How to become A Medical Assistant

Every medical facility worth its name strives to provide seamless healthcare to all the patients who cross its threshold.Medical Assistants (MAs) play a critical role in enabling medical establishments to uphold their reputation. They multitask between a slew of clinical and administrative tasks to help the patient feel at ease and hasten their recovery.

• Certified Medical Assistant
• Medical Office Assistant 
• Clinical Assistant
• Medical Admin Assistant
• Healthcare Assistant

What do Medical Assistants do?

A Medical Assistant would typically need to:

• Perform diverse patient care and lab-based duties under a physician’s supervision for a specific unit in a healthcare setting
• Handle billing, fill out patient forms, examine patient samples, administer immunisations or medication, organise prescription refills and take ECG readings
• Carry out a more comprehensive blend of clinical and administrative duties in a clinical setting, ranging from answering telephones and explaining procedures to changing wound dressings; help doctors and nurses run the clinic efficiently
• Ensure the smooth functioning of office procedures in a private practice setting; schedule appointments, explain medical information to patients, perform basic tests and manage overall patient care, including putting patients at ease
• Provide support in a clinical and clerical manner in the high-pressure ambulatory care setting; complete essential patient forms; perform Point of Care testing (POCT) and collect necessary readings, samples and specimens
• Help maintain the hospital’s reputation by complying with legal and hospital-specific policies and procedures concerning storage and preparation of equipment and retention, disposal, and archiving of records
• Keep note of manufacturer’s instruction and established procedures while using equipment; conserve resources by using equipment and supplies as needed

Medical Assistants typically work indoors in hygienic, well-lit healthcare settings. However, the specific type of medical assistance that you opt for, whether clinical, administrative, or specialised, and the location, size and needs of the healthcare facility you work at may also determine your working conditions. 

Administrative work may be office-based, while for patient care duties, you will likely be present in outpatient or inpatient wards, the rooms of patients, laboratories, or other specific locations as required.

The nature of a Medical Assistant’s job is such that it requires constant interaction with other people and multitasking. Since they work in close contact with patients and are often exposed to the risk of infectious diseases, especially when dealing with patients’ blood and other bodily fluids, they may wear protective attire, including masks, gloves, goggles and scrubs. 

Most Medical Assistants work full time for around 40 hours per week. Some work evenings, weekends or holidays to cover shifts in medical facilities open during those times.

Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees the chance to adjust their schedules per the job demands. While patient care needs Medical Assistants to be physically present, there may be a possibility to perform the administrative component of their work remotely, particularly given the increased focus on telehealth services.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Medical Assistants can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Medical Assistants are generally employed by:

• Physicians’ Offices
• Hospitals & Clinics
• Outpatient Care Centres
• Chiropractors’ Offices
• Obstetrician-Gynaecologists’ Offices
• Paediatric Clinics
• Medical Research Centres
• Diagnostic Laboratories
• Retirement Facilities
• Psychiatric Centres
• Palliative Care Centres
• Home Healthcare Services
• Insurance Companies
• Armed Forces
• Prisons
• Academic Institutions

Professional associations and organisations specialising in healthcare administrative management are crucial for Medical Assistants interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Risks associated with the exposure to infectious diseases and hazards while coming into close contact with patients
• Dealing with dissatisfied patients
• Multitasking and managing several responsibilities
• Work delays due to disruptions and lack of training in technology
• Lack of work-life balance due to the demanding nature of the job; increased susceptibility to frustration and burnouts
• Spending large parts of the day on one’s feet, moving patients to and from various rooms

Some teaching hospitals offer work experience in their biology, chemistry and anatomy departments to high school students interested in becoming Medical Assistants. Contact your local hospital for additional details.

Any academic program that a potential Medical Assistant takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship, to foster beneficial skills such as communication, reliability and attention to detail.

You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments. 

Find short-term paid or voluntary work in the healthcare industry to improve your prospects of acceptance into a desirable course or getting a job while gaining valuable insight into how a company or institution operates. It helps you build familiarity with medical terminology and other aspects of medical assistance and may also help you determine whether the public, private or voluntary sector is best suited to realise your ambitions. Summer internships or part-time work at an entry-level position offer you a taste of the work and help build useful contacts. Experience in a role that requires you to deal with diverse community members is also helpful in preparing you for your career.

Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

Read about the profession, talk with your high school counsellor and interview or shadow experts working in medical assistance to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. Such activities will also help you gain insight into the role.

Although there are no standard educational requirements for Medical Assistants, employers prefer to hire candidates who have obtained post-secondary qualifications, such as a one-year certificate/diploma or two-year associate degree from accredited community colleges, universities, and vocational or technical schools. All programs should involve classroom and laboratory instruction.

A standard certificate or diploma program includes medical office terminology, medical insurance billing, medical laboratory testing techniques & documentation procedures, and clinical medical assistance.

An associate degree is typically more comprehensive than a certificate/diploma, and can lead you to an advanced specialisation in healthcare. Standard components of the program include phlebotomy, psychology, ethics and the law in healthcare, and pharmacology, in addition to the topics covered in a certificate or diploma program.

Some facilities offer on-the-job training to high-school diploma holders, but most employers prefer qualified MAs. Formal education and certification give you better access to more lucrative job opportunities and faster career progression to a specialist field.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee your entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field. 

