As one of the fastest growing fields in the medical industry, a career as a medical assistant can provide you with stability and unparalleled growth opportunities. In fact, there is expected to be a 35 percent increase in the demand for medical assistants by the end of 2016, which according to the BLS, is much higher than the national average. With the undeniable growth of the healthcare industry and an increased attention on segmenting responsibilities in medical offices across the country, medical assistants are in high demand in every state.
The position of medical assistant is both challenging and exciting. Medical assistants are responsible for a number of varied tasks. From escorting patients to the consultation room to performing basic nursing-related tasks, a medical assistant performs multiple roles to ensure that a physician’s office runs smoothly and efficiently.
Becoming a medical assistant is often the first step for many aspiring nurses and physicians, because it allows them to gain valuable experience while continuing their education, and in the healthcare profession, continuous education is a necessity. New medical discoveries and advancements are taking place each day, and medical assistants must stay updated on all of the latest medical breakthroughs. Many medical assistants and healthcare professionals access this readily available knowledge from professional journals, blogs, associations, societies, and educational resources.
This resource guide is dedicated to both current and burgeoning medical assistants and related medical professionals in an effort to provide them with all of the resources necessary to learn every aspect of this dynamic field. The guide is separated into numerous general categories, and each resource in a category includes a brief, annotated description. Inside this resource guide, you will find links to several blogs, educational resources, professional journals, professional associations, societies, and Twitter accounts to help you disseminate the various information pertaining to the field of medical assisting. Also in this guide, you will find numerous sources for training and educational programs designed to educate and help aspiring medical assistants.
General Resources
• American Medical Association – The American Medical Association, commonly referred to as the AMA, is one of the oldest and most esteemed medical associations in the United States. Founded in 1847, the AMA has been a premier organization and has played a vital role in establishing healthcare standards, furthering education, and improving the practice of medicine.
• HealthCare.gov – This resource has proven tremendously beneficial to current medical assistants, covering every relevant healthcare-related topic. The site is maintained and updated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to maintain heightened awareness throughout the healthcare industry.
• Health Care Administration – The site covers a range of topics for medical professionals, assistants, and anyone interested in public health or the medical industry.
• Medi-Smart – Medi-Smart is a comprehensive resource covering a broad range of topics related to nursing. Medical assistants can access the site to learn about numerous topics related to nursing and healthcare in general.
Blogs
• The Health Care Blog – This is a tremendously valuable blog that is focused on numerous diverse healthcare topics. The blog has become a go-to resource for a wide range of medical professionals in search of the most up-to-date information to share with their patients.
• Medical Assistant Blog – The Medical Assistant Blog is a dedicated site that offers comprehensive information related to medical assistant training, courses, certifications, and degree programs. As such, it is a beneficial online resource for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a medical assistant.
• Safe Healthcare – Provided by the CDC and available on its website, the Safe Healthcare blog offers a crystal clear view of the current state of the healthcare industry through an easily navigable blog filled to the brim with tabs covering a wide range of medical categories and topics.
• The Medical Assistants – The blog features comprehensive information pertaining to medical assistant careers. The Medical Assistants blog covers training and programs available in each state, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in becoming a medical assistant in the United States.
• My Strong Medicine – Former athletic trainer and current CCRN Sean Dent formed this blog to discuss his passions for healthcare, nursing, and healthy living. Filled with insight and useful information, his blog offers a unique look into the world of nursing and healthcare.
• Uncommon Student MD – If you are looking for a fresh take on the healthcare industry, then look no further then Uncommon Student MD. The blog is written and maintained by medical students, providing the unique perspective of the next generation of healthcare professionals.
•Dr. Leslie Greenberg’s Blog – Dr. Greenberg has quite a tenure as a licensed physician. She has run a family practice in Wichita, Kansas for years, and in her blog, she fields an array of common medical questions and answers them in a plain and understandable way. In addition to learning about an array of medical and health problems, her blog also gives visitors a glimpse into everyday life at her private practice, which can prove invaluable for current or budding medical assistants.
• Nursetopia – Nursetopia is a dynamic blog that was created by an oncology nurse. The blog covers everything from inspirational ideas and quotes to the author’s unique interpretations of relevant news articles, making it an excellent resource for anyone interested in an oncology nurse’s take on the modern healthcare industry.
• Evidence in Motion Blog – For medical assistants looking to work in a physical therapy environment, the Evidence in Motion Blog is a real gem. Written and regularly updated by a dedicated team of physical therapists, the blog analyzes the future of physical therapy.
