4 Reasons Why it’s a Surprisingly Good Time to be a Medical Assistant

Unless your New Years’ resolution was to dive head first into utter chaos, 2020 is probably not panning out the way you expected.

As the pandemic shows no signs of stopping, jobs in restaurants, grocery stores and elsewhere have begun to feel increasingly unsafe for employees. Few employers are offering these essential workers adequate protection from the COVID-19. Even worse, many of these jobs have disappeared altogether.

Meanwhile, physicians, nurses and Medical Assistants are putting their extensive training and specialized equipment to the test. These front-line workers have already helped hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. recover from COVID-19. But is it safe to work in the medical field right now—and what exactly are Medical Assistants doing in the fight to rein in the virus?

What are Medical Assistants Doing During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Medical Assistants have always played a crucial role in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities. In normal times, they may be responsible for tasks like assisting doctors with procedures and exams, measuring vital signs, or helping patients schedule their next appointment. They may even prepare blood samples for lab tests.

During the pandemic, Medical Assistants will still perform those duties, but they have also taken on other important tasks:

• Pre-screening patients with questions related to COVID-19
• Assisting nurses and doctors with PPE (personal protective equipment)
• Deep cleaning examination rooms between use
• Taking patient phone calls regarding COVID-19 testing and examination

And Medical Assistants won’t deny it—the job can be stressful—especially during a global health crisis. But there are substantial benefits to taking on such an important career, especially as a recession feels all but inevitable.

1. Job Security and Hiring Demand

Because of the United States’ rapidly aging population, the medical industry was already booming before COVID-19. It doesn’t show signs of slowing down, either. In fact, the career is expected to grow 23 percent through 2028. Medical Assistants are highly valued for their ability to allow physicians to visit more patients in a day. As long as there are patients, there will always be a need for Medical Assistants—pandemic or not.

2. Find Purpose in Working with Patients (and Helping to Save Lives)

There’s no better feeling than helping to make the world a better place—except maybe getting paid to do it. Medical Assistants work directly with patients, meaning they’re able to make a difference in peoples’ lives through even a single interaction. The truth is that receiving treatment for injuries and illnesses can be scary. By providing skilled care, positive encouragement, or even a reassuring smile, you can make a difference.

3. Health and Safety is Taken Seriously

While it’s true that most Medical Assistants are bound to come in contact with patients that have COVID-19, that doesn’t mean they will contract the virus. Extensive training, protective equipment, and strict protocols help Medical Assistants to stay safe on the job. While it’s tough to be fearless, the comprehensive training required to become a Medical Assistant allows these professionals to feel more at ease.

Outside the medical field, many service industry workers have no choice but to interact with hundreds of customers every day. Without proper protective equipment or procedures, these essential workers are left alarmingly vulnerable to contracting the virus.

4. Medical Assistant Training Has Never Been Faster

The biggest downside to traditional college—students often say—is how long it takes complete. Did you know that it takes 11-14 years to become a physician? Nursing school takes 2-3 years, and some Medical Assistant programs can take just as long.

Medical Assistants at IBMC College can go from classroom to career in as little as 10 months. Instead of wasting time with fluff courses that are unrelated to the position, students receive hands-on training in important courses like Pharmacology, Laboratory Techniques, and Minor Surgery and Health Promotion. As a part of their training, students also participate in externships—receiving practical experience alongside medical professionals at local clinics, hospitals and other facilities.

Curious to learn more about what it takes to become a Medical Assistant? Schedule a tour of your nearest IBMC College campus in Fort Collins, Greeley or Longmont, Colorado today. And don’t worry—we take your health seriously.