Aspiring MAs must take high school courses in biology, chemistry, anatomy & physiology, accounting, business, safety & first aid, bookkeeping, mathematics and computer applications to enter highly-ranked vocational schools or secure employment in a healthcare setting.

Although not mandatory, employers prefer to hire certified Medical Assistants who are over 18 years of age. A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region. You may require certification in phlebotomy if you work as a Medical Assitant in a laboratory. Contact your local board of medicine for more information.

The International Medical Assistant (IMA) is a global certification in medical assistance that validates clinical knowledge, administrative competency and professional and behavioural skills. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Despite being in a relatively young profession, Medical Assistants have immense opportunities to advance their career. Performance, experience, specialism and the transferability of skills to related fields drive career progression. 

In general, if you have a choice, you may opt to focus on patient care and clinical work if you thrive on direct interaction with patients. Or you may lean towards clerical and admin work that includes keeping medical records or managing billing processes. Another avenue for those wishing to do more hands-on work in the laboratory is phlebotomy or the collection of blood samples for analysis, provided you have the requisite qualifications. Typically, however, your role may require you to be versatile enough to fulfil wide-ranging duties.

There is a range of specialisations you may opt for to match your interest, such as paediatrics, obstetrics, orthopaedics, surgery, optometry and ophthalmology.  

MAs may also specialise and certify to become Assistant Practitioners in podiatry, occupational therapy, radiography or physiotherapy. 

Significant experience and desirable skills can facilitate your movement into leadership roles, such as Lead Medical Assistant, Clinical or Office Manager, or you may become an MA Instructor or Trainer. 

Additional educational qualifications and relevant certification will allow relocation to other healthcare roles as a Registered Nurse, Physician Assistant, Phlebotomist, Dietitian, Midwife, Social Worker or Nurse Practitioner.

You may follow the path of assisting clinical trials for drugs and other research projects at research centres to support scientists. Your role could entail administrative work, such as managing and documenting participants’ data. Or you may take on clinical duties, such as performing testing procedures on participants, collecting samples, and preparing them for analysis.

You could also diversify to work with an insurance company, given your administrative skills, familiarity with medical terminology, healthcare, insurance claims and maintaining patients’ medical records, and knowledge of hospital admission procedures and laboratory services.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.

Candidates with formal training, prior experience, proficiency in handling computers and word processing abilities have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential in the constantly evolving healthcare sector to ensure public well-being and career progression. It embraces new learning objectives, educational methodologies, and novel technological developments, especially in education, management, and IT.

Some employers may provide on-the-job training to newly hired Medical Assistants on topics such as hospital admission protocols and procedures, filling, maintaining and updating records, using lab services, drawing blood for testing, and monitoring EKG machines. However, acquiring higher qualifications and additional certifications are helpful both in landing a job and advancing your career. 

Further specialisation combined with a strong background in general medical knowledge ensures that MAs can offer their assistance to highly specialised teams while retaining the flexibility to switch between diverse fields, such as mental health or pediatric care.

Consider taking workshops or reading professional publications to remain updated on the latest medical terminology and instruments and the use of tools such as electronic health records (EHR) and patient interaction. 

Tools of the Trade

• Stethoscope helps determine whether the patient’s blood and different organs such as the heart, lungs, and intestines perform at optimal levels.
• Ear thermometers are simple digital devices with cone-shaped covers for the earpiece to lower the risk of disease transmission.
• Spirometers are routinely found in doctors’ offices and emergency rooms. They measure a patient’s lung capacity by tracking how much air they can inhale and exhale.
• Sphygmomanometers measure blood pressure and restrict blood circulation and make it easier to find a vein during blood draws. Some can also detect irregular heartbeats.
• Blood collection needles and tubes are handy devices to take blood samples for testing.
• Electrocardiography units (EKG) help prevent strokes and death due to cardiovascular diseases.
• Computers are the primary source of medical records and act as a resource library, scheduling calendar, billing and coding machine, and communications tool. During training, you will learn how to use the computer for specific medical applications and guard the confidentiality of patient medical records.
• Clipboards often sit at the foot of a patient’s bed and provide an immediate record of vital signs, food intake, etc. It helps record observations manually for later transcription.

Dress Code

Most healthcare organisations require Medical Assistants to wear scrubs. Some may allow you to wear solid colour T-shirts underneath your scrubs. You may need to wear protective gear such as gloves and masks, depending on your duties.

Remember to wear comfortable footwear, such as athletic or walking shoes, since you are on your feet for most of the workday. Avoid sandals and similar footwear, for they are a potential hazard in a healthcare setting.

Remember to wear comfortable footwear, such as athletic or walking shoes, since you are on your feet for most of the workday. Avoid sandals and similar footwear, as they are a potential hazard in healthcare. 

Remember also to carry your badge for security identification. Last but not least, maintain good personal hygiene and a professional appearance to instil confidence in the patients and fend off potential illnesses.

Current Scenario

The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year (for seasonal jobs), location, employment turnover (when people leave current jobs), occupational growth (when new roles are created), size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.

While one may find only 0.50 per cent of the population with the blood type AB- worldwide, a comparatively significant 42 per cent belong to the blood group O+.

Medical Assistants are playing an increasingly critical role in the healthcare industry as those who help doctors and nurses run a tight ship to ensure that patients leave a healthcare facility fully recovered.

Always prioritise your patient’s needs and hone your compassion and commitment to create a ripple effect of positivity and kindness for your patients that allows them to fight illnesses.