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Not many people are capable of working in the medical field, while many of them do not even have the necessary skills to be successful even though they have a wish to help people in need.
It is true that medical assistants work alongside physicians and follow their directions in health care facilities, thus learning their job during work.
However, if you find yourself dedicated and service orientated then you know that you should get an education and try becoming a certified medical assistant who will be a crucial member of any medical team even before entering the clinic.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description
Medical assistants will provide crucial health care support services as long as there are people with diseases and illnesses.
They ate in charge of healthy patients as well, who go to regular checkups.
Medical assistants might do basic clinical tasks, including administering medications, assisting with physical examinations and patient education on medicine and drug dosage advised by the doctor.
Depending on the size and amount of daily work that the facility has, the medical assistant job might also be linked with administrative duties, such as checking patients in and out, accessing insurance information and answering questions both through the telephone and face to face.
They have a stable job, but full of excitement and challenges, even though some of them have to work night shifts, long hours and weekends.
Becoming a Medical Assistant in Maryland
The advantage for future medical assistants in Maryland is that they can find work even though they cannot afford further education.
A high school diploma is enough to enter the medical facility, and you can learn the duties on the job.
That is why high school students who want to become medical assistants take courses in biology, chemistry, and anatomy during their high school education, to get acquainted with their future duties.
Even though further education might be expensive and time-consuming, the benefits that it brings are numerous.
Not only do you get all the knowledge and practice that will be useful once hired, but also you get self-confidence and efficiency.
The chances of getting a job are higher and the salary also depends on the level of education.
Requirements
In Maryland, all medical assistants can perform surgical technical acts, patient preparation for a physical exam, collect and process specimens, clinical tests like electrocardiography, TB tests and give injections but only under a physician’s supervision.
On the other hand, they are not allowed to:
- Conduct a physical exam
- Administer an anesthetic
- Dispense medications
- Give medical advice without consulting physician
There are programs associated with becoming a medical assistant in Maryland and the accredited schools in Maryland include:
- Certificate in Medical Assisting
- Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assistant
- Associate of Arts in Medical Assisting
Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) has a campus-based program in Towson and online, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) has online programs and campus-based programs in North East, Hagerstown, Bel Air, Arnold, and Cumberland.
The type of diploma, certificate or degree is up to you since all the training program includes lessons about:
- Patient interviewing
- Exam room techniques
- Nursing and surgical procedures
- Medical office management
- Medical terminology, etc.
The accredited associations who offer these kinds of programs are:
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- American Medical Technologists
- National Center for Competency Testing – offers the NCMA (Nationally Certified Medical Assistant) You must be a recent graduate or student at a recognized school to take the exam.
- National Health Career Association – offers the CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant)
Getting a Job
Considering that medical assistants typically require little formal education or training to qualify for jobs in Maine, there is an increasing demand for new job opportunities.
Whether educated or not, students focus on finding a satisfying job that meets their lifestyle and needs.
When it comes to Maine, they can identify the large healthcare employers but many of them have strict requirements when choosing the ideal candidate.
Medical assistants can work in various medical facilities such as in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors and other health practitioners, hospitals and clinics which makes the abundance of job prospects.
Salary
Medical assistants receive a respectable salary as they belong to the highest-paying occupations in Maryland even though it does not require high post-secondary knowledge.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants’ salary in Maryland ranges from $ 31 800 to $ 38 600 per year.
The medical assistant occupation is flourishing, the job prospects are going to rise and thus affecting the rise of the salary.
The table below shows the salary of a medical assistant in the state of Maryland annually since it significantly varies from one city to another.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Baltimore,MD | $35,429 |
| Bethesda,MD | $38,335 |
| Bowie,MD | $38,254 |
| Columbia,MD | $35,372 |
| Dundalk,MD | $35,429 |
| Ellicott City,MD | $35,406 |
| Frederick,MD | $37,000 |
| Gaithersburg,MD | $38,231 |
| Germantown,MD | $37,217 |
| Glen Burnie,MD | $35,429 |
| Potomac,MD | $38,311 |
| Rockville,MD | $38,289 |
| Silver Spring,MD | $38,335 |
| Towson,MD | $35,429 |
| Waldorf,MD | $38,231 |
Regional Salary in Maryland
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 6,830 | $43,660 | $20.99 | $54,030 | $36,050 |
| California-Lexington Park, MD | 230 | $45,210 | $21.74 | $58,390 | $36,050 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 160 | $37,020 | $17.8 | $45,300 | $29,750 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | 600 | $41,220 | $19.82 | $47,890 | $33,480 |
| Salisbury, MD-DE | 1,070 | $40,300 | $19.37 | $47,050 | $33,510 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
Depending on the medical premises they work at, the duties of a medical assistant can differ.
Some of them are usually asked to take patient histories and give first aid and injections, help doctors with patient examinations, schedule appointments, and prepare blood for laboratory tests.
These are regular duties that each medical assistant should be able to perform.
However, the more serious and responsible duties are entrusted to those people who enter a program in medical assisting and get the certification.
The passing of the certification exam means that they are prepared to perform clinical procedures, preparing specimens for analysis and that they can understand policies, laws, and patient rights.
Patience and good communication skills are a huge advantage because they need to work with both patients and other health professionals.
Summary
The growing number of doctors is followed by the growing number of medical assistants who provide a helping hand for all medical procedures.
If you want to become one, you can enter the field quickly since education lasts less than a year.
What can also help you decide to enter this field is the fact that the job opportunities are increasing faster than average.
So, these reasons are good enough to start pursuing a medical assistant career.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical Assisting by City
Medical Assisting by State