Medical Assistant

What is medical assistance?

In this profession, medical assistants work with doctors and other medical professionals in a hospital, clinic, or medical office.

What should I look for in an online medical assistance school?

The best online medical assistance schools should possess either regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online medical assistance schools based on:

• The school's name and status
• The school's history
• Teacher credentials
• Alumni network

In choosing the best online medical assistance school for you, you should consider the following factors:

• Admission requirements
• Residency requirements
• Class and teaching style
• Testing methods used
• Course content and presentation
• Program length
• Class size
• Student-teacher interaction
• Technology use
• Tuition and financial aid
• Transferability of credits
• Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online medical assistance programs are available?

The following levels of medical assistance degree online programs are available:

• Online Medical Assistance Certificate Programs
• Online Associates in Medical Assistance
• Online Bachelor in Medical Assistance
• Online Masters in Medical Assistance
• Online PhD in Medical Assistance

How long does it take to get an online medical assistance degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online medical assistance degree depends on the level of medical assistance degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

• Online Medical Assistance Certification Programs - 6 months to 1 year
• Online Medical Assistance Associates Degree - 2 years
• Online Medical Assistance Bachelor Degree - 4 years
• Online Medical Assistance Masters - 2 years
• Online Medical Assistance PhD - 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of online medical assistance courses?

Medical assistance degrees involve communications, professionalism, medical terminology, and basic physiology courses. Students should be detailed, hardworking, and have solid reading comprehension courses. Medical assistant classes commonly include:

• Medical Terminology
  This course will provide students with a foundation to recognize medical terms using the four-word part approach (prefix, word root, suffix, combining vowel). This will prepare the student to better understand and master the terminology related to health care delivery. Emphasis will be placed on improving written and oral communication skills pertaining to medical terminology.
• Medical Assistant Techniques
  Medical assistant techniques presents theory and planned student activity in assisting with the medical asepsis, vital signs, patient history physical exam, positioning and draping, and sterilization and disinfection. Emphasis will be on the performance of these basic skills used by the medical assistant.
• Medical Office Manager
  This course is designed to prepare the medical assistant student to develop skills using the Medical Manager software, a popular medical office management program.
• Health Science
  Health science presents combined classroom theory and planned student activity in a laboratory setting to prepare the allied health student to perform the following: medical asepsis including isolation techniques, vital signs, body mechanics and patient movement, surgical asepsis, a general understanding of medications, and care of the patient during emergency situations including CPR.
• Administrative Skills for the Medical Assistant
  This course is designed to prepare the medical assistance student with theory and skills necessary to perform administrative procedures in a medical office. Students will explore in depth types of insurance, managed care, third party reimbursement guidelines, and HCFA claim form instructions.

What areas of medical assistance specialization are available?

Basic coursework in all medical assistance online degree programs is similar, but students also will have an opportunity to further their studies in a specific area of interest. Professional pursuit will likely define the medical assistance concentration of choice, including:

• Medical Assistant Office Management
• Phlebotomy
• Medical Assistant Insurance
• Medical Coding
• Medical Secretary/Clerk
• Medical Communications

What can I do with a medical assistance degree?

Medical assistants who have graduated from an accredited online degree program may pursue a variety of career paths within the medical field. These include:

• Medical Office Assistant
• Medical Office Manager
• Medical Health Technician
• Phlebotomist
• Medical Coder
• Medical Insurance Technician

What is a medical assistant?

A medical assistant works in a medical office or clinic to assist a doctor in basic health care needs, clerical and administrative work.

What does a medical assistant do?

Medical assistants work with doctors and other medical professionals to ensure smooth administrative and clerical tasks within the organization. They may act as insurance experts, medical coders, phlebotomists, and medical secretaries. Medical assistants are essential members of a medical community, working in conjunction with a variety of medical professionals within the field. Medical assistants must have excellent writing, communications, and interpersonal skills, plus a passion for helping others.

How much does a medical assistant earn?

In this stable field, medical assistants earn an average of $36,440 per year. Job growth is expected at a faster than average rate, as many medical assistants move into more advanced positions, such as LPN or nurse assistants. Medical assistants with advanced technology skills can expect faster growth, as they can typically keep up with the demands of "paperless" offices.

How do I become a medical assistant?

In order to pursue a career in medical assistance, an individual must have a medical assistance degree. Accredited online medical assistance degrees provide students with academic knowledge and practical skills to be successful in a hospital or doctor's offices. In addition, many programs offer internship opportunities, to give students real-life work experiences in the field. More advanced positions require testing and/or certification in some states.