You dont have to be a Doctor to help save lives
A career in medicine is a dream shared by a lot of people. Who wouldn’t want to be a doctor or a physician, or have a dynamic and rewarding job that lets you save lives, treat the ill, and take care of patients? However, some get dismayed with the long training that medical schools require. But did you know that there’s an easier way to get into the medical field? You can be a medical assistant by just completing a one year or two-year program.
Medical assistants help keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners run smoothly. They do this by taking care of administrative tasks such as updating patients’ medical records, scheduling appointments, and handling correspondence for the doctors. But more importantly, medical assistants carry out vital clinical duties which include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, drawing blood samples, taking electrocardiograms, and other tasks that doctors might need some help with.
Certainly, medical assistants provide valuable aid to physicians and doctors. This is why they are found virtually in every medical office across the country -- from a high-profile surgeon to a small town clinic. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics even reported that in 2006, there were about 417,000 employed medical assistants in the U.S. And this ratio is still expected to grow by 35 percent within the next decade, creating 565,000 jobs!
Postsecondary programs are usually offered by community colleges and vocational schools -- you can even sign up for a course online! Earn a certificate or diploma in medical assisting by just completing one year of schooling. You can also earn an associate degree through a two year program. Whatever option you choose, the two programs cover fundamental subjects in anatomy and physiology, as well as medical terminology, transcription, recordkeeping, and accounting. This is to prepare you to be an effective medical assistant. Furthermore, the medical assisting program includes first hand training in laboratory techniques, first aid, and clinical or diagnostic procedure.
Your dream of having a career in medicine can come true by being a medical assistant! Imagine, you will be able to provide valuable patient care just like doctors and physicians do, but without the long years in medical school. Aside from satisfying your dream and helping other people, your median annual earning can shoot up to as high $21,970 and $31,210.
