Medical Assistants Moving On and Up

Statistics show that over 70 per cent of all working medical assistants are employed in physician's private offices, and group practices. Another large group of medical assistants work for ophthalmologists, podiatrists, and chiropractors, and other healthcare providers.

Despite great time pressures and a very demanding work environment, the majority of medical assistants enjoy what they do. They find their jobs intellectually stimulating, meaningful, rewarding, and satisfyingly paid. Their salary is commensurate with their education, qualifications, certification, and years of experience, of course!

A medical assistant that is certified, and has worked for several years in all areas of the field may qualify for a position as medical assisting instructor at a vocational training institute. Other medical assistant professionals, including military medics, may continue their own education to achieve an Associate's Degree in medical assisting, or go on to become nurses. Yet, others may branch out into social and creative areas to apply their talents as medical illustrators, writers, advisors, translators, or interpreters.

It is through continuing education and experience that the medical assistant learns about different types of careers in the allied health and medical field. The possibility of transitioning, or cross training into a new position is just one of the many career decisions that an experienced medical assistant will eventually have to face. Of course, any career change almost always comes with new and unexpected challenges and set of responsibilities, but at the same time moving on and upwards also ties in with more exciting possibilities, increased benefits, and often more takes home pay.

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If you would like to learn more about the medical assistant profession go to the Medical Assistant NET Web site. Medical Assistant Net is specifically designed to help medical assistant students and their instructors, as well as working medical assistants and their supervisors locate valuable resources and information pertaining to the medical assistant profession.


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From Military Medic to Medical Assistant

Military personnel transitioning back into the "civilian" work force have enough skills and knowledge to quickly find employment in today's most competitive healthcare job market without additional training! They have what employers want... However, military personnel seeking promotion and civilian jobs must plan ahead! Do what's smart...


To learn more about educational requirements, and practical tips for handling emergencies, and proper documentation visit Medical Assistant Net on the Web. There is lots of additional "scope of practice for medical assistants" info at that web site.

Medical Assistants Learning Medical Terminology

As with anything in life, persistent study and practice is what makes your knowledge of medical terms stronger. There are various methods, which can be utilised, and all are successful in their own way. The more methods you can use to learn medical terminology, the better understanding you will have. Below are various methods, which can be used.


Aural
There are many software programs, which you can use to study medical terms via the aural method. These programs will have most terms on a CD, which are played with an interval, which allows you to repeat the term. It then gives you the definition of that term. Over time, you will benefit by this study method as it allows you to leave the books and concentrate on the terms, their correct pronunciation, and their meanings.


Internet
The Internet has many online medical terminology dictionaries and resources. The majority of these are free which will allow you to practice effectively. These resources will usually cover all of medical terminology reviews consisting of:

· Prefixes
· Suffixes
· Root Words
· Medical Terms
· Medical Abbreviations
· Medical Definitions
· Surgical Abbreviations
· Diagnostic Abbreviations


Medical DictionariesDictionaries such as the Mosby’s Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health have a dedicated section on Medical terminology. It assists with the breaking down of combining forms, roots or stems, prefixes and suffixes of a term. There is also the option of online medical dictionaries found on the Internet.

Mosby’s Medical terminology is categorised under:

Prefixes Suffixes Roots and combining forms in external anatomy Roots and combining forms in internal anatomy Greek and Latin verbal derivatives Greek and Latin adjectival derivatives Miscellaneous words and combining forms.


Flash/Cue Cards
One of the best methods of learning terminology is to use Flash cards, which has the term on one side and the definition on the other side. There is software, which will allow you to enter your own terms and definitions and will work based on random selections.


Writing the term down
After some time, the student will be able to recognise enough terms and their definitions to begin writing them down. Another person calling out either the term or the definition can assist via this method. The student is then able to recall their medical terminology knowledge. This is one of the best methods as it allows tests to take place.


Anatomical specificAnother method is to select an anatomical part of the body and write down or verbalise as many terms pertaining to that part of the body. This will enhance your body specific knowledge greatly.


Contributed with permission by author: Luis del Valle
UniversalClass.com Student: Basics of Medical Language and Terminology