OCR Text |
Show CAREER FAST TRACK 4 __ Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, Apni 7, 2002 ALTHCAR By James Gardner | [ NAC Stall Writer Draw your blood, take your pulse, shoot an X-ray, give you a shot. Visit any doctor's of and a medicalassistant will likely perform all or mostof these procedures. He or she might also answer the phone, schedule your appointment and handle your billing and insurance forms. And in the near future, medical assistants may do even more, says Diana Carroll, a medical assistance instructor and program coordinatorat Salt Lake Community College. As the population gets older and as new technological advancements are made the demand for medicalassistants is skyrocketing In Utah there are approximately 4,480 medical assistants, accordingto the Utah Department of Workforce Services. That number is expected to increase. The profession appears on “The Top 50 Occupations with the Most New Jobs in Utah,” list compiled by the UDWS. Between the years 2000 and 2005, economists expect to sec approximately 780 additional medical assistant positions avail- able statewide Healthcare providers throughout the state are also increasingly in need of bilingual medicalassistants, says Cati Niclson, a human resources representative at Community Health Centers Inc., in Salt LakeCity. “A large per- centage of Utah's population has a Hispanic background,so weliketohelp them.” Before these new medical assistants enter the field, most will likely go through a Demand for medical ossistants, who perform both odministrative ond dinical duties, is ropidly increasing, experts say. program similar to the one Carroll steers at SLCC, wherestudents carn a medicalassistant certificate. Surprisingly, a certificate is not required by law in Utah;it’s only a suggestion. In fact, in the U.S., there are nolicensing standards for medical assistants, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Carroll explains, however, most offices require that applicants pass the NESSIEIBS) Certified Medical Assistant exam, a national test administered twice a year. The coursework at SLCC prepares students for the exam. Over the span ofthree semesters (equivalent to one year) students take classes in anatomy, physiology, basic pharmacology, phiebology, radiology and administrativeskills. With so manydisciplines under their belt, “medical assistants are multi-skilled individuals,” Carroll says. The human touch these medical professionals add to a doctor’s appointment may be even more crucial than the number technical functions they perform. Indeed, a medical assistant is usually the person who explains the doctor’s instructions and puts the patient at ease, Carroll notes. The medical assistant program at SLCC is primarily composed of non-traditional students. “We see some students entering the program directly out of high school,” Carroll ae “but the majority ofour students are mucholder.” Another, nearly universal,trait of the medical assistance student body is its gender. “Although there are a few guys — and they do quite well in the program — the overwhelming majority of [medical assistance] students are women,” Carroll says. ee potential in this field is relatively “Medical assistants may be able to pe to office manager,” according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor. “They may qualify for a mee of administrative support occupations, or may teach medical assisting. Some, with additional education, enter other health occupations such as nursing and medical technology. a Although she’s nowa full-time instructor, Carroll reflects fondly on her 20 years of medical assistance experience. Initially, friends and family often mistook her career pursuits for nursing. “There's a big difference,” she says, “we're not nurses. Nursing is more about patient maintenance. I wanted to go into medical assistance and loveit,” she says. While she describes the work as remarkably rewarding, Carroll advises all would-be medical assistantsto make sure they're prepared to work in a high-stress environment where, “you're usually on your feet all day.” And then ofcourse, there’s the low pay. The median hourly wage for medical assistants in Utah is $8.70, according to the UDWS.Nationally — in terms of median annual pay — Utah’'s medical assistants rank in the bottom 10 percent, according