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If it is time for you to start preparing for your future career, and the job of a medical assistant seems attractive to you, before deciding to get into this medical filed, it is advisable to explore the education requirements and money and time necessary to complete the appropriate education, resources for employment in your state or the state that you want to work in and wages in that area.
After exploring all these and find them acceptable, you should choose among numerous medical education program where you can earn your certification.
This unique role of a medical assistant is a very rewarding and fulfilling career.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description
Medical assistants are workers who are first and last to be met when coming to a medical facility and who are always there to help patients, nurses and doctors providing them appropriate assistance.
Their function is to be the right hand of the physicians and other members of the healthcare team, so the organized flow of daily activities is entrusted to them.
Obtaining vital signs, keeping patient’s medical history, providing first aid, giving injections, and managing equipment are just some of their daily activities.
They are involved in patient education and other duties associated with a medical office since they perform administrative tasks as well.
Becoming a Medical Assistant in Iowa
To become medical assistants in Iowa, students who are eager to learn more and advance their medical knowledge usually decide to enroll in a diploma or certificate program.
Not only will they learn the basics of the administrative and clinical components of a medical office, but also they will get insight into the health care industry in the United States, medical terminology and tasks and procedures relevant to most medical offices.
Through the lessons about human anatomy and systems, psychology and pharmacology, they will become eligible to sit for the national certification exam after finishing it and will be asked to put their knowledge and skills to actual use.
These approved and accredited programs are designed to help students learn the first aid, laboratory techniques, insurance billing, and record-keeping since a hospital or a clinic is not just the medical facility, but the business as well.
Requirements
To start their education related to medical science, future medical assistants need to pay attention to the programs that they choose and whether they are accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
There are more than 12 of these accredited programs in Iowa including those online ones.
Earning an associate’s degree offers the possibility to advance their education.
To possess the nationally recognized medical assistant certification credentials they need to graduate from a medical assistant academic program that is accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES and to pass the Certified Medical Assistant Exam.
Other options are becoming Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) by taking and passing the RMA Exam, Medical Assistant (NCMA, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA).
There are several routes to eligibility for each of the above-mentioned credentials that you must fulfill to qualify for the certification.
Programs include appropriate and acceptable training either under a licensed physician, nurse or qualified medical assistant or in a secondary, post-secondary, or adult education program in public schools or colleges.
The most widely recognized professional certifications for medical assistants in the U.S. are:
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) – sponsored by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) – sponsored by American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- Medical Assistant (NCMA) – sponsored by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) – sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) – sponsored by the National Association of Health Professionals (NAHP)
Getting a Job
Medical assisting is the career that offers incredible employment potential, a well-paid salary and job security.
This is why many young people decide to try their luck and secure themselves a safe future.
A medical assistant career has a very promising future as job growth is increasing much faster than expected.
This ever challenging and responsible profession will continue to develop, thus doctors tend to seek qualified assistants who possess a blend of administrative, technical, communication and interpersonal abilities.
Salary
The national certification is pursued by many physicians in Iowa when hiring novice staff.
It somehow proves their commitment to the profession and a higher level of knowledge and expertise in the field.
The constant lack of educated medical assistants makes better chances of a higher salary.
The number of working hours and work setting are only some of the factors that affect the amount of money earned annually.
Iowa belongs to the states where the average salary of medical assistants ranges from $28 674 in Sioux City up to $ 33 120 in West Des Moines and Urbandale.
The table below shows the salary of a medical assistant in the state of Iowa annually since it significantly varies from one city to another.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Ames,IA | $32,810 |
| Ankeny,IA | $33,120 |
| Cedar Falls,IA | $30,053 |
| Cedar Rapids,IA | $32,638 |
| Council Bluffs,IA | $32,584 |
| Davenport,IA | $32,551 |
| Des Moines,IA | $33,120 |
| Dubuque,IA | $32,284 |
| Iowa City,IA | $32,639 |
| Sioux City,IA | $28,674 |
| Urbandale,IA | $33,120 |
| Waterloo,IA | $31,156 |
| West Des Moines,IA | $33,120 |
Regional Salary in Iowa
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | 150 | $43,680 | $21 | $48,700 | $37,440 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 420 | $43,680 | $21 | $53,360 | $36,200 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 750 | $41,060 | $19.74 | $47,700 | $34,850 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1,190 | $45,840 | $22.04 | $53,540 | $37,970 |
| Dubuque, IA | 140 | $41,880 | $20.14 | $50,230 | $35,730 |
| Iowa City, IA | 490 | $43,470 | $20.9 | $54,950 | $38,240 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 270 | $40,350 | $19.4 | $47,560 | $34,400 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 240 | $42,270 | $20.32 | $48,560 | $36,860 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
Being a medical assistant offers not only a decent salary but the fact that they serve the needs of patients makes them so fulfilled.
Numerous medical assistants do not mind remaining at work during evenings, holidays and weekends if it is necessary, even though they have the option of working part-time in some facilities.
The duties of a medical assistant that are related to administration are taking and recording patient medical history, answering their questions, scheduling appointments and surgeries.
Concerning the medical side of the job, their duties might be preparing and administering medications, collecting lab specimens and taking EKG tests, among many other important tasks.
To be able to manage all the daily obligations, skills that a medical assistant has to possess are:
- Professionalism
- Inventory Management
- Written and Verbal Communication
- Clinical Skills
- Documentation Skills
- Planning
- Teamwork, just to mention a few.
All in all, they need to maintain a balance between clinical and administrative duties.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical Assisting by City
Medical Assisting by State