A medical assistant performs administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare environments. Their daily responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Answering phones
- Bookkeeping
- Completing insurance forms
- Greeting patients
- Maintaining medical records, and
- Scheduling appointments
In specific states, medical assistants may also be accountable for describing procedures to patients, gathering testing supplies, notating medical histories, and taking vitals.
But becoming a medical assistant isn’t the only career title students can achieve after earning a certificate or associate degree in the field. In fact, there are many types of careers in medical assisting, beyond the traditional medical assistant role.
The different types of medical assistant careers offer graduates various occupational options depending on their desired profession and workplace.
Read on to learn about five fantastic alternative careers for medical assistants!
1. Medical Records Specialist
- Career Description: Medical records specialists process and maintain physical and digital medical records in accordance with administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory compliance. Including medical billers and coders, medical records specialists classify diagnoses, medical services, and equipment into a numerical healthcare coding system. Medical records professionals also adhere to confidentiality procedures, help doctors and nurses access patient information, and perform day-to-day unit operations.
- Earnings: Medical records specialists in 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, made a median annual wage of $46,660 nationally.
The same job title in Connecticut made a 2021 average yearly salary of $57,480.
Goodwin University’s Medical Assisting Advantage:
At Goodwin, you can be prepared for your profession and complete your medical assisting certificate in as few as 12 months. Seeking an associate degree in medical assisting? You can accomplish your career goals in as few as 16 to 20 months!
2. Clinical Laboratory Technician
- Career Description: Clinical laboratory technicians collect samples of body fluids, tissue, and other substances to perform medical tests for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease. Clinical laboratory technicians may also examine test results for abnormalities, properly label samples, and sterilize medical equipment.
- Earnings: As stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2021 median annual wage for clinical laboratory technicians nationally was $57,800.
During the same year, Connecticut clinical laboratory technicians earned an average yearly salary of $70,220.
3. Cardiovascular Technician
- Career Description: Cardiovascular technicians, also known as electrocardiograph (EKG) technicians, administer diagnostic, research, and therapeutic-based tests on patients’ cardiovascular systems. Cardiovascular technicians also operate specialized equipment, interact with patients, evaluate test results, and administer treatments.
- Earnings: According to the BLS, in 2021, the median annual wage for EKG technicians nationally was $60,570.
In the same year, Connecticut cardiovascular technicians made an average of $76,710.
Goodwin University’s Medical Assisting Advantage:
Career-focused and convenient, Goodwin offers flexible online, on-campus, and hybrid class options. Morning and evening classes are available!
4. Health Insurance Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Career Description: Health insurance claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators use healthcare practice and terminology understanding to evaluate accurate reporting of medical claims, and the coverage patients receive based on their policy. The health insurance claims professionals also confer with legal counsel regarding litigation, negotiate agreements to resolve disputes, and review insurance forms for information accuracy.
- Earnings: The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2021 that the median annual wage for health insurance claims professionals was $65,080 nationally.
As the country’s insurance capital, health insurance claims adjustors, examiners, and investigators in Connecticut earned an annual average salary of $87,680.
5. Medical and Health Services Manager
Medical and health services managers typically have an administrative and clinical experience like the above titles. However, they typically hold a bachelor’s degree.
If medical assisting associate degree holders seek to continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree or beyond, they will become qualified for the medical and health services manager role upon completing their distinction. This can qualify them for the most earning potential after graduation.
- Career Description: Medical and health services managers direct healthcare provider offices. Medical and health services managers create shift schedules, hire, train, supervise staff, implement new policies, and observe budgeting practices.
- Earnings: In 2021, the U.S. BLS stated the national median annual salary for medical and health services managers was a notable $101,340.
In the same year, Connecticut medical and health services managers made $126,790.
Goodwin University’s Medical Assisting Advantage:
A supportive, inclusive institution that’s student-centered, Goodwin offers medical assisting learners job placement during the program, and the compelling curriculum qualifies students to become certified during their final semester.
Transferable Skills for Any Medical Assisting Setting
Graduates of medical assisting programs have an abundance of abilities that transfer to various careers throughout the healthcare industry. Such skills include:
- Administrative organization
- Knowledge of standard medical regulations, routine procedures, and sanitation practices
- Service-oriented leadership
- Swift and accurate data entry, and
- Patient empathy
Medical assisting alums can find fulfilling careers in ambulatory services, clinics, family practices, hospitals, medical laboratories, outpatient care facilities, and more!
Are you considering a medical assisting career?
Learn more about the meaningful medical assisting profession today!