Clinical Medical Assistant: A Rewarding Career Path

Clinical Medical Assistant: A Rewarding Career Path

Do you enjoy caregiving? Are you the kind of person who would grab every opportunity to help a sick person? If you are, a healthcare career is the right choice for you. Healthcare professionals work in various medical settings and interact with patients all the time. Their job is to ensure that their patients receive the best care at all times.

There is no dearth of jobs in the healthcare sector. In fact, there is a job for every skill set. Right from nursing assistants to surgeons, the healthcare industry employs a number of professionals and many of these jobs do not need a college degree. There are several entry level jobs whose minimum qualification is a high school diploma. The clinical medical assistant is one such profession that does not require a college degree. You can complete the clinical medical assistance diploma program in fewer than 12 months. That means you can complete the studies quickly and find a stable job soon after.

Reasons for a Clinical Medical Assistant Job

Female medical assistant with clipboard in clinic

There are several reasons to choose a career in clinical medical assisting.

Increasing demand

caring african young nurse checking patient's blood pressure in doctor's office

Job openings in the medical field continue to increase over the years. There are several reasons for this. To start with, in many countries, the population is aging. Aged people need support as many of them are unable to take care of their needs. Also, as people age, they are more likely to suffer from various ailments. A sedentary lifestyle is another factor contributing to an increase in health problems among people.

Consequently, the demand for healthcare professionals is increasing. This has created an opportunity for people interested in caregiving. Due to this, the clinical medical assistant career path has become pretty exciting. According to the Department of Labor and Stats, the job opportunities available for clinical medical assistants are predicted to increase by 18 percent between 2020 and 2030.

Opportunity to work in various medical settings

Female nurse talking to seniors patients while being in a home visit, senior couple signs an insurance policy.

Growing demand is not the only reason to choose the clinical medical assistant career path. CMAs also have the opportunity to work in a variety of medical settings. They can work in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, care homes, etc. Predictable schedules are also available.

Healthcare Career Medical Assistant | A rewarding career

Plenty of jobs are available for medical assistants. Consequently, the number of CMAs who remain jobless after completing the clinical medical assistant program is quite low. The increase in the occurrence of lifestyle diseases and the frequent outbreaks of epidemics have all increased the demand for medical assistants.

When people live longer, they need more medical attention and assistance. This increases the job opportunities available for clinical medical assistants. In addition to job security, clinical medical assistants and other related employees get to enjoy immense satisfaction as they are an important part of the healthcare team and play a crucial role in ensuring the speedy recovery of patients.

As a clinical medical assistant, you have to perform both clinical and administrative duties. You are usually the first person the patient meets and interacts with as they enter a hospital or doctor’s office. You are also the person who spends the most time with patients.

The job of a clinical medical assistant is ideal for people who enjoy helping others. It enables you to work with patients regularly; you also feel fulfilled by caregiving. In addition, you should have a natural affinity for working in a hospital setting.

Predictable working hours

Clinical medical assistants work predictable hours. They have set schedules. For clinical medical assistants who work in physician’s offices, the work hours are pretty predictable. Because of this predictability, they can strike a balance between work and life. If a variable schedule suits your personal position better, you can consider working in a clinical setting or hospital.

Clinical medical assistant career path

Female nurse talking to seniors patients while being in a home visit, senior couple signs an insurance policy.

For many people, clinical medical assisting is their stepping stone to more lucrative careers in the healthcare industry. By working as a clinical medical assistant, a program sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics, you get invaluable first-hand experience of what it is like to work in the healthcare sector.

One of the most important character traits of a healthcare professional is their readiness to help sick people. They should have a genuine interest in interacting with sick people and offering them the help they need. Many people, however, are unsure if they possess this trait. When you work as a clinical medical assistant, you get first-hand experience of what it is like to work in the healthcare sector. If you enjoy it, you can pursue a medical or nursing education and become a doctor or nurse. Now if you believe that you do not quite like this job, there is no need to quit the medical profession altogether. You can work towards becoming an office manager in a hospital or another medical setting. A diploma or certificate in clinical medical assistance is a strong feature for any healthcare career.

What do clinical medical assistants do?

Doctor and medical assistant with colleagues in clinic. Health care service

Clinical medical assistants aid clinical operations and inpatient treatments. They combine procedural and clinical knowledge. They work directly with patients and assist doctors and nurses.

Job Outlook

No other sector offers the kind of career growth opportunities that the healthcare sector offers. The demand for qualified healthcare professionals is booming. This is good news for young people aspiring to build a career in patient care. Within the healthcare sector, the job outlook for clinical medical assistants is particularly encouraging. As per the Department of Labor, job opportunities for clinical medical assistants are projected to grow significantly, promising a stable career path.

What does the job of a certified clinical medical assistant involve?

Clinical medical assistants perform a variety of jobs. These include administrative and clinical tasks. They schedule appointments for their patients and manage their patient records. They enter patient data into the database. Medical assistants may also assist with various tasks like phlebotomy, EKG, and lab tests.

In what way are clinical medical assistants different from certified nursing assistants?

Clinical medical assistants perform several tasks. They help patients. They also perform various administrative duties like keeping patient records and facilitating their office visits. Nursing assistants, on the other hand, work with their patients all the time. They do not perform any office tasks. Instead, they help patients perform their day-to-day activities. They mainly work with people who need help with their daily activities due to a mental or physical inability.

CNAs have to bathe their patients, feed them and groom them. They also have to move patients between their beds and wheelchair or escort patients to the bathroom. Medical assistants may offer some of these services; however, keeping patients clean and ensuring that they are fed on time is not the primary duty of a medical assistant.

Do clinical medical assistants need certification?

Certification may be necessary in some cases. The certificate is proof of your professionalism and commitment to patient welfare. A clinical medical assistant certification such as CCMA proves that the candidate has undergone a training program and got their skills assessed by a competent authority. It adds more credibility to your resume and improves your chances of getting hired.

Where do clinical medical assistants work?

Clinical medical assistants work in hospitals, care homes, doctor’s offices, and outpatient clinics.

A course in clinical medical assisting prepares you to take the test and earn your certification.

It will teach you all the skills you will need to work as an integral part of the healthcare team in various medical settings. You will learn the standards for therapeutic communication and ethical behavior. You will also learn the importance of protecting the privacy of your patients.

Communication is the key

A patient will be spending a lot of time with their medical assistant. Consequently, the medical assistant should have excellent communication and listening skills. They should be patient, kind, and empathetic. Sick people are anxious and irritable. A CMA should be able to comfort them and put their mind at ease about various clinical and laboratory procedures. A CMA may also have to interact with the family of the patient.

A medical assistant is also entrusted with the task of creating a safe environment for their patients. For example, they have to ensure that all safety guidelines are met and risks of infection are minimized. Other essential skills include a basic knowledge of medical terminology and various government and private health insurance.

For many people working as a clinical medical assistant is an opportunity to build a stable and rewarding career in the healthcare industry. The demand for medical assistants continues to be on the rise and hence the unemployment rate is pretty low among individuals who have successfully completed a course in clinical medical assisting. If you are passionate about helping people suffering from pain and illnesses, a career in clinical medical assisting will be perfect for you.

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