to information suppiied by the U.S. Department of Labor. Nonetheless, Carroll maintains, anyone seekinga career in medical assistance probablyisn’tlighting out after riches anyway. “We're not here to make lot ofmoney,” she says. “People go into [medical assisting] because they like the patient contact. They really like working with people and it can be very chalienging.” Medical1 Technologie (Generalist) * “ICUICCU- PART TIME, FULL TIME * “EMERGENCY ROOM- FULL TIME Pharmacist * “GERIATRIC FULL TIME * *MEDISURG FULL TIME POSITIONS PHARMACIST “SIGN ON BONUS” CNSPharmacy, a division of Community Nursing Services has a position open for a full time Home Infusion Pharmacist. Home care experience is H preferred. Weoffer a competitive salary, | AVAIL * TRANSISTIONAL CARE PART TIME + NURSING SUPERVISOR- PART TIME tine opportucitiesand requirements St Mark's Howpital an EOE/AA MIPIDIV Employer. MEDICAL = CNA PRN POOL * CNA. TRANSITIONACARE - PART TIME * “OCCUPATIONALTHERAPIST - PART TIME with the opportunity to use your patient care andclinical skills Apply at our office, send, fax or email a resume to the Human Resources Department * RESPIRATORY TECH. PRN * PCM COORDINATOR- FULL TIME * MAMMOGRAPHY TECH FULL TIME * WOUNDTECH PART TIME * ULTRASONOGRAPHER PART TIME SERVICES COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES * MAINTENANCE ENGINEER FULL. TIME * PRN-AS NEEDED, FILL-IN 6949 High Tech Drive Salt Lake City, Utah 84047 Fax: 801-233-6119 Email: bphelps@cnsvna.org Equal Opportunity Employer “There is, bonus of$3,000 / Fulltime msisooih rine for rainpotions ey Contact Hs (GomnttCAtlat eo mgs ible) Lakeview Hospital MOUNTAINSTAR HEALTHCARE 630 East Medical Drive Bountiful, U 84010 Call our JOBLINE at (801) 299-2563 wwew.lakeviewhospital.com Lakeview Hospital is an EOE/AA Employer M/FIV/D ed, io‘othe heath cove nen, the docs, nase: cteokge an st eona ie to return for yous commitment, we promote on cacepenl wort boas, ‘rolessnnnl development ond faster an envvonment cf teamwork ond respect very cmpetine compensation od VIS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER bevishospital Jobin: (801) 774-7186 © Sengical/Pedhatrics -£/1,P/1PRN + Medical[Telemetry - Fah A Career Emergency Room Physicians Full Time + Part Time Alll Shifts Available a rapidly prom iny palth, and administrative se immediate permanent opportunities for full and full-time employees. Any state or US. territory Incense required = Work as an employer or independent contractor © Malpractice insi crance provided at NO COST 10 YOU tovony by comall t Srepododi cama. Pome inclade Jab Cade ER-SLC onall correspondence FA, P/ or PRN ital has received mult known fur ACR ae lm raa tel (9 S-star ratings es * Hleaer include copies of any applicable licenses or centfirations when applying. aK © Shiled Mersiag -F/1 om: Ff © Medical/Toleuatry -F/IerP/1 © Sorgery/Pediatis-#/1 © Labor & Delivery - FT IRN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR - INTENSIVE CARE- F/I exempt IRM DIRECTOR OF INPATIENT NURSING SERVICES - F/1, exept 3580 West 9000 South, West Jordan, UT 84088 © Jobline: (801) 562-3161 © Fax: (B01) 562-4236 Visit oor Website: www. (REGISTERED NURSES © Women’s Services ~ £/1 nights & PRN © Med/Serg/Peds F/I Fen © PACU ~ F/1 daysps ol #1 - me ‘All Hersing Positions require Utah Stote Licensare & BLS Certification | PIONEER VALLEY HOSPITAL $ Guede OTP, Pont Sargery (FT, PT, PHN) “ri FTLPWN) ndermal Rensree tall TT) Narang wai Pt Hal (FT, PT) © Wane Hendonengy (FT) * Cave Manager (PT errterh + Cth Pra (PRN) Derr okcat (FT) LPN Melturg(PT) 2m Peat Pad(FT) NA Maung(PT) sur JOBLANE,ai 2 a Yakapportunitirs caress locaedgpibc and requirements We offer «competitive salary and benefits package Miease send your resume. attention Human Resources Dept., to: St. Mark's Hospital MOUNTAINSTAR HEALTHCARE Me 1200 Kast 3900 South Salt Lake City, UT B4124 Fax: (801) 270-3393 + Phones (B01) 268-7066 1all: coupleymeat@meuntaiastarbeadth.com eeatenarkohampital ‘+ Hopitalie KOWAA MIPIDIY Kamployer 460 South Pioneer Plewy, West Volley Ciy, UT $4120 * Jobline: (801) 964-3562 © Fax: (B01) 964-3279 Visit our Website: .piesservalleyhospit (REGISTERED WURSES © PAG ~ Thurs& Fri, Com-5:30pm&cll (Al Nursing Positions require Utah Stete Licensure AlDepertments & AlShs 1050 fnSaTol StLakehy, UT02 Job:(01)250-834 |