the knowledge you need to succeed on the job. For obvious reasons, mistakes you make in a medical job might matter more than they do in your average workplace. Medical assistant certifications give you and everyone you work with – both patients and other facility staff – confidence that you can get the job done right.
Getting certified is also simply a good career move. Although not all states require a certification to work as a medical assistant, job candidates with certifications have a big edge over those that don’t when applying for medical assisting jobs.
There are several different types of medical assisting certification offered by different organizations. At Healthcare Career College (HCC), the Medical Assistant Administrative and Clinical training program prepares you for the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certification exams. HCC’s campus is an approved testing site for both exams. You’ll also take the CPT1 certification exam, required in the state of California to draw blood in hospitals or labs.
Medical Assisting School at HCC
To be ready for certification exams and work as a medical assistant, you need to prepare with a high-quality training program.
Just as the role of a medical assistant has both administrative and clinical aspects, a good medical assistant program will combine structured classroom learning with hands-on practical training.
You’ll need to learn medical terminology, become familiar with commonly used computer software, and develop skills in medical billing and coding. On the clinical side, you’ll need to become familiar with common medical office technology and learn how to perform tasks like taking vital signs, drawing blood, and performing common medical tests.
The Medical Assistant Administrative and Clinical program at HCC is a three-in-one program that gives you the skills to work as a specialized EKG or phlebotomy technician as well as foundational generalized medical assisting instruction. You’ll also learn Microsoft Office and how to work with electronic health records. The program concludes with an externship that allows you to practice what you’ve learned in a real medical facility setting so you’ll be ready to crush your certification exams and start applying for jobs.
Get Ready for Medical Assistant Jobs
Demand for medical assistants is on the rise and projected to continue growing. In California, employment for medical assistants is expected to grow by 24.5% between 2018 and 2028. Take advantage of this demand and transition to a better career by getting medical assistant training at HCC. Our program will have you ready to get professional certification and start working in healthcare in 11 months. Enroll today or contact us for more info.