Why Are Medical Assistants in High Demand?

The health care field is rapidly growing. In fact, it is easily one of the largest and most prosperous industries in the market today, employing more than 14.3 million people in 2008 alone, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number is set to boom as well, with an estimated 3.2 million new jobs being created from 2008 to 2018, the Bureau asserts. The growth of the health care industry can be attributed to the rising population and the amazing advancements of medical technology. More people inevitably means more patients, and the progression of medical science allowing for more conditions to be treated and longer life spans will generate a whole new slew of patients as well. There will always be a need for medical professionals, and medical assistants are no exception.

Medical assistants play a valuable part in the medical team of any health care facility. They are responsible for performing administrative duties such as updating and organizing patient medical records, coordinating hospital and laboratory services, and following up on insurance claims. They perform clinical duties as well, such as recording vital signs, obtaining and preparing blood samples, and authorizing prescription drug refills. All of these tasks require that medical assistants be well-trained in the health care facility’s protocol and in working with patients and human health in general. Some medical assistants also have specialized knowledge and skills as well, such as those who work with eye and vision health in the offices of ophthalmologists or those who can operate x-ray machinery. Their skills and knowledge help keep health care facilities running smoothly.

Even medical assistants who work exclusively in clinical or clerical duties are invaluable to health care facilities. They take care of the routine but essential tasks that other medical professionals do not have time to complete, such as booking appointments and preparing patients for medical examinations. By taking these responsibilities off the hands of the health care practitioner, the practitioner can focus all of his or her energy on treating the patient effectively. The work of medical assistants also reduces the chances of erroneous billing or scheduling because they are specialized in handling those specific tasks. In addition, many medical assistants also aid doctors in simple health care, which speeds up the diagnostic and treatment time for patients and allows for more patients to be seen in a single day. Because of their invaluable service to health care facilities and the growing need for more health care professionals in general, medical assistants will remain in high demand well into the future.