If you’re already in the medical assisting program at Campus, you’ve made a smart career choice.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry is expecting to add nearly 11.9 million jobs between 2020 and 2030. That’s great news as you look down the road toward career advancement in clinical industry occupations.

Note: The data provided above are from a source unaffiliated with Campus, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.

If you’re considering becoming a medical assistant, Campus offers you flexibility with a program that requires you to go to class just three days a week. That way, you are in charge of your time management while preparing for an in-demand career opportunity as a medical assistant.

Regardless of how far along you are on your chosen study path, you can benefit from knowing more about becoming a medical assistant and how to advance in your career.

Recent growth in the medical industry

Medical assistants play vital roles in today’s healthcare industry. They help doctors in private practice, hospitals and outpatient clinics perform a number of clinical and administrative duties, including administering medications, checking vital signs, drawing blood, removing sutures, noting patient medical histories, processing insurance claims and more.

The rapidly aging population of baby boomers partially explains the increased demand for medical assistants. Baby boomers will continue to need preventive medical services, and doctors will hire more medical assistants to perform routine clinical and administrative procedures. That way doctors will be able to see more patients. In addition, more outpatient clinics and other medical facilities are being built to accommodate more patients, and they will need to be staffed.

Why a medical assistant program is important for your career

Even though a medical assistant does not require the same amount of training as a physician or nurse, a comprehensive education is necessary. The medical assisting program at Campus includes training in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, protocol and procedures, and front-office procedures. A required hands-on externship gives students the practical experience needed when choosing medical assistant as a career opportunity. In addition, Campus' job placement service can help you find your first career opportunity.

A medical assistant can be a lifesaver to a physician, who is often extremely busy and needs to focus on diagnoses and treatment. The extensive training received in a medical assisting program prepares the assistant to serve a variety of functions:

As the first point of contact, a medical assistant uses customer service skills to welcome a patient and to survey the situation.
As a clinician, the medical assistant performs routine duties, such as collecting fluid samples, taking vital signs and drawing blood so the doctor can focus on making a diagnosis and suggesting treatment.
As a multitasker, the medical assistant can switch hats to coordinate the administrative process involved in a patient’s care, including organizing charts and documentation, communicating with insurance companies on behalf of the patient, and scheduling additional appointments and tests.

Recent technological advances that enhance a medical assistant’s job

Depending on where you work – small or large private practice, clinic or hospital – your duties could vary. Most likely, you’ll perform a combination of clinical and administrative duties. As in other industries, technology has improved processes, increased efficiency and transformed the medical industry.

Technological advances have improved the way a medical assistant works. Take a look at these examples:

Electronic medical records make it easier to track patient data, share information among attending physicians and medical facilities, and generally have quick access to test results and other data.
Mobile devices are helping patients connect with healthcare professionals, such as the medical assistant, by offering “telehealth” apps that track and record health information, fitness goals and sleep quality that patients can then share.
Software is being developed to help with diagnosis and, ultimately, disease control; medical assistants will be expected to enter data into the program.
Remote patient monitoring can help rural patients or those unable to travel to a medical facility, and tech-savvy medical assistants will be in demand to assist in this area.
Data analytics is being integrated into both the clinical and administrative sides of healthcare, affecting the many responsibilities of medical assistants.

A medical assistant who can easily adapt as technology changes will be vitally important in the healthcare field. Keeping up with new technology and learning to use new software and tools can increase a medical assistant’s chance of career advancement.

How to become a medical assistant if time management is a priority

With the flexibility of the medical assisting program at Campus, you can be on your way to that important first career opportunity by going to school just three times a week. If time management is a concern because you must work while you earn your medical assistant certification, the Campus program is ideal for you. In as little as one year, you can graduate and be ready to take your California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.

When you start your career as a medical assistant, it opens the door to more choices down the road. You will have a versatile portfolio of skills that you can take with you wherever you go.

Contact Campus today and begin your medical assistant training program in January.

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