THE MANY ROLES OF A MEDICAL ASSISTANT

Medical Assistants perform a dual role for the health care organizations in which they are employed. Doctors, nurses and patients all depend upon the professionals in Medical Assisting jobs to accurately complete their responsibilities.

What do Medical Assistants do?

Medical Assistants work for medical practices of all kinds, from private practices to clinics to large hospitals. A work day for a medical assistant is never boring; they are usually responsible for both clinical and administrative duties, which makes them a unique and important team member in any medical office.

Administrative job responsibilities for a Medical Assistant may include:

• Assisting patients with insurance forms
• Completing patient billing
• Recording patient history and personal information
• Scheduling patient appointments

On the clinical side, Medical Assistants may perform the following duties:

• Administering injections as directed by the physician
• Collecting samples for laboratory tests
• Explaining treatment procedures or physicians’ instructions to patients
• Helping the physician with patient examinations
• Measuring vital signs
• Preparing treatment rooms for patient examinations

The Job Outlook for Medical Assistants

Medical Assisting is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of medical assisting jobs is expected to increase by 18% by 2030.* This can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing average age of the U.S. residents who require more procedures; federal legislation (the Affordable Care Act) will increase the number of insured people in the country; as medical practices switch to electronic health records, Medical Assistants responsibilities will continue to evolve.

Medical Assisting Programs

American Institute offers Medical Assisting programs in the following locations:

• Cherry Hill, New Jersey
• Clifton, New Jersey
• Somerset, New Jersey
• Toms River, New Jersey
• West Hartford, Connecticut

Interested? Call us for more information!

If you are interested in a rewarding career in the growing health care industry and would like to know more about American Institute’s Medical Assisting Program, call 888-357-5260.  

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants, at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm (visited March 14, 2022).