They say that it takes a village to raise a child. Likewise, it takes many roles to keep health care facilities and offices running smoothly. Among those roles is the medical assistant, who is tasked with updating and filing patient charts, performing basic laboratory tests, assisting physicians and interacting with patients about diets, medications and more.

The medical assistant field is growing by leaps and bounds and is ideal for individuals who would like to have a critical, hands-on role both interacting with patients and working behind the scenes. Medical assistants have both administrative and clinical responsibilities. They work in the physician offices, public and private hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing facilities, and other medical offices.

Your Foot In the Medical Field Door
Individuals interested in being medical assistants can learn about the field and its responsibilities in medical assistant schools. Students can study the necessary coursework to be a medical assistant at vocational-technical high schools, vocational schools, community colleges, online education programs and other schools. Medical assistant schools teach classes in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, patient care techniques and office skills like typing, record keeping and accounting procedures.

Students who attend medical assistant schools may also choose to get certified as a medical assistant. Although it's not required, certification shows that a potential job candidate has obtained competency in certain standards of the medical assistant field, which is desirable for employment.

Be a Physician's Right Hand
Medical assistants perform a number of critical tasks that help ensure that patient care is organized, fast and courteous. They deal directly with patients to prep them for a visit with the doctor, update the medical charts and also to help explain the instructions of the physician and answer questions about medications. They also are expected to have a professional appearance and a good bedside manner, to put patients at ease. Students who attend medical assistant schools are preparing themselves for employment in a field that is growing faster than other fields.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant job opportunities are expected to grow by 35 percent between 2006 and 2016. Medical assistants are being used more in offices, hospitals, and other settings to help deliver high-quality health care. The payscale for medical assistants is growing as well. The median pay for medical assistants in 2008, the most recent year that data is available for, was $28,300, up from $26,290 in 2006. Workers in general medical and surgical hospitals tend to earn more, with an average pay of $30,930.

Medical assistants with more training and certification tend to earn more as well. Medical assistant schools provide students with coursework that teaches them a variety of clinical duties such as taking and recording vital signs, collecting specimens and performing laboratory tests, principals of pharmaceuticals, and administering medications. Students also learn about office practices and procedures, patient relations and interactions, medical laws, and ethics in medicine.

Coursework at medical assistant schools can result in a certificate, diploma or an associate degree, depending on the type and length of school program attended. Programs last from one to two years, depending on which degree is sought. With additional training, medical assistants can advance to the role of office manager or can go on to teach in medical assistant schools. Medical assistants may also advance to other administrative support occupations. Ready to join this growing field? Look for medical assistant schools in your area and get started!