Just as the health care industry continues to make changes to its infrastructure, medical assisting has also seen some positive adjustments within the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has placed medical assistants as one of the highest ranking occupations for rapid job growth during the 2008 to 2018 decade. Some major causes for an increase in medical assistant jobs are the aging population and a growing need for all health care workers, especially those who can assist doctors in both clinical and administrative assignments. Medical assistants are also needed to help treat increasing medical conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and heart conditions. As more people seek medical care and receive regular treatments, more medical assistants will be called upon to meet these demands. According to the Bureau, a growth in group practices, clinics and other health care facilities that require multi-skilled workers will open the door for medical assistants to demonstrate their abilities. In addition, medical assistants work mostly in primary care, where job growth and health care services are constantly expanding.
Another medical setting that has begun to utilize medical assistants’ skills is ambulatory care delivery. According to a Journal of Medical Practice Management article, called “New Roles for the Certified Medical Assistant to Enhance Quality and Effectiveness of Care,”health professionals and human resources have discovered some cost-effective ways to provide quality care at an affordable rate by hiring medical assistants. Medical assistants are not only trained in clinical and
administrative duties, but they also serve as patient advocates who have excellent communication skills. Recognized as “culturally competent” health care professionals, medical assistants are being hired to bridge the gap between physicians and patients to avoid malpractice cases and provide quicker, more effective medical treatment. In addition to serving as a support system, medical assistants also have training in obtaining general patient information and performing basic care procedures, including performing telephone and in-person screenings, obtaining and recording patients’ medical history, maintaining medication and immunization records, as well as observing and responding to verbal and nonverbal communication. All in all, medical assistants have a basic understanding of clinical and administrative duties, and are capable of learning new skills and handling various assignments at once. They are trainable health care professionals, who can assist physicians in the slowest or fastest of paces, which makes them a valuable asset to any health care field.
