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Medical
Assistant FAQs
What is a medical assistant?
A medical assistant is a health professional that performs a wide variety
of
administrative and clinical tasks within a physician’s office.
What does a medical assistant do?
Medical assistant jobs vary from office to office, but in general,
these health care workers will greet patients, update and file patient and medical
records, fill out insurance forms, schedule appointments and handle billing and
accounting procedures. In addition, a medical assistant takes patient medical
histories and vital signs, prepares patients for examination, collects blood
specimens by both capillary or veripuncture technique, gives injections, removes
sutures, performs basic laboratory tests, sterilizes equipment, authorizes and
phones in drug refills, perform EKGs, prepare patients for X-rays, and explains
treatment procedures to patients.
Where do medical assistants work?
In 2002, medical assistants held about 365,000 jobs in this country. Sixty percent
were employed in physicians' offices and 15 percent in hospitals, with
the remaining 25 percent of medical assistants working in nursing homes, outpatient
facilities, public health departments and offices of other health practitioners,
such as dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors and optometrists.
What is the starting salary for an entry-level medical assistant?
Earnings vary depending on location, experience and skill level. However, the
average entry-level medical assistant will earn approximately $23,000 to $25,000
per year.
What is the current job outlook for this profession?
Due to an increasing number of physician group practices, the medical assistant
career is one of the ten fastest-growing careers in health care,
and is expected to maintain this momentum of fast growth through the year 2012.
What type of Medical Assistant program does C.O.D. offer?
The College of DuPage Medical Assistant program offers a two-year Associate in
Science degree, which includes both class time and hands-on clinical experience.
Students who graduate from this program receive a certificate of completion
and are eligible to sit for the American
Society
of Clinical Pathology Board of Registry exam. Upon passing this
exam, a student becomes a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (PBT). Students are
also eligible to sit for the American
Association of Medical Assistants exam to become a Certified
Medical Assistant (CMA).
Is there a separate application process for the Medical Assistant program
at C.O.D.? Are there any program prerequisites?
There is not a separate or additional admissions process to begin the Medical
Assistant program at College of DuPage. However, students must have a high school
diploma or GED. In addition, students are required to: 1) complete English 1101
with a “C” or better (or receive a Category 1 score on the college’s
Reading Placement Test); 2) receive a Category 4 score on the Writing Placement
Essay; and 3) complete Math 1100 or higher with a “C” grade or better
(or receive a score of 36 or above on the Math Pre-Course Test).
Who can I contact for more information?
Call program coordinator Nancy Feulner, MT, ASCP, at (630) 942-2124, e-mail: feulner@cod.edu, to
set up an advising session.
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