Helping people in need brings out some of the best feelings inside of us. Those who make a career out of helping others feel a sense of satisfaction every day. That’s why so many look for positions in the medical field, including the role of medical assistant.

Pennco Tech offers a Medical Assistant program in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Here, we discuss different medical assistant career paths and why they make great choices.

What Is a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants help doctors in a variety of environments, including medical offices, hospitals, and clinics. These healthcare professionals take on different tasks throughout the day, making them invaluable to their organizations. Their support allows other medical professionals to focus on diagnoses, treatment plans, and more.

These professionals have a unique skill set, allowing them to handle both clinical and administrative duties. Responsibilities medical assistants may undertake on a given day include:

• Preparing patients to see doctors
• Taking vital signs
• Recording patient symptoms and making updates to medical histories
• Talking to patients about current medications and submitting requests for refills
• Dispensing necessary medications
• Drawing blood
• Performing standard lab tests and medical tests
• Changing wound dressings and removing stitches
• Helping doctors perform physical exams
• Organizing patient files
• Completing insurance paperwork
• Answering phone lines
• Scheduling patient appointments and setting up visits to hospitals or for lab testing

Unique Medical Assistant Career Paths

While many who become medical assistants wish to work in medical offices or hospitals, providing high-quality care to patients, this isn’t the only direction a medical assistant’s career can go in. For those who are looking for something different, getting additional medical assistant training and specialty certifications can lead to interesting paths, including:

Pediatrics

Pediatrics is a field of medicine that revolves around providing medical care to infants and children. Those who work with children are rewarded with a heartwarming feeling as they’re able to provide care that can make a difference in young lives.

Oncology

Oncology is a medical field that involves the research, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Because cancer can be so devasting, medical assistants who work closely with oncologists can trust they’re having a positive impact. Not only can cancer be a debilitating disease, but it can also have a profound effect on the patient’s mental and emotional state as well as that of their loved ones. Medical assistants who work in this field should have positive attitudes and great communication skills.

Working at Resorts and Spas

Those who want to pursue work in care-related environments that focus more on wellness should consider working at a spa or resort. These settings allow you to use your medical assistant knowledge and training to ensure patients can relax and leave feeling a sense of calmness.

Sports Settings

Athletes ask a lot of their bodies, which is why colleges, universities, and professional sports teams often have medical assistants on staff. This allows you to help keep athletes in top shape as they recover from injury or battle general soreness throughout the season.

Cruise Ship Medical Staff

Believe it or not, you can use your experience as a medical assistant to help doctors on the open seas. Cruise ships depend on qualified medical assistants because they may be called upon in the middle of the ocean with no hospitals within hundreds of miles. This means your training and knowledge will be vital to the passengers and crew, and you’ll get to do something you love while traveling.

Medical Billing and Coding

Medical environments involve complex billing systems. This is why they must rely on coding and billing specialists to make sure patients and insurance companies are charged accurately based on the services the patient receives and the insurance they carry. These medical assistant jobs allow facilities to operate at the highest level and prevent billing complications that can cause stress for everyone involved.

Our Medical Assistant Program

At Pennco Tech, students can graduate from our Medical Assistant program in as little as 18 weeks, helping you get into the workforce quickly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a high demand for medical assistants, with the profession expected to grow 15% through 2033. We offer both day and evening classes, allowing you to choose which works best for your lifestyle.

Enroll in Medical Assistant Training Today

With so many medical assistant career paths to choose from, it’s easy to see why this field is becoming more popular. At Pennco Tech, we offer trade schools in Bristol, PA, and Blackwood, NJ. We provide financial aid for qualified students, making it easier to fit your education into your budget. Contact us today if you have questions or are interested in any of our programs.