Not everyone interested in medicine wants to be a doctor.  Luckily, there are many career paths in the medical field other than becoming a physician, surgeon, or researcher. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, medical assistants have performed an even more vital role in the care of many Canadians.

Medical assistants are a vital group of medical professionals who work in all levels of the medical field, from walk-in clinics and independent medical practice offices, to hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and laboratories.  They can also work in medical-related offices such as optometrist and dentists offices, mental health facilities, physical rehabilitation clinics, chiropractic clinics, and massage therapy clinics.

Doctors and nurses need the aid of medical assistants to help them provide care by performing the essential work to keep medical offices and processes running smoothly and efficiently.  They are responsible for client-facing tasks such as preparing exam and treatment rooms, escorting patients to and from treatment rooms, scheduling patient appointments, assisting patients to fill out medical documentation and taking basic vitals and other patient information.  Depending on the workplace, medical assistants may also clean and sterilize medical equipment and inventory medical supplies.

Medical assistants will also perform duties to manage and run an office or clinic, including updating client records and electronic health records, managing communication between other medical staff, answering phone calls and emails, transcribing doctor’s notes, processing billing and insurance, and managing scheduling for staff and patients.

Medical assistants typically need a college or trade school diploma in medical records, medical office assisting, medical terminology or a similar program.  They also need to have an interest in the medical field and in working directly with patients in a healthcare setting, as well as a caring personality, strong organizational skills, and strong attention to detail.

The working environment will differ depending on the type of medical office, whether it is a hospital, clinic, or nursing home.  For example, a medical clinic with regular daytime hours will provide a reliable schedule, while a hospital or nursing home may require shift work, evenings, and weekends.

Salary expectations for medical assistants range from $14 per hour for entry-level employees, up to around $30 per hour for those with many years of experience or specialized skills.  This makes an annual salary range of approximately $$25,000 for new workers up to $60,000 for experienced medical assistants.

The COVID-19 crisis has emphasized just how important medical assistants are within the healthcare landscape, which will hopefully lead to many more positions in the future–and that means more career opportunities for the medically-inclined.

Sources:

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/occupation/4544/ON

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Medical_Assistant/Hourly_Rate

https://www.trade-schools.net/ca/health-care/medical-assistant