Medical assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks in the offices of physicians, healthcare facilities and hospitals. Their specific duties may vary according to the location of practice and the size of the healthcare facility they practice in.In Ohio, this occupation is overseen by the Ohio State Society of Medical Assistants, which is an affiliate of the American Association of Medical Assistants. The organization looks after the profession of medical assisting by enhancing the knowledge of those practicing, along with protecting the rights of employers and patients. It aims to create an efficient healthcare delivery system with optimal use of multi-skilled certified medical assistants.
If you want to become a part of this prestigious organization, and contribute individually as a medical assistant in Ohio, the following information would be of use to you.
Online Medical Assistant Programs Ohio
To become a medical assistant in Ohio, you will have to follow a series of steps. These are as follows:
- Meet the Educational Requirements
The minimum educational requirement to get into this branch of healthcare is a high school diploma. You are encouraged to take courses in the sciences, including physics, chemistry and biology at this stage. Once you have completed high school, you have two options – either enroll in a degree program, or go direct to on-the-job training.
If you choose to take the educational path, you can choose from programs offered at vocational colleges, community colleges and technical institutes. These programs usually last one year. Other options include getting an associate’s degree from an accredited institute. This degree would last at least 2 years in most cases.
- Meet the Training Requirements
In case you do not go for the educational path, you can choose to get on-the-job training. This training would be carried out by professional medical personnel, such as physicians or certified medical assistants. The training period would enable you to learn about dealing with patients, basic medical terminology, names of medical instruments, administrative or clinical tasks in a healthcare facility and so on.
- Meet the Certification Requirements
Even though medical assistants in Ohio are not required by state law to be certified, it is highly recommended that you opt for these credentials. Certifying agencies include the American Association of Medical Assistants, American Medical Technologists, National Center for Competency Testing and the National Healthcareer Association. Together, these four associations offer five certificate options.
How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Ohio?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage of medical assistants in Ohio in 2018 was 31,900. To better understand this figure, let’s take a look some comparative data.
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
---|---|---|---|
Annual Mean Salary (OH) | $29,940 | $31,220 | $31,900 |
Annual Mean Salary (US) | $32,850 | $33,580 | $34,540 |
As evidenced by the above table, the salary for medical assistants in Ohio has consistently gone up in the years from 2016 to 2018. However, the figures have remained lower than the national averages.
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