Medical assistants are vital to making a difference in the lives of patients at hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, and other facilities. By performing a combination of clinical and administrative tasks, these professionals foster streamlined operations, reduce workloads for doctors, and educate patients on their treatment plans, insurance coverage, and other key healthcare information.
While you can seek general medical assistant jobs that require skill in numerous areas, you may also consider more specialized roles that focus on specific aspects of healthcare. Prism Career Institute provides medical assistant training at our campuses in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ. Here, we discuss several career paths outside the conventional role.
Medical Office Assistant
Medical office assistants primarily handle the administrative side of healthcare. They often work behind a desk, but occasionally enter examination rooms to consult with doctors or patients. One of their main duties is billing patients and insurance companies for services rendered. They also set up appointments with patients. Since medical office assistants deal with sensitive healthcare data, they must operate with the utmost integrity to maintain patient confidentiality.
While wages for medical office assistants differ depending on the specific role, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the median annual salary for medical office assistants is about $38,500.
Nursing Assistant
Also called nursing aids or orderlies, nursing assistants help practical nurses (PNs) and registered nurses (RNs) meet the basic care needs of patients. They help patients with routine activities, such as dressing, cleaning, and eating. They also check vital signs and relay any health concerns the patient may have to their doctors. Some nursing assistants may administer medications, as well.
BLS indicates the median annual pay for orderlies is around $34,520. However, those working in public and private hospitals, as well as government settings, can earn more money. Additionally, the highest-paid nursing assistants take home approximately $45,940 yearly.
Hospital Unit Clerk
Hospital unit clerks share some similarities with medical office assistants. This occupation entails organizing patient records to facilitate easy access to vital information for providers and other staff. As the name suggests, these professionals typically work in hospitals, meaning you may need to work outside regular business hours in this position. As hospital unit clerks often work alongside other personnel in a single department, they should display strong collaboration skills and a desire to communicate directly with patients.
The average hourly wage for office clerks in healthcare roles is $18.01. This amount refers to general office clerks in medical settings, meaning the actual salary for hospital unit clerks may be different.
Medical Coder
Medical assistant training may also open the door for medical coding career paths. Medical coders usually do not interact much with patients. Instead, they verify that delivered services are connected to payments, ultimately ensuring the facility gets paid. They assign codes to different treatments and procedures for reimbursement from insurance companies, as well as update and file electronic health records. They must understand current coding practices to conduct tasks successfully.
BLS finds that the median yearly wage for medical records specialists — or medical coders — is around $47,180. Medical coders employed at hospitals may earn slightly more money.
Phlebotomy Technician
Enrolling in medical assistant programs may also allow you to follow phlebotomy career paths. Phlebotomists serve in laboratories, preparing samples for tests and transfusions, drawing blood, and sterilizing equipment. They also work to calm patients who are nervous about injections.
According to BLS statistics, the median annual salary for phlebotomists is $38,530. However, the highest-paid individuals in this role take home more than $51,610.
EKG Technician
The electrocardiogram (EKG) is an imaging test that observes the electrical activity in the heart. The EKG technician works specifically with patients who need the test, interpreting the readings and sharing the results with the prescribing doctor. Besides administering the exam, they also inspect the equipment to ensure it is functioning properly.
EKG technicians make generous salaries. BLS states the average annual wage for cardiovascular technologists and technicians is approximately $63,020. EKG technicians can make significantly more money depending on where they work. For instance, those in medical and diagnostic laboratories, as well as outpatient care centers, may earn over $107,730.
Enroll at Prism Career Institute to Explore Medical Assistant Jobs
Apply the skills you learn to these career fields and more by enrolling in the medical assistant program at Prism Career Institute. In addition to providing students with a wealth of knowledge about various clinical and administrative tasks, the curriculum also contains several medical billing and coding classes and several phlebotomy courses.
The program is taught by experienced instructors, and students also can gain practical training through an externship. To learn more about this program offered in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, contact us today.