What do Medical Assistants do?

• Injections
• Routine Office Procedures
• Perform EKG's
• Check Vital Signs
• Physical Exam Set-Up
• Medical Records
• Patient Assistance
• Minor surgery assistance
• Routine lab testing
• Eye / Ear Examinations

Clinical duties performed by Medical Assistants vary according to State law and may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. CCMCC’s Medical Assistants are trained to collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies and sterilize medical instruments. Medical Assistant training also includes how to instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood and give injections, prepare patients for X-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures and change dressings.

Where do Medical Assistants work? 

• Urgent Care Clinics
• Doctors' Offices
• Medical Clinics
• Home Health Care Organizations

Medical Assistant jobs are the hottest healthcare careers in today's marketplace. As a Medical Assistant, you can share your compassion and care with patients in your choice of medical situations - from primary care physicians' offices to specialists' offices to hospitals.

Job Outlook *Medical assistants is projected to be the fastest growing occupation over the 2002-12 period. Job prospects should be best for medical assistants with formal training or experience, particularly those with certification.
* Source U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics  http://www.dol.gov/wb/stats/main.htm

Medical assisting is an interesting and dynamic field and attending Contra Costa Medical Career College’s medical assistant program can help you qualify for a rewarding career. The Medical Assisting certificate program at CCMCC trains people for the real world of medical assisting. By instructing in a hands-on and career-focused way, Contra Costa Medical Career  College helps to prepare students for the workplace. Not only do students learn in the classroom, they also have a 180-hour externship where they work and train as a medical assistant in an actual office. This job experience and training is valuable for students as they embark on their own careers.