Medical Assistant

Becoming a Medical Assistant is an excellent investment in your future. Medical Assisting is projected to be among America's fastest-growing occupations through the year 2018 with an expected national job growth of 34%.* As the healthcare industry expands due to technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging of the population, there will be an increased need for all healthcare workers, including Medical Assistants.

As the number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities increase, the demand for support personnel also increases; particularly for Medical Assistants who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. In addition, doctors are finding that increasing the use of Medical Assistants allows them the opportunity to care for more patients.

Medical Assistant positions are available in many job markets nationwide. The highest qualified candidates, such as those trained by a program offered at Ross, experience the greatest demand. As a multi-skilled professional with clinical and administrative skills, your employment opportunities will be strong both now and in the years ahead.

Source US Dept of Labor Statistics www.bls.gov

Depending on the size and location of the practice and the practitioner's specialty, the roles of Medical Assistants vary from one workplace to another. Medical Assistants in smaller offices frequently perform both managerial and clinical duties. In this case, you would generally report directly to a physician or other health practitioner. Medical Assistants in larger practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.

As a Ross Medical Assistant Graduate you are prepared for opportunities in:

• Physicians' offices
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• HMOs
• Laboratories
• Various other medical settings

Graduates receive practical hands-on training in areas such as:

• Exam room procedures
• Phlebotomy
• Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
• Vital signs
• Routine laboratory tests
• Administration of medications
• Medical insurance billing
• Receptionist duties
• Medical office procedures
• Financial recordkeeping
• Word processing/keyboarding
• Medical histories

Medical Assistants’ administrative duties begin with tasks typical of any office and build on a medical foundation to provide the edge in a competitive job market. These skills include:

• Answer telephones
• Greet patients
• Update and file medical records
• Process insurance forms
• Schedule appointments
• Coordinate hospital admission and laboratory services
• Handle billing and bookkeeping
• Telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy

Medical Assistants' clinical duties may vary according to state law. These duties may include:

• Taking patients' medical histories
• Recording vital signs
• Explaining treatment procedures
• Preparing patients for examination
• Assisting the physician during the examination
• Collecting and preparing lab specimens
• Performing basic lab tests
• Sterilizing medical instruments
• Performing phlebotomy
• Preparing patients for x-rays
• Taking electrocardiograms
• Removing sutures

You want to be the best prepared candidate for your first health career opportunity. That is the benefit of an education from Ross. You will acquire the expected skills necessary to be proficient in the medical field. Ross Medical Education Center goes a step above and prepares you with networking techniques, a professional resume, writing ability, and interview strategies.

Medical Assistant positions are available in every job market. The highest qualified candidates experience the greatest demand. As a Ross Graduate, you will find that the skills you possess are sought after by employers in the job markets served by Ross Campuses.

Note: Under Section 133 of the HEA of 1965 as amended, institutions of higher education must provide textbook pricing information. This information is published and included in the campus catalog addendum that is distributed to all students prior to enrolling at Ross.

Medical Assistant Externships

Ross Medical Education Center requires students to complete a practical externship in order to graduate. The externship is crucial to the learning experience for every Ross student, giving them a chance to apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real world setting.

The externship also provides employers an opportunity to assess students' skills prior to hiring entry-level allied health professionals.

In addition, unlike other schools, Ross does not schedule or require any waiting period for externships! You can continue your training immediately after the classroom education. This is another example of our commitment to students' success.

• * Ross does not guarantee employment.

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