My Journey as a Medical Assistant free essay sample

Pursuit of a degree as a medical assistant will require dedication, research, and passion, for successful completion of the combination of course work, clinical, and externship experience necessary to work in this role within the medical field. Entering into the medical assistant program will depend on what suites your needs. Do your research on the school of your choice, keeping in mind, their accreditation(s). Before perusing a diploma or degree in medical assisting, you must be dedicated, and have a passion to work in the medical field. If, you are working, get as much information as you can about the program, so that you can let your employer know your ambitions to further your education. You might explore online courses, part-time or night classes. Whatever path you choose, think in long terms; what is this degree going to do for me? Is it a stepping-stone to pursue a higher education; or is it a change in career paths. Medical Assistants continue to grow with the shortage of Registered Nurses on the frontline. Some students have obtained the diploma program and others have completed the program with an associate’s degree. Each state will be specific as to what educational/training is need for the medical assistant to work in a specific state, and the scope in which you can practice. When obtaining a diploma or degree in medical assisting you will be required to do course work, clinical and externship programs. Courses that you will have to; complete are anatomy physiology, pathophysiology, medical terminology, medical front office procedures, x-ray, electrocardiograph, electronic health records, pharmacology and laboratory procedures, math courses, and science to name a few (Allied Health Institute, 2014). During your clinical program, you will be required to complete one hundred and twenty hours of shadowing with another medical assistant, LPN or RN at a clinical site; then during your externship program, you will be required to complete one hundred and sixty hours, with hands on at a clinical site (Allied Health Institute, 2014). As you finish your clinical and externship program, you will have a great respect for the medical field. Upon successful completion of the program, you can then take the national exam. Employment for medical assistants will increase 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). During extensive research, what I discovered is that the medical assistant with an associate’s degree and national certification is more employable (Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, 2009). Depending upon what field of interest you will be entering in, will determine the level of pay; the more complexity of the practice, the better the pay. Once you have sought employment in the field, you will be working in various areas, in which multi-tasking is vital. As a medical assistant, you will be required to know the front and back office. Front office responsibilities will be, but not limited to answer phone calls, make/cancel appointments, greet the patients as they arrive, checking patient’s in, using electronic health records, (some doctors have not transitioned over to electronic health records) receiving co-pays if necessary, update insurance information, address, assisting new patients with the appropriate paperwork and checking patients out. Back end responsibilities will be to triage patients, order supplies, stock supplies, maintain medication log, obtaining vitals, clean exam rooms after each patient, ensuring that all items used during an exam are disposed of accordingly or sterilized, history, reason for office visit, assisting the doctor with a physical exam. Additional duties could be to remove stitches or sutures, collection of specimens, giving injections pursuant to your scope of practice, venipuncture, calling in prescriptions, making sure the doctor has current test results, dealing with patient’s concerns and questions, and to communicate effectively and accurately with the doctor, staff and patients. In the field of medicine, you can continue your education. You can transfer credits into a LPN/RN program, or you can use the associate’s degree in your current position giving you, the opportunity to apply for better positions or because you completed the degree program, you might be eligible for an increase in pay. In the field of dialysis, you can actually apply for contract work; completing a thirteen-week employment assignment and having the fun of meeting new people in field, gaining knowledge from their perspective and visa-versa. Travel assignments in the medical field are in great demand; they range from techs to doctors. Medical recruiters offer travel opportunities in the United States and International. With obtaining an associate’s degree and working in the field of dialysis, and the year(s) of experience, the starting salary would be of a significantly higher pay. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median pay range for a medical assistant without a degree was, from $29,370 per year to $14. 12 per hour (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). Certified medical assistants (CMA) American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is a professional organization for CMA’s (American Association of Medical Assistants, 2013). In 1956, the CMA/AAMA was organized; it is a dynamic leader and a voice for medical assistants (American Association of Medical Assistants, 2013). Once, you have graduated on or after January 1, 2010, you have 60-months from the date of graduation to take the national exam and pass it (American Association of Medical Assistants, 2013). The medical assistant has three attempts; if the medical assistant does not pass the exam within the 60-month period, the medical assistant will not be eligible to have the credentials of CMA (AAMA) (American Association of Medical Assistants, 2013).