Medical Assistant as the name itself conveys is a professional in the field of medicine that can take up any role in the medical centre required for the uninterrupted functioning of the hospital. They are the professional apt to keep the track record of the patients confidential. They also ensure that the tests prescribed by doctors to the patients are carried out accurately and all the appointments are scheduled in a proper manner. They are also responsible to look into the management of OPD and guide and instruct patients about administration formalities required to be fulfilled by them.
In fact, a Medical Assistant is responsible for a lot more than what their designation states, thus there is a lot of scope for qualified Medical Assistants in the field of Medicine.
To do this work tirelessly with all the care and devotion, as this work involves patients, the Medical Assistant requires a lot of hard work. The scope of Medical Assistant as a profession is increasing at a fast pace with the awareness among the masses about their health care activities.
To discharge their duties with utmost perfection the prospective Medical Assistants required professional knowledge about the field and condition they are going to work in the coming time. For that, they need proper knowledge and training in their respective field which can only be achieved by doing professionally designed courses.
Medical Assistant Eligibility
Eligibility Conditions
Educational Qualification
It is not mandatory for an aspiring Medical Assistant to have a medical background (although it is advantageous to have +2 in medical Stream).
The aspiring candidate must be a graduate in any stream with a certificate or associate degree course for Medical Assistant.
Medical Assistant Required Skills
To perform his/her duties in an effective manner the Medical Assistant must possess almost all the following skills:
- As a Medical Assistant may have to perform wide-ranging duties i.e from drawing blood and checking vital signs of the patients to managing patient records and setting appointments and everything in between that to under trying conditions. Thus, he must be a multiskilled person to perform all these functions in an effective manner.
- Good communication skills are a must for a Medical Assistant in order to understand and accurately record patient issues and specifications. They must also be capable of clearly articulating instructions to the patient and effectively communicating information, both written and spoken, to other healthcare professionals working with the patient.
- Medical Assistant is also supposed to do official work thus he must have excellent organizational and clerical skills. Being highly-organized is critical in the healthcare field, and clerical skills like typing and filing are helpful to perform duties in a timely manner.
- As Medical Assistant is to deal with almost every aspect of the medical field thus the need for good Medical knowledge. Medical assistants should have a good working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and basic procedures like drawing blood or dressing a wound. Knowledge of first aid and CPR may also be required.
- Medical assistants should be aware of personal and patient safety at all times. Understanding and practising safety and sanitation protocols are essential for Medical Assistants.
- In the age of computer when everything is computerized, being comfortable with using computers is necessary for a variety of administrative tasks. Especially as many healthcare practices are adopting EHRs (Electronic Health Records), computer competency is one of the most important medical assistant skills.
- Last but not least the customer service skills are the most sort after skills from a Medical Assistant at least in the private sector. Patients in the Private sector at least, are customers who select their practitioners based on the quality of care and service received. Treating patients with sensitivity and respect is essential to be a successful Medical Assistant.
How to become a Medical Assistant?
One has to follow below given steps to become a Medical Assistant.
Step 1
After completing +2 in the medical stream (although not compulsory) aspiring candidates can join the related course like Diploma in Healthcare and administration. Admission to this course is provided on the basis of percentage of marks in the qualifying exams however some paramedical institute of repute may take an entrance exam to provide admission to this course.
Step 2
After completing this course aspiring candidates can look for a Job of Medical Assistant in the Hospitals or Health Care Centres. After the one-year experience, a medical assistant can pursue speciality programmes in thirteen therapeutic fields which include cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, family medicine, geriatrics, internal medicine, OB/GYN, Oncology, orthopaedic surgery, paediatrics, transplantation surgery, urology and women’s health.
Those who are graduates in any stream can join Post Graduate Diploma in Health Care Administration to become Medical Assistants.
Step 3
To become an International Medical Assistant the aspiring candidates can go for either a certificate course or an associate degree course from an internationally acclaimed institute. The can get admission to these courses by taking the certified medical assistant exam (CMA) exam.
The candidate must pass an online exam with at least 70% marks to work as an International Medical Assistant.
List of some of the institutes providing Medical Assistant related courses
Medical Assistant Job Description
- Medical Assistant works along with doctors in the hospital and healthcare centres. Their job is to ensure smooth functioning by assisting doctors and senior staff in medical centres.
- Medical Assistant job description includes performing both administrative and clinical duties.
- Medical Assistant also looks into the management of OPD and guide and instruct patients about the administrative formalities to be completed.
- He/She is also entrusted to keep the medical track record safe and confidential.
- Their job also involves ensuring that the tests prescribed by doctors are carried out accurately and appointments are scheduled well.
- Medical Assistant Job Description includes everything that is required for an uninterrupted functioning of the hospital.
Medical Assistant Career Prospects
The rise of the healthcare industry in India has created a pool of opportunities for Medical Assistants. Every consulting doctor needs at least a group of 4 to 5 staff members and a Medical Assistant is one of the most important members of that pool. Thus a well-qualified and certified Medical Assistant can easily find a job in the public and private sector hospital, minor emergency centres, laboratory, blood donor centres.
There is great demand for qualified Medical Assistant owing to the growth of the private sector in the field of medicine. There are so many private hospitals, nursing homes where these professionals are required in great numbers. Employment opportunities in the healthcare sector are expected to grow by about 30% from 2018-2026.
A qualified medical assistant can work in a diverse area within the medical field such as a nursing assistant, speciality assistant, paramedic staff, telemedicine staff, patient experience executive
Medical Assistant Salary
Medical Assistant gets a reasonable salary in government and private hospitals, clinics and primary health care centres etc.
The average starting salary of a Medical Assistant ranges between Rs.12,000 to Rs.18,000 per month in hospitals and in clinics. Those working in private hospitals and clinics have more income than those of government employees.
