Children are lovable, fun, giggly, and curious. But when they arrive at the pediatrician’s office, they may be anything but the norm. It isn’t always easy to work with sick kids, and even well-child visits can involve nervous or challenging children. Show
Being a pediatric medical assistant takes understanding and a lot of heart. But if you desire helping children in a medical setting, becoming a pediatric medical assistant may be the perfect career choice for you.
General DutiesPediatric medical assistants work for doctors and nurses who specialize in treating children. The general administrative needs of a medical office are the responsibility of pediatric medical assistants who handle medical files, make appointments and manage payment issues; however, some will check a patient's body temperature or perform other basic medical services. Additionally, pediatric medical assistants communicate with patients on behalf of doctors, completing duties like rescheduling appointments and relaying information between pediatricians and patients. Minor preparation duties like taking a patient's weight and height are also performed by pediatric medical assistants to prepare a patient to meet with the doctor. Special DutiesOccasionally pediatric medical assistants may be required to perform special duties to assist the pediatrician. This could include assisting the doctor with circumcisions, rapid strep tests, draw blood and administer medications ordered by the pediatrician. Furthermore, while pediatric medical assistants typically work with pediatricians, in some instances they can also work with medical specialists. This would include pediatric allergists, pediatric cardiologists and pediatric urologists. In specialized settings, medical assistants are required to perform area-specific duties, including medical testing and area-specific medical care. Career OutlookThe U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary for medical assistants is around $32,500. Those at the top 10% of the profession reported a salary of $43,880 or more. The field is expected to grow by 23% by 2024, which is much faster than the average rate. There's no standard education requirement to become a pediatric medical assistant. Regardless of training path, this career is expected to continue an increase in employment well in to the future. Pediatric medical assisting can be an incredible career, especially for those with the right qualities for it. These professionals should be able to work well with children and may benefit from experience with children prior to entering this field. Certification is voluntary, but may attract more employment opportunities. If you’re interested in becoming a pediatric medical assistant, we want to hear from you. Contact Athena Career Academy today to find out how we can help get you on track for your future career as a pediatric medical assistant. Medical assisting is a great career for anyone wanting to get into the medical field or healthcare quickly. Medical assistants work alongside physicians to provide care to patients, usually in doctors offices and clinics. Pediatric medical assistants get to do everything a regular medical assistant does, but they work with children. Most pediatric medical assistants work with patients from newborns up to age 18. This guide will go over everything you need to know about pediatric medical assisting, including what they do, how much they make, and how to become one.’ What is a Pediatric Medical Assistant?Pediatric medical assistants are healthcare workers that assist physicians in caring for babies, children, and adolescents. Pediatric medical assistants can help with everything from routine check ups to visits for illnesses. They work in pediatric offices all over the country, and often get to form long-term working relationships with the families they care for. What Does a Pediatric Medical Assistant Do?Pediatric medical assistants do most of the same things that adult medical assistants do, but with kids instead of adults. Administrative tasks of pediatric medical assistants include:
Clinical tasks of pediatric medical assistants include:
Where Do Pediatric Medical Assistants Work?Most pediatric medical assistants work in pediatrician offices or family practice offices. These types of medical assistants are in high demand all over the nation. Some pediatric medical assistants can work in hospitals or even in home health doing respite care for parents with special needs children. Pediatric medical assistants should be prepared to work in a kid-friendly environment. This means there might be bright colors, children’s toys, kid movies, and toddler music playing throughout the day. Skills Required to Be a Pediatric Medical AssistantBeing a pediatric medical assistant means that you have to have all the skills a standard medical assistant does, while also helping children feel safe and happy during their visit.
Pediatric Medical Assistant Salaries & Job OutlookThe national average salary for medical assistants is around $37,00 per year or $18 per hour. This is a decent salary for someone just getting started in the medical field. Pediatric medical assistant jobs stay right close to the average medical assistant salary, with many jobs starting at $16 to $20 per hour. Medical assistants have one of the best job outlooks in the country. At 16% growth projected through 2030, it should be relatively easy to find a job as a medical assistant for the foreseeable future. What are the duties of a medical assistant?Taking medical histories.. Explaining treatment procedures to patients.. Preparing patients for examinations.. Assisting the physician during examinations.. Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens.. Performing basic laboratory tests.. Instructing patients about medication and special diets.. What are the three fields of medicine medical assistants work in?Medical assistants can work in clinics, doctors offices, care centers, and hospitals. Some medical assistants specialize in clinical or administrative roles.
What can a medical assistant not do?Medical assistants are not allowed to perform such invasive procedures as:. placing the needle or starting and disconnecting the infusion tube of an IV.. administering medications or injections into the IV line.. charting the pupillary responses.. inserting a urine catheter.. independently performing telephone triage.. What are good qualifications for a medical assistant?Examples of 9 medical assistant resume skills. Administrative skills.. Communication.. Time management.. Cleanliness and organization.. Following protocols.. Attention to detail.. Knowledge of basic medical procedures.. Computer skills.. |