Medical Assistants
General Information
Description
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
Explore this career in the MilitaryBusiness Breakdown
People in this career work in these sectors.
- Private, for profit77.34%
- Private, not for profit13.71%
- State and local government3.93%
- Federal government2.52%
- Self-employed2.48%
Workplace at a Glance
What you can expect to experience while on the job
- Responsibility
- Exposure to job hazards
- Physical activity
- Decision making
- Repetitiveness
- Level of competition
- Time pressure
Industry areas
- Health Science
Job Outlook
Similar Careers
Related Military Careers
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Medical Assistants
Physician Assistants
Cardiovascular Technicians
Dental Hygienists and Assistants
Emergency Medical Technicians
Field / Combat Medics
Surgical Assistants
Medical Imaging Technicians
Related MIlitary Careers X
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Medical Assistants
- Medical assistants serve as critical team members in providing medical care to service members and their families. They give patients the care and treatment required to help them recover from illness or injury, including injuries suffered in combat. Medical assistants help prepare equipment for diagnostic tests and other procedures for patients. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Physician Assistants
- Physician assistants are nationally certified health professionals who provide primary medical care, including diagnosing and treating diseases, and prescribing medication. They often work under the direction of a physician. When a physician is unavailable, physician assistants serve as the authority on determining medical necessity, priority, and requirements for emergency care, stabilization, and patient evacuation. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Cardiovascular Technicians
- Cardiovascular technicians specialize in diagnosing and treating heart conditions. They administer and document tests to obtain diagnostic data on the condition of the heart, to include electrocardiography, echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and cardiac stress testing. They also assist physicians with diagnostic and interventional catheterizations, perform device implantations, and conduct electrophysiology studies. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Dental Hygienists and Assistants
- Dental hygienists and assistants have many responsibilities, including teeth cleaning, examining patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and providing other preventive dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health and perform other miscellaneous tasks, such as equipment maintenance and supplies inventory. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Emergency Medical Technicians
- EMTs are health professionals trained to respond quickly to emergency situations. Military EMTs provide emergency medical treatment, limited primary care, force health protection, and evacuation assistance in a variety of operational and clinical settings from point of injury or illness through the continuum of military healthcare. They perform basic diagnostic and laboratory tasks. They may work in military health facilities or in the field. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Field / Combat Medics
- Field/combat medics are trained to provide medical care in an operational or combat environment. They provide frontline trauma and medical care to deployed personnel. They care for those suffering from disease as well as those injured in combat. In addition to being prepared to work in combat, these health professionals are often trained in health concerns related to specific conditions, such as those encountered during diving or flight operations. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Surgical Assistants
- Surgical assistants provide care, safety, and support to service members and their families before, during, and after surgery. They assist physicians and other healthcare providers by preparing the operating room, sterilizing the surgical instruments, and assisting with anesthesia. These professionals may need to assist with surgery for injuries resulting from combat or other disasters. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Medical Imaging Technicians
- Medical imaging technicians are primarily responsible for operating the equipment used in collecting, diagnosing, and treating medical conditions. They specialize in collection techniques of different types of medical imagery such as sonography, medical resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray, and nuclear medicine. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Sonography Technicians
- Sonography technicians must be knowledgeable about ultrasound physics. They operate medical radiology equipment while performing ultrasound examinations, which are commonly used to study a developing fetus, abdominal and pelvic organs, muscles and tendons, and the heart and blood vessels. Sonography technicians produce ultrasound diagnostic images while providing patient care for appropriate study and diagnosis. Sonography technicians balance patient interaction and technological performance while working cohesively with a healthcare team. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Nuclear Medicine Technicians
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X-ray Technicians
- X-ray technicians utilize medical radiology equipment and assist radiologists in performing radiographic procedures including mammographic examinations, fluoroscopic examinations, vascular procedures, and computerized axial tomographic examinations (CAT scans). They also help administer medical dyes, accurately target body structures for imaging, and work with healthcare professionals to deliver therapy to wounded or sick members of the Military. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Search and Rescue Operations Specialists
- Search and rescue operations specialists are responsible for locating personnel in distress, delivering them to safety, and providing necessary medical care. They operate in a range of environments and often require skills such as swimming/diving or parachuting. They may use advanced communications and imaging equipment to assist search and rescue efforts and are sometimes involved in the recovery of military equipment. Navigate to Military Career Page
Salary
Salary Information
Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.
$38,270
Median Military Salary Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.
$76,430
Explore this career in the MilitaryState-by-state Salary
Gray states indicate no data available
Education & Interests
Most Common Education Levels
People in this career achieve this level of education.
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Post-secondary certificate 44%
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High school 20%
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Some college 17%
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Bachelor's degree 17%
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Master's degree 0%
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Doctoral degree 0%
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Associate's degree 0%
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Post baccalaureate 0%
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Less than high school 0%
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Post-doctoral training 0%
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Post-master's certificate 0%
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First professional degree 0%
Related College Majors
Select major to see colleges that offer it
PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS
You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:
- Social — You have an interest in helping, teaching, advising, assisting or providing service to others.
- Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.
- Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.
Skills at a Glance
Skills helpful in this career
- Verbal skills
- Critical thinking & problem solving
- Equipment operation & maintenance
- Math & science skills
- Technology design & control
- Leadership
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
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