Medical assistants help physicians and nurses.
Medical assistants perform several different roles within the medical field. Depending on the setting, a medical assistant's responsibilities may include collecting lab specimens and conducting lab tests or preparing patients for medical procedures. Medical assistants often manage medical offices and oversee other assistants. Education and training covers administration, clinical procedures, lab procedures and radiography. Courses for certification can take as little as nine to 12 months at a vocational school or two years at a community college.
Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Terminology
Anatomy and physiology courses include the study of circulatory, digestive and respiratory systems. The endocrine, lymphatic and nervous systems are also covered in introductory courses. Medical terminology is the foundation of any position in the medical field. Since many medical terms originate in the Latin form, suffixes and prefixes receive a strong focus in medical terminology courses.
Administrative
Courses addressing administrative tasks may include medical billing, insurance coding and medical law. Administrative medical assistants are also expected to learn keyboarding and medical bookkeeping software. Smaller offices may require more skill sets from medical assistants, such as secretarial, receptionist and office management. Community colleges offer elective business courses that prepare medical assistants for administrative responsibilities.
Labs
Lab courses cover clinical chemistry and diagnostic testing equipment. Courses also include instruction in basic pharmacology, cell functions and administration of medications. Students also learn detect abnormal blood cells in lab specimens.
Clinical Procedures
Courses in clinical procedures include materials and practices related to assisting the practitioner directly. Medical assistants work with doctors and other medical personnel during emergency procedures or in preparation for medical treatments. Courses include principles of infection control, electrocardiography and handling medical equipment.
Radiography
Radiography courses focus on proper handling of patients' film and X-ray equipment. Students learn prepare patients for X-rays and learn about X-ray safety and precaution. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some states allow medical assistants to take X-ray films once they complete additional courses.
General Education
Vocational schools tend to focus on courses pertaining to medical assistant training. Community colleges usually incorporate the medical assistant education into a two-year associate degree. In addition to courses related directly to medical assistance, associate degrees require the completion of general education courses, also referred to as core classes. These include English composition, college math and world history. Each state has different general education requirements.
Tags: medical assistant, clinical procedures, Community colleges, medical assistants, Medical assistants, medical field
