Associate Degree in Medical Assisting: Online Degree
Are you interested in the medical industry? Would you like to care for patients by providing support services to other health care professionals? Read on for more information about an online associate's degree in medical assisting. Schools offering Medical Assisting degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Is an Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting?
An online associate's degree in medical assisting is received through a formal training program, generally completed within two years, that provides you with the skills you will need to perform clinical and administrative procedures in health care environments, such as doctor's offices, laboratories and medical clinics. As a medical assistant, your responsibilities can vary between different facilities, and can include both clerical and clinical tasks. Degree titles that are synonymous with or related to medical assisting may include medical assistant or medical assistant technologies.
What are my Online Options?
Coursework for medical assisting programs may be provided through virtual classroom applications. The courses for these programs may be offered entirely online, although hands-on field work may be required in the form of externships. Online options can qualify graduates to work as medical assistants and to gain voluntary credentials as Certified Medical Assistants or Registered Medical Assistants through the American Association of Medical Assistants.
What Courses Will I Take?
Your curriculum may include topics such as basic insurance, anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, laboratory procedures, medical law and ethics, medical office administration, pharmacology and pathophysiology. Your online can prepare you to perform administrative tasks, such as arranging peripheral services, including hospital admissions; maintaining patient medical records, scheduling appointments, completing insurance forms and answering telephones. Your studies may train you for clinical duties, such as operating medical equipment, including electrocardiograms; conducting basic laboratory tests, administering medications and removing sutures.
What is the Outlook for this Career?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the expected job growth for medical assistants from 2008-2018 was 34% (www.bls.gov). In 2010, the BLS reported that medical assistants earned a median annual salary of $28,860.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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