Tuesday, April 3, 2012

An Overview on Medical Assisting


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This is the most versatile of all the careers in the allied health field, and while most medical assistants work in a physician's office, others are employed in hospitals. All of them assist doctors and nurses in performing a wide range of medical and administrative tasks-such as giving injections, checking vital signs, updating and filing records, insurance coding, and medical billing.

Required training

A high school diploma is the minimum entrance requirement, and before applicants begin taking courses, they should make certain that the school they chose has been approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Then, they can select one of the two types of programs that are available. They can enroll in a one-year certificate program or earn an associate's degree, which takes two years to complete. Typically, the courses being offered will include medical terminology, medical billing, first aid, science, mathematics, and other related subjects.

Using the Internet

Today, completing the training requirements for pursuing this career online is a viable alternative, and the option is especially appealing to stay-at-home parents, those who had to interrupt their college education for financial reasons, and those seeking to transfer into the medical field. Anyone who is interested will find that financial aid is also available if they go this route, and they will have a flexible study schedule that will suit their lifestyle without interfering with their family responsibilities, if they take the time to find the right program.

Continuing Education

Once students complete their program, they can sign up to prepare for the certification examination required in order to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), and the American Association of Medical Assistants provides this opportunity three times a year. Once that is done, they will have to renew their certification every five years. Authorities also indicate that CMAs will have more employment opportunities because they will not be limited to one medial specialty and they stay current with the latest developments.

Working conditions

Like their counterparts in the business world, a majority of those employed in this field usually work a 40-hour week. Also, there is definitely a place for someone here if "nurturing" is one of the applicant's main characteristics because the need for individuals with this kind of expertise is growing rapidly. For example, on the job, these professionals often work at the front desk as they deal with patients who are checking in and out of the office, and they will want to develop their skill at communicating with others.

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