Career Information

Medical Assisting is one of the fastest-growing careers in the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. With an increasing number of medical facilities, technological advancements and aging Americans who need medical treatment, the job market is thriving for those who enter this health field. Medical assistants have great variety in their jobs and are cross-trained to perform numerous administrative and clinical duties. They perform many of these duties under the direction of a physician.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

• taking and recording vital signs
• administering injections and other medications
• drawing blood
  
• collecting and processing specimens
• preparing patients for examination or in-office procedures
• patient teaching
• setting up office procedures
• documenting information in patients’ medical records

• insurance coding and processing
• collections
• appointment scheduling
• filing
• creating medical records
• receiving patients

Where do they find work?

• doctors’ offices
• hospitals
• nursing homes
• emergency clinics
• outpatient care facilities

Why Is This a Good Career Bet?

According to projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health-related occupations will add the most new jobs to the economy – nearly one-third of the total increase – through 2022. Fourteen of the top 20 fastest growing jobs listed by America’s Career Infonet are in health care occupations. Job growth in all medical fields is largely due to the aging population as well as more people accessing medical services because of health care reform.  

Medical assistant is projected to be one of the fastest-growing jobs in the nation, as health care facilities need support personnel who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. America’s Career Infonet projects job growth of 32% for medical assistants over the next decade. High job growth is defined as an annual increase of more than 10%.