The medical assisting curriculum prepares a multi-skilled student to function in clinical
and administrative areas of the physician's medical office. Medical assistants work under
the supervision of a physician and are competent in both administrative and clinical
procedures.
The medical assistant must have good
communication skills, like people, want work variety, be accurate in work performance and
be able to be trusted with confidential information. Medical assisting is an exciting and
rapidly expanding health care profession.
Duties
Graduates in this field may be required to:
Administrative
duties:
scheduling and receiving patients
preparing and maintaining medical records
transcribing medical dictations
handling telephone calls
performing basic clerical functions
managing medical practice finances
Clinical duties:
practicing safety and infection control
obtaining patient histories and vital signs
performing first aid and cardiopulmonary
resuscitation
preparing patients for procedures
assisting the physician with examinations
and treatments
collecting and processing specimens
performing selected diagnostic tests
administering medication/immunizations
Working Conditions
Graduates in this field commonly experience:
work in physicians' offices or clinics
work under direct supervision
work under stress and emergency conditions
meet deadlines
primarily work day time hours from Monday
through Friday
no weekend or holiday work required
computer and typing skills needed
Physical Demands:
active (much walking, standing) -- all day
lifting (up to 50 lbs)
manual dexterity
excellent vision/hearing
hand/eye coordination, accurate swift
movements
computer work
Characteristics & Temperament
Graduates in this field should have:
ability to follow directions
accurately/ability to "catch on" quickly/detail oriented
ability to handle repetitive work
ability to handle stress
ability to work well with numbers/symbols
good written and verbal communication skills
ability to work well with people from
diverse populations
flexibility; ability to change from task to
task without losing patience and efficiency
ability to handle more than one task at a
time
ability to work with equipment
ability to do paperwork - proofread
accurately
good hand/eye coordination, manual/finger
dexterity, accurate and swift movements
good social skills
"people person"
self-discipline
team player
honest/trustworthy
Employment Outlook
Employment statistics for 2002-2007 PTC graduates, who found jobs in
this field, are as follows:
salary average:
$19,124
salary range:
$15,000 - 21,000
91% placement rate
good availability of positions
employment in cities and towns of all sizes
advancement possible
Employers
Recent graduates have found work at:
Program & Course Information
For information about Piedmont Technical College's programs and courses offered in
this area, visit the Medical Assisting Certificate Program's Web page.
Career Tracks is
a publication of Piedmont Technical College that reflects the current career statistics
for students who have completed programs of the college. Forward your questions
about this site to Andy Omundson at (864) 941-8376 or by e-mail to
omundson.a@ptc.edu.
|