2021 is here and we’re ready for it! The new year is a great time to examine your career goals or just see where you can adjust as an individual. For the aspiring medical assistants in the healthcare field, 2021 may be the time to look into the qualifications you’ll need. Learning important medical assistant qualifications and skills could help you on your journey.
From handling administrative work to helping physicians with clinical tasks, medical assistants are a valuable part of the healthcare industry. Clinics, doctor’s offices, and healthcare facilities hire medical assistants to perform vital tasks while providing great patient care1. If becoming a medical assistant in the healthcare field is one of your 2021 career goals, it may be time to look into basic medical assistant qualifications. Continue reading to discover the key qualifications for medical assistant careers and how you could earn them in 2021!
Take your next step: Medical Assistant training at Dorsey Schools
Medical Assistant Qualifications and Skills You Should Know
To become qualified in this field there are some key skills you should learn in 2021! These include both clinical and administrative skills. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you could be responsible for important tasks such as:
- Recording patient medical history
- Measuring vital signs
- Administering medications or shots under supervision
- Preparing patient blood samples for lab testing
- Scheduling appointments
- And more!2
Patients and medical staff lean on medical assistants to perform these common, yet vital duties every day. To get the job done, there are certain medical assistant qualifications and skills that should be pursued in the new year. One of the most important qualities is an analytical mind. From reading medical charts to coding patient health records, to work in this field of healthcare, one must grasp important data placed before them. Attention to detail is also needed. Being detail-oriented helps with accuracy when handling patient documentation and recording vital signs. When it comes to entering data and billing patients correctly, there is little room for error.
An aspiring medical assistant should also consider learning technical skills in 2021. This includes a working knowledge of common medical instruments used in performing daily tasks. While knowing how to take vital signs or code correctly is important, so are great interpersonal skills. While working in this field you may have to relay messages, answer patient questions, and work hand-in-hand with other healthcare professionals. To do these tasks well, knowing how to communicate clearly while working well with others is a vital quality3.
Now, make a mental note of the qualities you have and don’t have for the job. Got them? Now you know what qualities you can strengthen and which ones you can work on in your training! Obtaining these medical assistant qualifications and skills in 2021 could give you a solid foundation for a rewarding career in the medical field.
Medical Assistant Education Needed for Potential Job Requirements
One of the key qualifications for medical assistant careers is the education or training needed to complete your duties. Enrolling in a training program could help you gain the skills and qualifications for a medical assistant resume while learning to perform daily tasks. Even though most states, including Michigan, do not require you to have a degree for this field, employers may prefer candidates with formal training and/or education4. Some may even establish their own certification requirements for available positions within their practice or healthcare facility. Graduating from a medical assistant program could help you stand out in the application process and provide you with vital tools for your career.
Dorsey Schools’ Medical Assistant program
It’s time to go from dreaming to achieving. Your career goals are waiting on you. 2021 is a great time to earn your medical assistant qualifications and have the opportunity to become a professional in the medical field. By enrolling in Dorsey Schools’ Medical Assistant program, you could receive new skills and training to pursue a job in the healthcare industry. Our Medical Assistant training program offers a higher education experience and practice in a clinical setting. In the last module of training, students can practice what they’ve learned during an externship at a physician’s office or other medical facilities.
The Medical Assistant program at Dorsey Schools could prepare you to work at the forefront of healthcare while helping others in need. Receive the medical assistant education needed to mark off your goals in 2021.
What are you waiting for? Request information today!
Additional Information:
- “Medical Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 Sept. 2020, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-2.
- “Medical Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 Sept. 2020, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-2.
- “Medical Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 Sept. 2020, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-4.
- “Medical Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 Sept. 2020, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-4.
