Medical Assistants The Multi-skilled Medical Professionals

Medical assistants are allied health professionals who work in alongside doctors providing patient care as well as performing clerical duties. Medical assistants work in a variety of environments, from private practices to nursing homes. Specialized doctors such as podiatrists and optometrists also have medical assistants, though the training required for these positions is more extensive. With the aging of the baby boomer population, the medical industry is expanding rapidly, making it an attractive job opportunity for many career-minded individuals. In order to become a medical assistant, you must attend an accredited medical assistant training program, though requirements vary state to state.

Medical assistants are part of the allied health field because their duties include a wide range of things, including clerical tasks and patient care. Some doctor's offices employ medical assistants to work in one area or the other, however most medical assistants do both clerical and medical duties. Some of the basic medical tasks of a medical assistant are taking a patient's history and vitals, assisting the physician with the exam, giving injections, removing stitches, drawing blood, and sterilizing tools. Specialized assistants assist doctors with taking x-rays, making foot castings, as well as assist with surgery.

The clerical tasks of a medical assistant involve taking care of appointments, organizing and filing charts, and assisting patients at the front desk. Many doctors offices use electronic health records nowadays, therefore medical assistants also have to be trained in the software used in their office.

There are several general requirements to become a medical assistant. You must be 18 years old, and have a high school diploma or equivalency. No secondary education is required, though medical assistant associate degrees are offered at some schools. Medical assistant training programs are offered at many vocational school and community colleges around the country. These programs usually take about one year to finish and are very beneficial to have on your resume when applying for medical assistant positions. Most training for medical assisting is done on the job however. Each doctors office has a unique routine and filing system, and learning on the job is very common.

If you are looking for a Medical Assistant training program in New York, New York Medical Career Training Center is a reputable school that offers an accredited Medical Assistant training program. Their Medical Assistant (RMA) program consists of 900 hours; 600 class hours and 300 externship hours. With a central location in Flushing, New York, students are also able to commute easily from surrounding areas such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Long Island. If you would like to learn more about Medical Assistant training program in New York, please visit us online.