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Clinical Assistant - Career Profile |
Career OverviewClinical assistants perform a great variety of tasks. They assist doctors in their daily routines, prepare examination rooms, draw blood, perform laboratory tests, account for and dispose of contaminated materials, sterilize instruments, take electrocardiograms and record vital signs, among other things. A clinical assistant’s duties may vary due to state laws.
A clinical assistant can specialize in a specific area of health care such as the treatment of arthritis or skin diseases. Some clinical assistants must get training in a specialized field in order to work with a doctor who is a specialist in that field. An assistant to a cardiologist, for example, must understand the respiratory system and its ailments in order to do the job competently.
Whether the clinical assistant performs general duties or has a field in which he or she specializes, the assistant must always follow the doctor’s instructions and make sure the patient’s needs are met. The clinical assistant’s basic functions include patient care, comprehending medical terminology, physiology and anatomy. In many cases a clinical assistant must also understand administration of a medical office. Medical office administrative duties can include making patient appointments, ordering supplies, medical coding, billing and insurance, and communication with other health practitioners.
A clinical assistant can work under the supervision of a medical technologist, a medical laboratory technician or a pathologist. The clinical assistant collects and processes blood and other specimens. He or she performs test procedures in hematology, chemistry, microbiology and urinalysis. The clinical assistant also serves as a doctor – patient liaison. The clinical assistant takes medical histories, records vital signs and explains treatment procedures to the patient. He or she prepares patients for examination and assists the doctor during examinations. The clinical assistant also aids in educating and instructing patients in their own health care.
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Career RequirementsMany post-secondary educational institutions offer courses in clinical assisting. Applicants for these courses must have a high school diploma or GED equivalency. High school biology and chemistry courses are highly recommended.
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Job OutlookWherever there is a need for a doctor, there is also a need for an assistant. Medical offices everywhere are looking for qualified help. This is a field in which job opportunities will continue to increase for a long time.
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Career TrackClinical assistants are needed in physicians’ offices, general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of other health care practitioners, outpatient medical care centres and other ambulatory health care services. Organizations and institutions that are not necessarily medically oriented themselves but provide medical facilities for employees, students, etc. also hire clinical assistants.
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CompensationA clinical assistant’s pay depends upon the location of the employer and the size of the business. Small communities and small offices generally pay lower wages. Assistants to specialists generally earn more than assistants to general practitioners. The clinical assistant’s qualifications, experience and responsibilities are also factors. Presently clinical assistants earn an average of $1,900 a month to $2,200 a month. That is an increase of approximately $400 a month over two years ago. Employees with a post-secondary degree in clinical assistance generally are paid better than those without one.
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