What exactly does a (back) Medical Assistant do? How much do they get paid?

What does a medical assistant do and how much do they get paid?

• I want ot go to school to be a medical assistant and want some more info on what they do. thanks

• Answer:

  They are not usually paid well, and I've heard here and on other boards that not too many jobs are available for the MA these days (or for the medical biller or coder, fyi). If still wanting to get training, please steer clear of those private career schools that are $$$ and instead the county vo-tech school or community college (perhaps non-credit course) as long as it's accredited within the industry. Topics usually taught in a MA program include taking blood pressure-height-weight, making appointments/medical reception, billing, phlebotomy (drawing blood), giving injections, ekg's (test of heart waves), basics of medical records, medical transcription (typing from a tape recorded message by dr) and patient relations. Perhaps one can have more luck finding a job for phlebotomist than MA itself. General info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and search 'medical assistants' or such. For US colleges: http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