Medical assistants are unlicensed medical workers who perform non-invasive support services under the oversight of a licensed health care practitioner. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, being a registered medical assistant is one of the nation's fastest growing career choices. Medical assistants are becoming a vital part of many clinical practices including physicians, optometrists, podiatrists, and other medical settings. The roles of medical assistants may vary, but medical assistants are essential to keeping offices running smoothly and are critical for good patient healthcare and well-being. Choosing to train as a medical assistant can give you a fulfilling, stable, and highly in demand career. …show more content…
A critical skill for medical assistants is strong communication skills. Being able to listen to others without interruption and to ask relevant questions is essential for taking patient histories so the doctor will know what symptoms a patient exhibits. Good communication is also about delivering physician instructions and answering or relaying to the physician any patient questions. This ability to communicate involves being an empathic listener to the patient. Being courteous and showing self-control when patients are difficult is the sign of a professional who has the personality for managing often stressful clinical situations. Dependability and integrity are essential components of a registered medical assistant. Your employer, the health care coworkers, and the patients depend on you to know your job and follow accepted protocols. Integrity is …show more content…
Physicians usually train medical assistants or hire those who have training. A registered medical assistant should have at least a high school diploma with courses emphasizing the sciences such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, and computer use. Communication skills and knowledge of office procedures is useful when considering a career as a medical assistant. Many clinics prefer and even require hiring medical assistants who have completed formal training program through a vocational schools, technical schools, or community colleges. An associate degree in medical assistants is often required so employers can be assured the medical assistant is competent in office and clinical skills. Coursework for a two year degree will often include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology as well as basic computer, office, and medical office procedure skills to learn how to use and maintain electronic records. Some states may require medical assistants to complete an accredited program and pass a qualifying exam. Certification is available for medical assistants from the American Association of Medical Assistants, the American Medical Technologists, the National Center for Competency Testing, and the National Healthcareer Association. There are five certifications from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, part of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the