And is it the career for me?

Due to the growth of the aging Baby Boomer population, jobs in medical assisting are projected to grow 29% by 2026, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But what is a medical assistant? As a medical assistant, you can work in a number of locations across the country completing both administrative and clinical tasks. Medical assisting jobs are rewarding, fulfilling, and full of positive opportunities.

Do you think a career in medical assisting is right for you? Here are a few areas to consider in working in the field.

A Friendly Face for Patients

Regardless of the size of the clinic, care center, or hospital, medical assistants play an essential role in helping patients get the treatments they need. A medical assistant is often the first person a patient interacts with; therefore, he/she should be communicative, organized, personable and knowledgeable in order to help and administer the proper care needed.

Greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and completing medical records and billing are a few of a medical assistant’s duties. All of these skills are taught in our program, and can be utilized during externships that our Education and Career Services departments can help connect you with.

Working Hands-On with Patients

Medical assistants may also choose to focus their careers on clinical aspects of patient care. Medical assistants master hands-on skills like evaluating vital signs, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and assisting with minor surgeries — to name a few.

Another clinical duty for medical assistants is performing basic lab procedures, such as sterilizing medical equipment or preparing and administering medications and vaccinations.

Where You Might Work

Medical assistants can begin their careers working in a number of locations, ranging from small physicians’ practices or pharmaceutical companies to large-scale hospitals. Many medical assistants work in both the primary care and preventive health care fields.

If a fulfilling and rewarding career in this field seems like a good fit for you, you can enroll in the Medical Assisting program at one of our Porter and Chester Institute campuses and earn your diploma in as little as nine months.

Winter Term classes begin on January 22 at Porter and Chester Institute. For more information on how you can enroll, visit PorterChester.com or call 1-800-870-6789.