ASSOCIATE DEGREE VS DIPLOMA IN MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Nowadays medical assistant demand is very quickly growing. Medical assistant offers fastest growing career in the country. Due to boom in health care industry, demand for medical assistant for performing administrative task in medical environment is increasing day by day. Although diploma and associate degree both prepares you to start a flourishing career as medical assistant yet which one is better is still a conflicting issue. This article will reveal all important facts regarding Associate Degree vs Diploma in medical assistant.In this article, we will observe both medical assistant programs so students can easily select one which is most appropriate for them according to their priorities.
DURATION:
Associate degree programs comprises of two years. The diploma in medical assistant is a three years program. Diploma in medical assistant consists of three full semesters and two brief semesters.
COURSES:
Diploma and associate degree program havecarbon copy courses. Both aim to produce professional medical assistant that can play successful administrative role in medical environment. Students are given itemized instructions and guidelines regarding office management and medical practices. Courses that are included in both programs are anatomy, physiology, English composition, Medical laws and Ethics, Clinical Competency, Human disease, Medical Coding, Pharmacology and medical office management etc. In both medical assistant programs, students are given in depth knowledge regarding medical coding and medical tasks such as drawing blood, taking blood pressure reading, administer medications and change dressing. Students are taught meticulous concepts of human anatomy and physiology. In associate degree program, you can have additional exposure to professional life through internships.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:
After accepting diploma in medical assistant you can have a career in administrative and medical support department of physicians office, hospital, nursing home, primary care facility, hospice care facility. Most of the people usually get administrative job such as answering phones, processing patients, billing, handling insurances associated works etc. After acquiring associate degree you can work as medical assistant, medical records technician, medical lab technician etc.
EMPLOYERS PERSPECTIVE:
Most of the employers consider associate degree more reliable and authenticated than diploma. Therefore job horizon is usually wider for associate degree holders than professionals with diploma.
MEDIAN SALARY:
According to U.S Bureau of labor Statistics annual median salary of associate degree professionals are as follow:
? Medical Assistant: $24,610
? Medical Records Technician: $25,590
? Medical Lab Technician: $30,840
After completing diploma, a professional medical assistant earns a median salary of $25,000 per annum.
According to U.S Bureau of labor Statistics medical assistant is graded as the fastest growing profession through 2014. This is a varied profession which offers career choices in multiple dimensions.
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