healthcare career program chicago

So you’re considering a career in healthcare and are wondering where to start. The great thing about the medical industry is that it changes so rapidly, enabling workers to engage with the latest technologies and therapeutic techniques, all while learning for life and making a difference in the lives of patients.

Another major benefit of working in healthcare is the significant potential for advancement. More than almost any other industry, the tiered structure of the medical field enables you to earn a degree or certification, work in a role for a while, then continue to the next tier.

For instance, you can begin your career in healthcare as a medical assistant. If you’re wondering about the types of healthcare career program Chicago has to offer, it’s worthwhile to consider whether medical assisting might be for you.

What Are the Duties of a Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant, as the name implies, is there to help doctors, nurses, surgeons and other medical personnel as they carry out their daily tasks. Medical assistants perform duties such as:

• Record patient histories
• Measure vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate
• Give injections or medications
• Help schedule appointments
• File and organize paperwork
• Help physicians with examinations and procedures
• Prepare blood samples
• Enter information into electronic health records
• Answering phones

Medical assistants, typically, help everyone in the department to do their jobs better. They are generalists on whom an entire medical staff can rely to facilitate the needs of everyday hospital or clinic life.

Is It the Career Right for You?

In terms of logistics, medical assisting is a great place to start. You’re not required to have a degree, but instead need only a diploma and a certificate. Armed with minimal schooling, you’re able to try out the healthcare field and see if it’s for you without sinking time and money into school. Plus, the pay is good: on average, this entry-level job offers $31,540 per year or $15.17 per hour.

Moreover, jobs are growing quite quickly in response to the ballooning healthcare industry. Between 2016 and 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs will increase at a rate of 29 percent, which is much faster than many other industries.

To be successful as a medical assistant, you will need resourcefulness, people skills and a genuine desire to help others in the medical field. If you do, it might be time to see what kinds of healthcare career program Chicago offer you, and get started down your new career path today.