If you think helping people is the best part of any job, a career in Medical Assisting might be the right path for you. You might work in a doctor’s office, a large hospital, nursing home, or other healthcare facility, but wherever you work, you would be an important part of a healthcare team. Your role helping doctors and their staff provide the best possible care to their patients would be both vital to the team and rewarding to yourself. Did you know that Medical Assisting recently ranked #2 for Best Jobs Without a 4-Year College Degree category? It also ranked among the 100 Best Jobs across all categories. And during the coronavirus pandemic when millions of people lost their jobs, many Medical Assistants were considered to be essential workers. They stayed on the job, helping others, and doing rewarding work.

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

From private physicians' offices to hospices, nursing homes and hospitals, as a Medical Assistant, you would likely work on both administrative and clinical tasks. These might include:

• Take vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, respiration, pulse, height, and weight
• Gather information such as health history, current problem, allergies, and medications
• Collect blood samples and prepare swabs and slides for the lab
• Administer injections, assist with physical therapies, and provide minor surgery assistance
• Verify prescriptions and help educate patients
• Keep electronic medical records up to date
• Assist with scheduling, referrals, and incoming calls

Are Medical Assistants in Demand?

Demand for Medical Assisting jobs is expected to increase much faster than average through 2029. That’s partly because there are so many older adults who are living longer and needing more personalized care. It’s also because more people have health insurance since the Affordable Care Act.

What Skills Would I Need to Be a Medical Assistant?

Besides a desire to help others, you’ll need some specific skills to have a successful career as a medical assistant:

• Empathy
• Attention to detail
• Good Organization
• Problem-solving skills
• Multitasking
• Ability to prioritize
• Team player
• Interpersonal skills

Get the Right Medical Assisting Training

Does Medical Assisting sound like the career for you?

At Porter and Chester Institute, you can receive Medical Assistant training as well as real-world experience in an externship in Connecticut or Massachusetts in as little as nine months. Want to find out more? To take the next step for a rewarding medical assisting career, please fill out the form or give us a call at 800-870-6789.