We need more medical assistants in the job market now!
By 2050, it is estimated that people aged 65 and above will number about 89 million in the United States—and that is more than double the number of aged people in America today. If you’re looking for a job that is guaranteed to get you a well-paying job, then consider becoming a medical assistant.
People may not realize this, but there is so much more to the healthcare system than just doctors and hospitals. Medical assistants are the unsung heroes of the medical world—the behind the scene workers who make efficient health care possible. And now, with the sharp increase in the life expectancy of people, there are a lot of aging patients who need serious and urgent medical attention and therefore a greater demand for medical assistants.
Let me persuade you with my arsenal of persuasive powers! Here are the things you should know about being a medical assistant in today’s job market. Let’s start with the basics, shall we:
1. What do they do?
Most medical assistants work at doctor’s offices working with administrative tasks such as manning the front desk, scheduling appointments and taking care of medical records and history (And I need not explain how keeping records is important, it’s pretty cut and dry). Medical assistants are also trained in hands-on work like drawing blood, vaccinations and assisting in minor surgeries. Their job may diversify depending on the requirements of the doctors they are assisting.
2. Why are they important?
I’m going to ask you to imagine the following scenario: You’re sending your child to a school. The school only has teachers, no other staff has been appointed. Who makes the time table? Who ensures discipline? Who calculates how much stationary the school requires? Who takes care of all the monetary aspects of the school? Who is responsible for keeping student records that, if lost, can ruin your child’s future? I bet you won’t send your child to a school like that. The same goes for a place without medical assistants. It’s just not possible to run a clinic without them! It would be like Batman without Robin—and we all know that Robin has bailed Batman out of some pretty tough situations! A superhero always needs a sidekick. Similarly, the medical fraternity needs their heroes too.
Source: http://subbacultcha.nl/images/2011-05/xlarge_batman_robin_intern.jpg
3. What are your future prospects?
If you choose this career option, the only direction you’d go is up. This career has one of the fastest growth rates of any occupation—the national average is about 11 per cent, while this sector is currently growing at a whopping 29 per cent rate and it will continue to do so till 2022, which is great news for all aspirants. 560,800 jobs were available in this sector in 2012 and it is only bound to increase. Medical assistants in the US earned upwards of $30,000 a year.
4. How do you become a medical assistant?
There is on-the-job training, on one hand. But usually, you’d require a special certificate after passing out of high school. This will give you an edge over other competitors who’d have little or no formal training. For instance, YTI Career Institute offers a 21 month course for aspiring medical assistants. Courses like this one will teach you basics like how to take vital signs, diagnostic methods, critical thinking and other subjects which will make you stand out in the sea of applicants looking for a job in this industry.
It’s best if you take advantage of the terrific growth opportunities available to you in this career sphere. You’ll have the advantage of a steady salary and assisting people with their medical problems. You’ll also have the distinct advantage of being a superhero without whom the medical world would come crashing down! What could possibly be better than that?
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?
More from Woburn
Politics & Government|
Despite Potential Legal Challenges, Woburn Nixes Townhouse Plan: Report
Politics & Government|