• Waiting for MD – Considering the fact that many medical assistants aspire to become physicians themselves, this one-of-a-kind blog can be a valuable resource for those looking to further their careers in the medical profession. Written by a second-year medical student, the relatively new blog delivers a unique perspective on the path to graduating from medical school.
• Off the Charts – As the official blog of the American Journal of Nursing, Off the Charts focuses on keeping nurses and other medical professionals up-to-date on all of the latest news pertaining to nursing and the healthcare field as a whole.
• Mothers in Medicine – The title of the blog may be a little misleading, because the blog does not focus solely on women in medical school or in the field. However, it can prove beneficial for female medical assistants with children, or any other career-minded mothers, who are struggling to juggle their family life and their careers.
• Med Master/The Goldberg Files – Created and updated by a former professor at the heralded University of Miami School of Medicine, the blog has become the quintessential guide for anyone trying to cope with the stress that accompanies the pursuit of a medical degree.
• Healthy Living – A healthcare blog created by the Huffington Post that discusses a wide range of healthcare-related topics.
• Alliance for Aging – Particularly beneficial for medical assistants in the growing senior care industry, the blog extensively covers Alzheimer’s disease, stem-cell research, and injuries that often afflict the elderly at home.
• Consumer Reports – A comprehensive health blog published by the famed and respected publication.
• HealthCare.gov – A federally funded blog maintained by the Healthcare.gov agency.
• Healthcare Technology News – A blog dedicated to covering a variety of healthcare news and technology topics.
• Health Affairs – A policy, nursing, and public health blog that discusses the latest news and relevant topics relating to the healthcare reform bill, of which anyone working in the healthcare industry should be well-informed.
Associations
• American Association of Medical Assistants – As the official association for medical assistants in the United States, every budding or current medical assistant should regularly review this site for the latest news and developments in the field.
• American Health Care Association – This well-established and revered association places its primary focus on medical assistants and nursing professionals who provide long-term care for infirm and elderly patients. Considering that a growing number of medical assistants are taking up employment in the senior care environment, this association is particularly valuable.
• Association of Clinical Research Organizations – A association that represents the largest and most advanced clinical research organizations in the United States. The Association is dedicated in promoting biomedical research in every single medical discipline. It is a valuable resource for staying up-to-date on all of the latest biomedical discoveries.
Databases and Journals
• MedConditions – A useful online resource that details medical terminology and all of the known medical conditions.
• United States Library of Medicine – The official journal of the United States Library of Medicine, which is published by the National Institute of Health.
Educational Resources
• American Association of Medical Assistants – Study Resources – A detailed list of study resources provided by the AAMA to help students prepare for the CMA or AAMA Certification Examination
• Medical Assistant Programs Guide – This guide offers a comprehensive list of programs by degree and state for aspiring medical assistants as well as numerous articles about the medical assisting field.
• Jones and Bartlett Learning – Jones and Bartlett provides medical assistant and nursing students with educational resources to help them with their studies throughout their path of becoming the next generation of medical professionals.
Societies, Conferences, and Professional Organizations
• American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants – The ASPMA is a 1,400 member society of podiatric medical assistants who share the sole purpose of improving podiatric medical assisting.
• Academy Health – A national organization dedicated to serving healthcare professionals and providing them with all of the latest news and information pertaining to the healthcare industry.
• American National Standards Institute – An organization involved in setting the benchmarks for U.S. conformity and standards.
• URAC – A non-profit, private society involved with promoting healthcare accreditation and education programs.
Government Resources
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – In addition to a number of valuable resources, the website lists numerous grants and apprenticeships for aspiring nurses and medical assistants.
Twitter
• Aida – Well-respected nurse and educator in the medical community
• American Red Cross – Ongoing news and updates from the American Red Cross
• Harvard Health – The latest research and developments in the medical industry taking place at Harvard University
• Health Hive – The latest health news
• Health News Blog – Direct Twitter feed for the popular Health News Blog
• The Institute of Medicine – The informative Twitter feed of the nationally recognized Institute of Medicine
• Joy Collins – The latest insight from the esteemed legal writer and consultant
• Live Person – A service that allows the public to discuss issues with health professionals
• Medical Connect – Late breaking healthcare news and updates provided by the Worldwide Medical Association
• Medline Plus on Twitter – The Twitter account for Medline Plus
• MSNBC Health – MSNBC Health’s Twitter account
• National Institutes for Health – All of the latest updates and news delivered by the National Institutes of Health
• New York Times Health – Health articles, public health warnings, and information regarding vaccines
• NPR Health – Access to the NPR Health feature via its Twitter account
• Web MD Blogs – All of the latest industry news from the professionals at Web MD