With medical and healthcare facilities always growing and adapting to the needs of society, the demand for employees grows as well. Medical Assistants are one of the most invaluable pieces in every medical office they work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical assistants is expected to grow 16% from 2021 to 2031, faster than other occupations. From clinical to administrative tasks, medical assistants provide patient care at every point in their healthcare journey. From greeting, dealing with insurance, taking vitals, and assisting in procedures, patients will spend a lot of their appointments with medical assistants. With such changes happening within the medical field, learn why medical assistants are needed now more than ever.
Aging Population
As the biggest generation of Americans, commonly referred to as the Boomer generation, continues to age, their need for healthcare rises. 76.4 million Americans are between the ages of 59 and 77. With their aging, according to The National Library of Medicine, “older persons do not typically have one morbidity that they are dealing with, but more often have many diagnoses and comorbidities that require them to seek treatment.” There is demand for medical assistants now more than ever before as this older generation needs more medical care. With more demand in the field, medical assistants will be needed to stay on top of records, assist in procedures, and work with insurance companies.
Not only are the patients growing because of age, but the number of professionals retiring due to age is increasing as well. Nurses and medical staff all over are retiring due to age, causing a growing need for professionals in the field. Medical assistants can step up in many different practices to make up for this growing need – without needing as much schooling as other professionals.
Flexibility and Versatility
Being a medical assistant means they are versatile. Not only do they work with technology that creates insurance claims, keeps records, and other administrative tasks, but they’re also performing patient care with procedures. They will take vital signs, perform venipuncture, electrocardiograms (EKGs), and more. Many medical offices need employees that can not only perform the administrative duties that come with having patients, but the physical duties as well.
Not only that, but medical assistants can work in many different types of healthcare settings. This can include hospital-based care, physician offices, outpatient care centers, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers, and more. Because medical assistants are so versatile in what they can do within patient care, they can work in many different settings.
Patient Advocacy
Much like nurses, medical assistants are there almost every step of the way with their patients. From checking in, taking vitals, performing procedures, processing insurance claims, and creating appointments, medical assistants will be the people that patients see most. They will also coordinate care for patients between different healthcare providers. On top of this, they educate patients on their conditions, their appointments, medication directions, post procedure care, and more. Medical assistants enhance the quality of patient care and more comprehensive healthcare delivery.
American National University and Medical Assistants
American National University offers four different programs for students looking to break out as a medical assistant – certificate and associate degree programs. Through our 100% online programs, you can learn from the comfort of your own home. You receive lab materials straight to your door to learn hands-on training you need to work as a medical assistant – all included in your tuition. ANU Medical Assisting graduate, Sarah Slone, has felt prepared to enter the workforce because of the hands-on education she received. “I was nervous about the phlebotomy part, I thought ‘how am I going to do that when I’m not in clinicals?’ but the arm, the hands-on, the EKG… It’s helped me a lot, I do feel more prepared for when I do go into the work force,” said Sarah.
The need for medical assistants is rising. Become one of the many invaluable individuals that make up the heart of many medical practices. Be a patient advocate, flexible, versatile, and care for patients at every stage of life. Learn about how you can join our accelerated programs to get you in the workforce faster at ANU at an.edu/elearning.
American National University – Be live, in class, from anywhere.
