Where Can Medical Assistants Work?

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If you are considering a career in the medical field, becoming a medical assistant is an excellent first step. Medical assistants work directly with doctors to prepare patients for their exams and assist as needed. They also are trained to manage administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, updating records, and even some basic billing functions.

 

This wide range of duties provides an excellent overview of the medical system and also puts medical assistants in a unique position to be able to work in a myriad of healthcare environments.

 

If you have been considering becoming a medical assistant for some time you may be curious about exactly where medical assistants work. The answer of course depends on their training and experience but let’s take a look at some of the most common places a medical assistant may work.

 

If you want to become a Medical Assistant, consider enrolling in UEI College's Medical Assistant Program.

Where Can Medical Assistants Work?

Clinics

Clinics may see patients for a number of reasons, but typically, patients come in and out of clinics on the same day. Medical assistants help control the flow of patients by recording vitals and collecting their health history in preparation for their exams with a physician.

 

Hospitals

Hospitals, whether private hospitals or university hospitals, move at a fast pace, and medical assistants who work in hospitals may also work quickly. Medical assistants are needed in just about every department within a hospital to help check in patients and update their personal information. Medical assistants may even be hired to work in a hospital emergency room to help handle the immense amount of administrative work.

 

Outpatient Care Facilities

Medical assistants are not typically tasked with caring for patients who are staying for a long period of time, but they work closely with patients in outpatient care facilities to ensure those patients have the information they need to care for themselves once they leave. They may also be the ones to call patients for follow-up.

 

Chiropractor Offices

Medical assistants help patients check in, update personal information, and may even do some billing tasks.

 

Pediatric Office

In pediatric offices, medical assistants may be the first person a patient sees when they enter the office. They greet patients, help schedule appointments, and also help with check-in.

 

Urgent Care Facilities

Medical assistants in an urgent care facility may have the opportunity to learn many different treatments as they assist doctors with many different procedures.

 

OBGYN

Medical assistants have the opportunity to really get to know patients when they work in a specialized office like a chiropractor, pediatrician, or OBGYN. They help patients check in, take their vitals and assist doctors with physical exams and vaccines.

 

Diagnostic Laboratories

Medical assistants receive training to collect and process specimens for lab testing. This training is helpful for working in a diagnostic laboratory.

 

Palliative Care Facilities

Palliative care facilities help patients who have been diagnosed with serious medical conditions. In these facilities, medical assistants help with both administrative and clinical tasks.

 

More Places!

There are so many different medical specialties and medical assistants can be a valuable part of the team in any of these offices. The training to become a medical assistant covers a wide variety of skills, and further training can lead to even more opportunities.

What is the Best Place to Work as a Medical Assistant?

The best place to work really depends on your personality. Some environments like hospitals require lots of fast-paced work and multi-tasking but also provide the benefit of learning from the best doctors and nurses. Smaller offices may have more flexible hours or a more stable schedule. Things to consider:

 

Schedule

Some smaller or more specialized offices may have typical business hours and offer stable full-time or part-time hours, while hospitals, urgent care, or larger offices may offer less predictable but more flexible work schedules. When beginning an entry-level position, your work-life balance is something you should take into consideration.

 

Experience

If your goal is to use medical assisting as a stepping stone to further opportunities in the medical field, then where you work can greatly impact the experience you get. Working in a clinic may be predictable and consistent, but working in a hospital may expose you to the latest and greatest treatment and allow for the opportunity to work alongside the most talented doctors and nurses.

 

The pace of the workday

So many different work environments allow medical assistants to work at the pace they prefer. Some offices may work quickly to help a large number of patients, while others focus on taking time with each patient to carefully address their needs. A busy day may make the hours fly by, but a slower office allows for closer relationships with patients.

 

Relationships with patients

As stated above, the pace of the office will have a big impact on how well you get to know each patient. Many people go into the medical field to help people, so having the time to get to know patients is an important thing to consider.

How to Become a Medical Assistant?

  1. Step #1: Earn your high school diploma
  2. Step #2: Enroll in and complete a medical assistant training program
  3. Step #3: Gain experience through an externship
  4. Step #4: Apply and interview for open positions

 

For more details about how to become a medical assistant, read our How to Become a Medical Assistant Guide?

Become a Medical Assistant with UEI College

UEI College is a great place to receive your medical assistant training! We offer ongoing enrollment to allow you to get started as soon as you are ready. Financial assistance is available to those who apply.

 

Experienced instructors will guide you through the training and provide opportunities to practice tasks in a hands-on lab environment. Our hybrid program makes juggling work and school possible!

 

In as few as ten months, you can begin a new career you can be proud of. Give us a call today to learn more!

 

Enroll in UEI College's Medical Assisting Program today!

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