Medical Assistant Job Requirements

A medical assistant is a vital member of the medical team. They assist the physician with administrative and clinical procedures. Of course the level of responsibility given to each MA depends on their level of education and training.

So what does a medical assistant do? And how can you become a CMA? Let's take a look at the answers to these questions in the following article.

Work Environment

Most medical assistants (also known as MAs) work in the office of a physician. They often work for an internist or family practice physician.

Medical assistants do exactly what their name implies - they help with medical related duties. They may be required to perform administrative duties, clinical duties or both. Clinical procedures may include taking a patient's blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

Specializing

Other than working for a general practitioner, many CMAs can choose to work for a podiatrist or optometrist. You'll want to have some experience in these specialties before applying for a job. Familiarity with the anatomy of the foot may be needed to work in a podiatrist's office.

MAs who work with eye doctors should be well-educated about the anatomy of the eye. Since optometrists often sell glasses in the office you may need to employ some of your sales skills to convince a patient to make a purchase.

Extra Skills

Medical assistants can perform the basic job requirements in just about any medical office. But if you wish to kick things up a notch, you should consider getting certified in a few special procedures. Among these are taking x-rays, monitoring EKGs and phlebotomy. Training and certification commonly won't take more than a few months. The more qualifications you get, the better your job will be and you'll be on track to making even more money. And who doesn't want to earn more money!

Medical Assistant Certification

What should you keep in mind prior to signing up to become a medical assistant? It's crucial to have a fondness for people since you will be working with many of them every day. It would be helpful to have an interest in the medical field since you will be working in that environment.

Most employers want their medical assistants to become certified. Earning your certification requires that you acquire a measure of training first.

The second step is to take the American Association of Medical Assistants test. Then you'll be a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). Your employer will be able to give you more responsibilities and you'll be eligible for a higher pay - how great is that!

Not only are medical assistants a valuable part of the medical office, they also serve the community by helping people on a day-to-day basis. Whether you sit behind a desk all day or help patients with clinical procedures you will always find your job challenging and rewarding. If you're interested in this career, don't hesitate to find a school near you and start your training now!

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