Occupation Details
Medical Assistants
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.
Quick Navigation
Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$35,770.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$40,360.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$49,470.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
28,160
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
35,820
+766 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
4,469
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.3%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Audiometers
- Autoclaves
- Baumanometers
- Binocular light compound microscopes
- Blood chemistry analyzers
- Blood collection vials
- Breathalyzers
- Butterfly needles
- Canes
- Cast cutters
- Centrifuges
- Credit card readers
- Crutches
- Culturettes
- Dictation equipment
- Dosimetry badges
- Electrocardiography EKG units
- Electrocautery equipment
- Electronic blood pressure measuring devices
- Endotracheal ET tubes
- Enema equipment
- Evacuated blood collection tubes
- Evacuated collection tube holders/adapters
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy equipment
- Gait belts
- Handheld occluders
- Hearing aids
- Intramuscular needles
- Keratometers
- Lancets
Technology
- Appointment scheduling software
- Bookkeeping software
- Business software applications
- Database software
- Diagnostic and procedural coding software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Email software
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- IDX Systems Patient Chart Tracking
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Medical procedure coding software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Exchange
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- set up or calibrate laboratory equipment
- use medical diagnostic equipment
- prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
- sterilize or disinfect instruments
- order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
- lift or transport ill or injured patients
- prepare medical treatment room
- set up patient care equipment
- schedule meetings or appointments
- provide customer service
- observe patient condition
- conduct medical laboratory tests
- use secretarial procedures
- route multi-line telephone calls
- retrieve files or charts
- complete patient bills
- complete patient insurance forms
- process medical records
- ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
- calculate medical diagnostic test results
- weigh patients
- administer injections
- administer medications or treatments
- assist in examining or treating dental or medical patients
- collect specimens from patients
- draw blood
- conduct medical tests
- position patient for therapy
- prepare patients for tests, therapy, or treatments
- take vital signs
- work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses
- prepare bodies for interment
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- use interviewing procedures
- use medical lab techniques
- follow dental or medical office procedures
- follow dental or medical x-ray procedures
- use nursing practices or procedures
- follow patient care procedures
- use sanitation practices in health care settings
- use knowledge of medical insurance systems
- use knowledge of medical terminology
- use clinical sterilizing technique
- record medical history or data
- inventory medical supplies or instruments
- maintain dental or medical records
- post medical insurance billings
- take dictation
- collect clinical data
- obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- 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.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
- Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
- Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
- Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
- Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
- Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
- Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
- Change dressings on wounds.
- Schedule appointments for patients.
- Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment.
- Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.
- Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
- Set up medical laboratory equipment.
- Keep financial records or perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit or collections or mailing monthly statements to patients.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Healthcare: Get Into It!
Healthcare: Get Into It! has been created as a way to explore some of the possibilities of health care careers and give you the opportunity to develop a road map to your future. Health care encompasses many disciplines and information is important. The topics include: Interest Assessment Tool, Career Options,Job Shadowing/Mentoring Programs,Career Planning, Education & Training, and Financial Aid.
Learn MoreMedical assistants
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreSummer Scholars 2007
Summer Scholars 2007 is a health career exploration opportunity that immerses students in a health care setting for six weeks, introducing them to the daily work tasks and responsibilities of a healthcare provider or allied health professional.
Learn MoreUniversity of Rochester Medical Center: Life Sciences Learning Center Teacher Programs
Put on a lab coat and experience a variety of hands-on laboratory investigations and workshops available at the Life Sciences Learning Center (LSCL). These professional development workshops are offered to give educators experience with cutting edge science technologies. These hands-on workshops also provide teachers with innovative instructional materials that align with New York State Math, Science and Technology Standards.
Learn MoreUniversity of Rochester Medical Center: Life Sciences Learning Center Student Programs
The variety of laboratory investigative topics are designed for groups of students accompanied by their teacher to introduce students to scientific concepts and advances through hands-on inquiry-based learning methods. The programs are 2.5 to 4 hours in length and align with the New York Standards Core Curriculum. Science Out Of School offers informal hands-on activities Saturdays and Holidays.
Learn More