Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing fields for jobs in Connecticut. There are many jobs available with leading healthcare employers like PACT, even if you don’t have a degree. One of the rewarding, in-demand careers to consider is medical assisting.
Medical assistants work alongside doctors and nurses in medical offices, helping with crucial administrative and clinical tasks. This crucial role ensures medical offices run smoothly. Explore medical assistant careers with PACT to decide if this role is the right fit for you.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants provide essential support to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They handle a wide variety of clinical and/or administrative duties necessary to the functioning of a medical office. Their hard work helps keep medical offices organized and efficient.
Clinical vs. Administrative Medical Assistants
There are two main types of medical assistants: clinical medical assistants and administrative medical assistants. Clinical medical assistants focus on direct patient care, providing hands-on help with tasks like preparing patients for exams and checking vital signs. Administrative medical assistants primarily help with office work, like scheduling appointments and completing forms. Some medical assistants do both clinical and administrative tasks.
Daily Tasks in a Connecticut Primary Care Office
As a medical assistant, your day-to-day tasks will vary depending on the needs of the doctors you support. In a primary care office, typical tasks can include:
- Interviewing patients and recording medical histories.
- Measuring patient vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, etc.).
- Collecting blood, urine, or other samples for testing.
- Keeping exam rooms neat and clean.
- Greet patients and answer telephones.
- Scheduling appointments.
- Ordering and restocking medical and office supplies.
- Helping with billing and insurance-related tasks.
Requirements for Medical Assistant Jobs in Connecticut
Unlike many other healthcare jobs in Connecticut, you don’t need a four-year degree to become a medical assistant. Becoming a medical assistant involves a short training program, and potentially certifications.
Medical Assistant Education and Training
To become a medical assistant, you’ll typically need a high school diploma (or GED), along with some additional training through a certificate or diploma program. Many schools in Connecticut, including CT State Community College and Goodwin University, offer programs that you can complete in a year or less.
Certification Paths
For medical assistant jobs, Connecticut law does not require a certification. However, employers often require it, so getting certified can help you land a job. Certification paths include:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA): This credential is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA): This credential is offered by the American Medical Technologists.
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA): This credential is offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
Soft Skills to Help You Succeed
Soft skills are the personal attributes that help you work well with others and succeed in the workplace. As a medical assistant, some of the most important soft skills to have include:
- Good communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Attention to detail
- Empathy for patients
- Being calm under pressure
- Adapting to new situations
Why Choose a Medical Assistant Career in Connecticut?
If you’re interested in a healthcare career in Connecticut, becoming a medical assistant is a good choice. It’s a stable career field that offers competitive salaries and opportunities to advance within healthcare networks.
Strong Job Outlook and Growth
America’s population is aging, which increases the demand for healthcare services. More medical assistants will be needed to help doctors and nurses keep up with the rising demand. Nationally, about 119,800 medical assistant job openings are expected each year over the next decade, including about 1,500 openings a year in Connecticut.
Competitive Salaries in CT
The Connecticut Department of Labor reports that the average hourly wage for a medical assistant is $23.11. That works out to about $48,000 per year. The pay is relatively strong for a job that doesn’t require a college degree. Plus, medical assisting can be a stepping stone to higher-paying roles within the healthcare field.
Access to World-Class Healthcare Networks
Connecticut is home to many large healthcare organizations, like PACT, that have a reputation for providing world-class care in a patient-centered environment. For medical assistants, these healthcare networks offer mentorship, paths for career advancement, and the opportunity to be part of a team that makes a real difference in patients’ lives.
Medical Assistant Opportunities at Physicians Alliance of Connecticut (PACT)
The Physicians Alliance of Connecticut is a multi-specialty medical group encompassing primary care, dermatology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, rheumatology, and more. We have an ongoing need for medical assistants throughout our network.
Opportunities in Your Neighborhood
PACT offers an extensive network of locations throughout the New Haven area of Connecticut, including in Hamden, Milford, Guilford, Madison, and Wallingford. For medical assistants, that means job openings close to home, with an easy commute and the chance to support your own community.
Working for PACT
When you work for PACT, you won’t just have a medical assistant job. You’ll have the opportunity to pursue a career with an organization that values longevity and professional development. With core values including excellence, teamwork, and communication, you can look forward to a professional work environment where you can succeed and feel valued.
Start Your Medical Assistant Career at PACT
Medical assistants are essential to the day-to-day operations of healthcare practices. They support doctors, nurses, and other providers, and are often the first point of contact for patients. This in-demand position offers both competitive pay and opportunities for advancement.
PACT is currently hiring for medical assistant jobs in Connecticut. If you’re ready to start your career as a medical assistant, browse our current opportunities and submit your application.
