Looking for a rewarding career in the healthcare industry? Consider becoming a medical assistant.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing reliance on medical assistants across rapidly growing healthcare sectors ensures strong job growth. In fact, over the 2002–2012 period, medical assisting was projected as one of the fastest-growing occupations.

The expansion of the healthcare industry is driven by technological advances in medicine and a growing, aging population. As hospitals, medical centers, clinics, and group practices expand, the demand for support personnel—especially medical assistants capable of handling both administrative and clinical duties—continues to rise.

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks that keep healthcare offices running efficiently. Their responsibilities vary depending on the size and specialty of the practice.

• In small practices, medical assistants are often generalists, handling both administrative and clinical duties while reporting to an office manager, physician, or other healthcare professional.
• In larger practices, they may specialize in certain areas under the supervision of department administrators.

Administrative Duties

Medical assistants manage essential office tasks such as:

• Answering phones and greeting patients
• Updating and filing medical records
• Handling insurance forms and correspondence
• Scheduling appointments and arranging hospital admissions or lab services
• Managing billing and bookkeeping

Clinical Duties

Clinical responsibilities may vary by state law and can include:

• Recording patient medical histories and vital signs
• Preparing patients for examinations and assisting physicians
• Collecting laboratory specimens and performing basic tests
• Sterilizing instruments and disposing of contaminated supplies
• Administering medications, instructing patients on treatments or special diets
• Performing procedures like drawing blood, taking electrocardiograms, preparing patients for X-rays, removing sutures, and changing dressings

Medical assistants do not diagnose or treat patients like physician assistants do, but they provide vital support that ensures smooth operations in any healthcare setting.

Career Advancement

Medical assistants have several potential career paths:

• Advancement to office manager or other administrative roles
• Opportunities in teaching medical assisting
• Further education can lead to careers in nursing, medical technology, or other healthcare professions

Employers typically prefer trained personnel, so job prospects are strongest for medical assistants with formal training, experience, and accredited certification.

Becoming a medical assistant offers a stable, rewarding career in a growing field with ample opportunities for professional development.