In the Air Force:
Aerospace Medical Service; Aerospace Medical Service Craftsman, Independent Duty Medical Technician; Aerospace Medical Service Journeyman, Independent Duty Medical Technician; Aerospace Physiology Superintendent; Diagnostic Imaging Apprentice, Diagnostic Medical Sonography; Diagnostic Imaging Helper, Nuclear Medicine; Health Services Management Craftsman; Pararescue Helper; Physician Assistant, Otoloyngology; Surgical Technologist Craftsman, Urology
In the Army:
Combat Medic Specialist; Medical Specialist Corps Officer; Operating Room Specialist; Orthopedic Specialist; Patient Administration Specialist; Physician Assistant; Practical Nursing Specialist; Radiology Specialist; Special Forces Medical Sergeant; Unit Supply Specialist
In the Coast Guard:
Health Services Technician; Medical Administration Specialty; Physician Assistant
In the Navy:
Advanced X-ray Technician; Cardiovascular Technician; Field Medical Service Technician; Hemodialysis/Apheresis Technician; Hospitalman; Medical Deep Sea Diving Technician; Nuclear Medicine Technologist; Orthopedic Technician; Special Warfare Operator; Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman; Urology Technician
When patients arrive for a medical appointment, it's the medical assistant who has prepared the treatment room and made sure equipment is ready for the doctor. With both patient care and administrative responsibilities, they help keep medical establishments running smoothly. Medical assistants often perform several tasks during an appointment. They may measure vital signs before the doctor arrives, assist with the examination, and enter patient information into medical records. Sometimes they may give patients medications. At the end of the appointment, they dispose of contaminated supplies or sterilize instruments for future use. In smaller practices, they may also schedule appointments and prepare samples for lab work, whereas many large practices encourage specialization in either administrative or clinical work. Medical assistants work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and clinics. Most work full-time, including on holidays, nights, and weekends. Requirements to enter the field vary; some medical assistants hold a high school diploma, and learn their duties on the job. However, job applicants who have completed a short-term medical assistant certificate program, and passed a certification exam may have better opportunities. Regardless of where medical assistants work, they make life easier for the medical staff and their patients.
What they do:
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
On the job, you would:
Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
Arts and Humanities
English language
Business
customer service
administrative services
Health
medicine and dentistry
therapy and counseling
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Basic Skills
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
talking to others
Social
understanding people's reactions
changing what is done based on other people's actions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
notice when problems happen
use rules to solve problems
People interested in this work like activities that include helping people, teaching, and talking.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Concern for Others
Adaptability/Flexibility
Cooperation
You might use software like this on the job:
Medical software
eClinicalWorks EHR software
Epic Systems
Electronic mail software
Email software
Microsoft Outlook
Accounting software
Billing software
Intuit QuickBooks
certificate after high school or high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
In the Army:
Combat Medic Specialist; Medical Specialist Corps Officer; Operating Room Specialist; Orthopedic Specialist; Patient Administration Specialist; Physician Assistant; Practical Nursing Specialist; Radiology Specialist; Special Forces Medical Sergeant; Unit Supply Specialist
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