Why don't Medical Assistants get the accolades they deserve?





















































Why aren’t Medical Assistants receiving the awareness, appreciation, and acceptance so earnestly deserved? By Susan Smuzinsky, Clinical Supervisor/Surgical Scheduler/Certified Medical Assistant/Safety Coach.
Contact Information: LinkedIn




The podcast is at the bottom


















When did Medical Assisting become a thing? I mean, when I was a kid, I don't remember a “Medical Assistant” in my doctor's office. It was him, a nurse, and a receptionist/transcriptionist. I don't even think I knew what a Medical Assistant truly was when I signed up for the program to become one. But, after realizing the scope and practicality of this diverse profession, I began to see the necessity for Medical Assisting. So, why don't you hear more about Medical Assistants? Why aren't there more articles written about them, and for them?
Let’s start by defining Medical Assistant or “MA”. It’s pretty much what it sounds like, but so very much more. MAs are trained individuals skilled in administrative and clinical areas of healthcare.
Responsibilities include directing calls, managing appointments and schedules, dealing with insurance, addressing medications, completing comprehensive intakes, administering injections, assisting with minor surgical procedures, preparing specimens and doing cultures, conducting some diagnostic studies, in addition to countless other assignments. Tasks vary by location and specialty, of course.
Originally, Medical Assisting didn’t require a formal education or certification for employment. It was all on the job training. Things have, and continue, to change though. Over the last decade or so, Medicare has set forth stricter guidelines in all areas of healthcare, including mandating Medical Assistants be certified in order to perform specific tasks. In 1939, American Medical Technologists was established and, then in 1955, American Association of Medical Assistants. Two of the largest certifying organizations recognizing the significance of the Medical Assistant. Programs for the profession vary greatly, as does tuition. There are even specialized certifications available. The length of a program can be from 6-8 weeks to one year and tuition can range from just a few thousand dollars upwards to $30,000 in some cases. Salary isn't so diverse though. The median salary in 2018 was $16.61 or $33,610 per year. Approximately 57% of MAs work in physician offices, while 15% are employed by hospitals and the remaining at outpatient facilities.
Capitation by insurance companies, growing competition, and higher overhead expenses such malpractice insurance, have made the private practice all but extinct. Business models are the difference in healthcare now. Most private practice providers find it necessary to join forces with larger healthcare network systems in order to survive and this is why the MA field is conservatively projected to grow 29% from 2016 to 2026 which is much more than other occupations. It’s an economical option for meeting the demand of the ever-changing healthcare system.