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Have you ever thought about having a rewarding career that will help you earn for living and at the same time you will be doing what makes you feel good?
Taking into consideration that the number of old people is increasing and that medicine develops, even more, the necessity for educated and talented health care staff rises and there you might find your future occupation.
The number of young people interested in medical science is in the constant rise, but still, they do not satisfy the amount of work available in clinics and hospitals.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description
Medical assistants have an active job, and most tasks require physical, technical and medical skills.
Their everyday tasks are supporting physicians, providing basic care for patients, giving medications among many others.
The duties can be limited by the law of the state, which can thus affect the salary.
The amount of daily work they might have and the importance of their obligations depend a lot on the location and the size of the medical facility, as the larger hospitals have much more work than those smaller premises.
Medical assistants have to work night shifts, do some fieldwork, or might be asked to work on holidays and at weekends.
Becoming a Medical Assistant in Wisconsin
To provide effective care and be successful in this field, medical assistants need to be familiar with the necessary knowledge.
The state law does not determine the educational requirements for becoming a medical assistant, but the employers are those who decide about it.
Proper education and continuous specialization in this field might be of great help.
Even though people who are not interested in going to post-secondary schools and universities are not required to do so, younger generations understand the importance of knowledge and training which can be achieved by continuing education through programs offered in the state.
To make you acquainted with the latest technological and scientific improvements and learn how to efficiently assist the doctor if necessary, the curriculum is designed to combine hands-on training in the lab with flexible learning.
Licensed assistants, who have passed the courses, are allowed and skillful to perform more complicated duties, know exactly how to help during the surgery and take blood samples without the assistance of a physician.
Requirements
People who take the medical assistant job seriously are aware of the fact that a higher level of knowledge in dealing with medical issues is important, so they decide to enroll in courses to achieve education and certificate within six months to a year or two.
The courses are taught by experienced instructors and students get acquainted with all the tasks and duties that await them once they start working in the medical field.
The accredited associations who offer these kinds of programs are:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) – sponsored by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) – sponsored by American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) – sponsored by the National Association of Health Professionals (NAHP)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) – sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Medical Assistant (NCMA) – sponsored by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
As the clinic or hospital is a business as well, they will get some kind of education related to administration, billing, and insurance that they might find useful once entering a clinic.
The employers are looking for an assistant who will know what he/she has to do, with more education and practice, so certification will bring them a lot of benefits.
Getting a Job
After finishing the studies, you need to find employment.
Besides the fact that medical assistants are lacking and are in constant demand, you might not instantly get the job.
Years of practice can make you even better assistant, so you need to be involved in the medical practice all the time.
A candidate who is more self-confident and encouraged to express his/her knowledge, who is more informed, skilled, and educated has better job prospects, priority among other candidates and higher salaries.
Yet, more responsible duties are entrusted to them.
The good fact is that job opportunities are expected to grow and the future for medical assisting is bright.
Medical assistants may look for job opportunities in:
- Aspirus Clinic in Wausau
- The Grafton Main Clinic in Ozaukee County
- University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
- Aurora HealthCare in Green Bay
Salary
That number of clinics is expected to increase in the future leading to the demand for new medical assistants.
The greater demand is expected to expand the earning potential since the current salary of medical assistants is not so satisfying.
When applying for the job offer, the fact that you possess a license will make you a more desirable candidate and you can even require a better salary.
Certification is the evidence that you are well competent to perform all the duties required by the job, which gives you priority over assistants without certification.
The salary of medical assistants in Wisconsin is neither low nor high.
It ranges from $ 31 063 in La Crosse, up to $ 34 141 in Janesville.
The table below shows average salaries for medical assistants in major cities of Wisconsin, presenting the difference from one place to another:
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Appleton,WI | $33,131 |
| Eau Claire,WI | $31,925 |
| Green Bay,WI | $33,124 |
| Janesville,WI | $34,141 |
| Kenosha,WI | $33,853 |
| La Crosse,WI | $31,063 |
| Madison,WI | $33,977 |
| Milwaukee,WI | $34,233 |
| Oshkosh,WI | $32,917 |
| Racine,WI | $33,853 |
| Waukesha,WI | $34,104 |
Regional Salary in Wisconsin
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 450 | $44,540 | $21.42 | $52,410 | $36,100 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 560 | $44,880 | $21.58 | $48,560 | $37,440 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 220 | $43,820 | $21.07 | $48,480 | $37,720 |
| Green Bay, WI | 740 | $44,720 | $21.5 | $50,120 | $37,290 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | 270 | $43,500 | $20.91 | $49,400 | $37,010 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 470 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Madison, WI | 1,890 | $45,820 | $22.03 | $52,460 | $40,020 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 3,770 | $46,410 | $22.31 | $54,830 | $38,340 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 430 | $42,970 | $20.66 | $47,940 | $37,220 |
| Racine, WI | 260 | $44,350 | $21.32 | $49,080 | $37,260 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 340 | $44,340 | $21.32 | $52,260 | $37,520 |
| Wausau, WI | 380 | $44,460 | $21.38 | $49,510 | $37,350 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
A medical assistant is a person whose duties are usually centered around assisting health care staff during their daily tasks.
Taking care of people and providing comfort and support to them are only some of the responsibilities during the day.
Medical assistants commonly find a job at clinics or hospitals where their duties might vary according to their education, experience, and eagerness to involve themselves more deeply into this challenging job.
While some assistants just work behind the counter answering calls and collecting data, others serve during the surgery and examination.
All these responsibilities are determined by the talent and level of knowledge of the assistant.
They need to have a strict attention to detail and strong listening and communication skills to be able to manage their most frequent tasks.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical Assisting by City
Medical Assisting by State