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Are You Cut Out To Be A Medical Assistant Or Should You Go For Something Else?

The first step when deciding on a fitting career is to assess what you do well. It's also important to explore various training and career opportunities in your particular area first.

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Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical duties under the direction of physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing and coding for insurance purposes.

Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood and administering medications as directed by physician. Experienced medical assistants often elect to crosstrain or transition into these related fields to move on and up in their career.

Medical Assistant to RN

Many experienced allied health professionals, especially highly skilled and motivated medical assistants, eventually cross-train into other health service occupations such as an X-ray or EKG technician, dental assistant, ophthalmic medical assistant, surgical technologist, phlebotomist, or massage therapist. Yet, others go back to school and become radiation or nuclear technologists, or licensed practical and registered nurses (LPN or RN). What ever it is.

Licensed Practical Nurses or Licensed Vocational Nurses

This is another profession that attracts many medical assistants that seek a change in their career path. The biggest differences between the two professions are that the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) cares for ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled persons in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes and similar institutions; may work under the supervision of a registered nurse; and unlike the medical assisting profession licensing is required.

Medical Secretaries

Secretaries are responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an organization efficiently. A medical assistant that is familiar with typical secretarial and clerical tasks in a medical office can apply in hospitals, clinics, medical group practices, medical insurance companies and medicolegal practices. They perform secretarial duties utilizing specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Scheduling of appointments, billing patients, compiling and recording medical charts, reports and correspondence as secretaries to physicians and surgeons are routine tasks on their daily agenda.

Medical Record Technicians

Some medical assistants cross-train into occupations, such as a medical record technician which involve medical data use. Medical record technicians function as a vital link between the patient and the physician, although they do not provide patient care. When assembling a patient's medical record it is them who first make sure that the medical chart is complete. They also play an important role in coordinating an office’s administrative activities and ensuring that information is disseminated to staff and clients. In a number of organizations, medical record technicians and secretaries work in teams in order to work flexibly and share their expertise.

Medical Data Assistants

The administrative medical assistant may already be familiar with the duties of a medical data assistant who is employed in medical offices, clinics, medical insurance companies, medical equipment suppliers and hospitals. The medical data assistant is trained in medical terminology and transcription as well as in insurance coding and medical data management. Their broad based medical knowledge will allow medical data assistants to perform tasks that involve keying of medical data into databases and onto laboratory reports, providing supportive front desk functions, or scheduling appointments among many other tasks.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

Most administrative medical assistants are familiar with the medical billing and coding specialist's job. They are proficient in knowing insurance rules, billing practices and hospital or laboratory procedure, as well as dataentry. Medical billing and coding specialists submit proper documentation to a number of insurance companies and federal agencies for reimbursement and avoid fraud charges in order for their employer to financially succeed. Their specialized training and expertise lets them find work any place, any time! The nature of this work can lend itself to alternative or flexible working arrangements, such as part time work. The majority of medical billing and coding specialists, however, are full-time employees who work a standard 40-hour week.

Medical Transcriptionists

The medical transcriptionist performs supportive tasks in medical group practices, clinics, hospitals, medical insurance companies and medical supply and equipment firms. The medical transcriptionist can be described as a "word technician" who transcribes and edits medical letters, medical reports, or medical publications regarding patient's examinations, operations and laboratory procedures. Medical transcriptionists must possess a high degree of language, listening and editing skill.

Phlebotomists

Phlebotomists are health care professionals who have been trained to collect patient's blood specimens by venipuncture and by microcollection techniques. They usually work under the supervision of a physician, a medical laboratory scientist, or a lead phlebotomist. After the phlebotomist collects the blood, they process and analyze the specimen with sophisticated laboratory equipment.

Pharmacy Aides

Some medical assistants seek positions in local pharmacy stores as a pharmacy aide where they apply similar skills learned in a medical office. Pharmacy aides record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise and inform the supervisor of stock needs. They may also operate a cash register and accept prescriptions for filling at the customer care counter.

Physical Therapist Assistants

A medical assistant that is familiar with typical ROM exercises, cold and heat therapy modalities, ambulation and various physical therapy techniques, with additional training may join the therapeutic team in a hospital, physician's office or the office of a physical therapist, in nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, or outpatient care centers. They find their new role as a physical therapist assistant rewarding and well worth their efforts.

Hemodialysis—Dialysis Technician

The hemodialysis, or dialysis technician program is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive introduction to the field of hemodialysis and the skills required for entry-level employment as a Dialysis Technician. Medical assistants working in hemodialysis centers work under the supervision of physicians and nurses. They clean and disinfect dialysis and related equipment in accordance with policy and procedures. They prepare and administer medications as ordered and record patient status during dialysis treatments.