The healthcare business is very promising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the business has provided 14.3 million jobs. They also expected that the healthcare industry will generate over 3.2 million different jobs between 2008 and 2018 because of the rapidly growing population of the elderly.
Two of the most popular health related career choices among job seekers are medical assistant and physician assistant. Both are holding relevant roles in providing health services to the diseased and those who need health support. However, these two careers are regularly interchanged by many. As not to be mistaken over again, we will discuss the two careers individually.
Overview Of Medical Assistants
In fact, many are still befuddled as to the actual roles of medical assistants. Medical assistants or MAs are in charge in keeping clinics and medical departments in order. Their roles can differ depending on the institutions they are employed in. Following are some of the general responsibilities and duties of medical assistants:
Administrative Roles
Approximately sixty two percent of medical assistants are working in medical doctor’s private clinics. Either trainings are given on the job or they get the skills by means of fast paced or conventional medical assisting programs. During training medical assistants are educated to handle calls, patient’s medical records, organize hospital admissions and laboratory schedules and accounting. Those are just some of the basic administrative duties of medical assistants.
Clinical Roles
The clinical tasks of MAs depend on the state they are presently employed. Clinical skills are also taught and cultivated during training. Some of the everyday clinical tasks of MAs are vital signs taking, collecting and preparing specimens, disposing of used and contaminated supplies, basic laboratory testing and assisting medical doctor or surgeon during medical check-up. In small and private clinics, doctors can instruct the medical assistant to prepare and administer medications, change dressings, give telephone prescriptions and check ECGs.
Special Areas Responsibilities
Similar to any healthcare careers, medical assistants can also work in special areas like pediatrics, optometry and opthalmic where they are happy to grow proficiently. In these areas, it is defining for MAs to learn how to multitask because there are instances where they have to carry out several duties all at the same time.
Overview Of Physician Assistant
Physician Assistants or PAs are integral players in the healthcare delivery system. They are practicing medicine under the direct custody of another doctor of medicine. Physician assistant are credentialed to practice according to the federal government.
PAs tasks are more on clinical practice. Their roles and scope of practice depends on their medical experience, knowledge and the governing law. Furthermore, the supervising doctor of medicine’s practice also affects the scope of practice of PAs. Having that said, they will be seeing the same cases of patients. If the supervising doctor is under oncology, then the PA will be practicing in the same department as well.
Following are some of the everyday duties of PAs. PAs are responsible in taking assessment, diagnosing and treating of medical illnesses, analyzing and interpreting tests and procedures given to patients, surgery assisting, patient therapy and giving prescriptions. Aside from their clinical tasks, physician assistants can be given responsibilities on education, medical examination and investigation and other supervisory duties.
Medical assistants and physician assistants are two contrasting entities. It is basic to distinguish the two. Nevertheless, both are very expedient in the industry of healthcare. They both deserve to be given respect because by the same token they are doing what their job entails.
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