How to Become a Medical Assistant - TheJobNetwork

How to Become a Medical Assistant - TheJobNetworkThe healthcare industry. You hear about it all the timethe politics, the technology, the menschengerecht interest stories. Its also one of the fastest-growing industries around, as the Baby Boomer population ages and people increasingly focus on their health and wellness. If youre looking for a career path with strong long-term employment potential, or if youre looking to change careers, it can be a solid and rewarding choice. One of the best things about the healthcare industry is its variability, and its need for qualified people at all levelsfrom assistants to nurses to technologists to physicians. So whether you already know what you want to do, or you think you want to find a way into the field but dont know how yet, becoming a medical assistant might be the right first step. Its a hot career in a hot fieldbut is it for you? googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832388529-0) ) What Does a Medical Assistan t Do?Medical assistants are administrative and clinical professionals who work in healthcare settings (think hospitals, doctors sekretariats, labs, or clinics). They provide support for physicians, nurses, and other members of the medical staff. The medical assistant may help with all aspects of life in the medical office (including assisting with patients), or they might be more administratively focused. It can be a flexible role, depending on your skills and the job description. Their tasks may includeAnswering telephones and greeting patientsUpdating and filing charts and medical recordsCoding and handling insurance informationScheduling appointmentsTaking patient medical historiesTaking patient vital signsEducating patients on procedures and follow-up careAssisting physicians during examsCollecting and preparing laboratory samples and specimensPreparing medication under the instruction of a doctorDrawing blood and giving injectionsConfirming prescription information (such as ref ills)Acting as a point of contact for patientsPerforming basic tests and lab proceduresAs you can see, medical assistants are multitalented members of the team, supporting patient care in many different ways.What Skills Do Medical Assistants Have?Because medical assistants are such versatile professionals, they need to have versatile skill sets as well.Tech skills Medical facilities are increasingly going high-tech, so the medical assistant will need to be well-versed in a number of different areas, like digital records management and billing software. Being up on the current trends in health apps and systems is a huge plus.Medical assistants should also be fairly tech-savvy when it comes to regular administrative apps as well, like Microsoft Office or similar products.Customer service/patient care skills Being a medical assistant may include working with all different kinds of people (including colleagues, patients, and families), so patience, a positive attitude, and a strong beds ide manner will go a long way to help you in your job.Communication skills Stakes are high in healthcaresomeones life and well-being could very well be on the line, so communicating information clearly and accurately is essential.Organization skills Life in a medical office can get very busy and hectic, so its important to be able to juggle responsibilities and information effectively, without making mistakes or causing confusion.What Education Do Medical Assistants Need?To start, medical assistants typically have at least a high school diploma. Some medical assistant jobs provide on-the-job training. However, most aspiring medical assistants get either a certificate in Medical Assisting or an associates degree in Medical Assisting, to gain a background in the necessary science and clinical skills that the job requires.There is no absolute requirement that medical assistants be certified, but some states and many jobs require certification by the American Association of Medical Assi stants (AAMA). Medical assistants can become certified by completing an accredited Medical Assistant program and passing the Certified Medical Assistant Exam offered by the AAMA.How Much Do Medical Assistants Get Paid?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants make a median salary of $31,540 per year, or $15.17 per hour, depending on location and experience. This can vary according to experience and location, as well as areas of specialty and expertise. (for example, administrative vs. clinical).Whats the Outlook for Medical Assistants?The outlook for the medical assistant field is bright indeeddemand for these medical professionals is not likely to slow down anytime soon. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow by 23% by 2024, much faster than average.If you know you want to work in the healthcare arena, medical assisting can be a great way to break into a medical career. Good luckInterested? APPLY HERE

11 Signs Youre Better With Money Than You ThinkFairygodboss

11 Signs Youre Better With Money Than You ThinkFairygodboss Treating yourself now and then is essential, but it can be easy to go on one shopping spree too many and overspend. But just as its important to evaluate our spending habits to see how we can improve them, its also important to musiknote the little things that we are doing well. After all, boosting your morale about how much youre saving makes it easier to put money away instead of impulse buying another expensive, all-organic ice cream tub to stress eat. Trust me, weve all been there.Here are 11 signs youre better at managing your money than you think you are. Way to go, you1. Youve never overdrawn from an account.Overspending can happen before you even realize it. So if youve managed to avoid hitting this wall, youre paying mora attention to your finances than you realize (and youre paying more attention than many people you know, Im sure). 2. You compare prices when you shop.Rather than impulse buying the very first thing you see, checking around for a better deal is a sign of financial responsibility. If youre buying groceries, this means checking to see which brands are on sale. If youre shopping for jeans, this may mean heading into a few different stores instead of snatching up the very first pair you find. If you compare prices, youre doing pretty well.3. You have a retirementaccount with something in it.Regardless of whether you save a percent of money from every paycheck or add chunks of birthday cash when it comes up, keeping money in an account that you dont touch is a sign that you are thinking about the future responsibly.4. Youve said no to a purchase because of your finances.Being good with money doesnt necessarily mean you have lots of it it means that youre responsible enough to sometimes deny yourself something you want to afford something you need. nachschlag points if you turn down an invitation because an event is going to be too expensive for the current state of your wallet. Tal king finances with friends and family can be tough.5. Youre working toward paying off debts.Ignoring debt in the hopes that theyll just go away is unfortunately an all too common tactic that people use when dealing with finances. But if you make it a point to put money toward paying your debts off every month, youre more on track than you think.6. You keep financial goals in mind.Whether your goal is to own a house, car, or take an extravagant vacation, keeping a specific objective in mind will help you better consider the things that you spend your money on. It demonstrates that youre thinking about the future and not only making impulse purchases. If you have a financial goal and work towards it in some way, youre more responsible than you think7. You educate yourself about finances.There are a lot of terms to know where literature is concerned, and some of it can feel really obscure. Reading articles or books aboutfinances to become more knowledgeable is a sign that youre on the right path where finances are concerned.8. You avoid incurring unnecessary fees.If youve ever decided against using an ATM that isnt affiliated with your bank or choose one place for take out over another to avoid a delivery charge, youre more on track than you think.9. You look for additional ways to earn money.Using credit cards that give great rewards, keeping some money in a high-yield savings account, or investing money are all ways to let money that you already have do more work. If you engage in any or all of these practices, youre probably better with money than you realize.10. You clear out your recurring charges semi-regularly.Youd be shocked how many people still pay for a gym they havent visited in years or a music tafelgeschirr thats been archaic since 2010. If you regularly look at your recurring charges and clean out unnecessary subscriptions, youre doing pretty well.--Kayla Heisler is an essayist and Pushcart Prize-nominated poet. She is a contributing writer for Col or My Bubble. Her work appears in New Yorks Best Emerging Poets anthology.