If you have been researching a career as a medical assistant, you have probably read that medical centers are where you will be working. But what is a medical center and what will your daily responsibilities be working at one? The answer depends on the type of medical center you’ll be working at, as the term covers a broad range of environments related to providing health care to patients. Know what to expect while on the job with this helpful guide from Prism Career Institute.
Types of Medical Centers
The medical assistant program at Prism Career Institute prepares you to work in several different places, including hospitals, clinics, labs, and more. Each of these places is devoted to serving their communities with high-quality care but do so in different manners. Depending on your personality and career goals, you should be able to find the right work style for you. Here is what you can expect at some common working environments.
Hospitals
Hospitals feature many different departments that cover a wide range of issues for their patients. They are usually open 24 hours a day, every day, so you may be required to work unconventional hours and on holidays and weekends. The work will usually be more fast-paced and unpredictable based on the number of patients and the level of medical attention they require each day. At a hospital, you will more likely partake in clinical responsibilities, such as checking vital signs, drawing blood, administering injections, and preparing patients for surgery. If you are looking for a hands-on experience that brings something new every day, then working at a hospital is for you.
Clinics
On the other hand, if you would rather have more of a daily routine, then consider working at a clinic. Clinics focus more on specific fields in the medical profession, so if you have a passion for a certain aspect of health care, you can work more directly with patients here. They typically are open during standard business hours, so your work schedule will likely be the same every week and you will get to work less on weekends and holidays. Your responsibilities will be a bit more varied at a clinic. You will have the chance to work with patients in the back of the house and be able to develop deeper relationships with them because clinics have more repeat visitors. But you will also probably be expected to perform more administrative duties like checking patients in, doing paperwork, and filing medical records at the front desk since the staff will be smaller.
Gain Valuable Experience
No matter what lifestyle you want your career to bring, the medical assistant program at Prism Career Institute will give you the experience to stay on top of your job responsibilities. Along with in-depth classroom work, students will have the opportunity to complete externships at a wide range of medical centers so they can find out for themselves what environment they work best in. Now that you know what a medical center is and what working in different types is like, apply online to our program today, or contact our Cherry Hill or West Atlantic City branches to learn more.