Medical Assisting Opportunities in Corrections Facilities.
Medical assisting is a fast-growing career field at the moment, and the demand for certified medical assistants is projected to continue to grow at a steady pace. While many people tend to think of medical assistants as working in doctor's offices, there is an entire subsector of medical assisting that may not immediately come to mind but is worth serious consideration- medical assisting in corrections facilities.
Medical assistants in corrections facilities do the same things that medical assistants do in a doctor's office. General duties may include interviewing the patient about symptoms and reporting this information to the doctor, checking and recording vital signs, preparing the exam room and the patient for the doctor, passing instruments to the doctor, collecting samples of blood and giving injections, and maintaining the inventory of medical supplies. Some medical assistants educate patients about conditions or care. They may also assist with office duties such as processing insurance paperwork, collecting payment, and setting appointments.
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Medical Assistants in a Corrections Environment
The main difference between medical assistants in doctor's offices and medical assistants in corrections facilities is the environment. Medical assistants in doctor's offices typically work in an office environment during regular business hours, whereas correctional medical assistants can find shifts around the clock and work in prisons. Working in a corrections facility is not as dangerous as one might think. Very thorough precautions are taken to ensure the safety of employees at corrections facilities. However, due to the inaccurate reputation of such work, the number of applicants is low and the demand and pay are actually higher than other medical assisting jobs. Also, in corrections facilities there is more possibility of overtime work. That makes working in corrections facilities a very smart choice for medical assistants who seek better paying opportunities.
First one must become certified before working as a medical assistant in any capacity. This entails graduating from an accredited medical assisting program and then passing a medical assisting certification exam. Programs typically take around 2 years to complete but there are accelerated options with some schools. Topics of study include first aid, anatomy and physiology, pharmacy, medical terminology, office management, and medical ethics. These programs prepare students for the exam which must be passed in order to obtain certification. There are several legitimate types of certification that medical assistants can receive, such as CMA or RMA credentials. Recent graduates should have no trouble getting an entry level position at a corrections facility.
Salary & Advancement
Medical assistants may want to undergo further training to give themselves a competitive edge when applying for jobs. Each state has its own rules regarding which medical procedures require a special certificate to administer, but it is worth investigating becoming licensed in areas such as giving x-rays or drawing blood. These additional certifications are usually just a matter of taking a short course.
Correctional health care workers have the option of working in both county and state facilities. County facilities have a higher turnover rate of inmates/patients and are well-suited to those who like diversity in their job. State facilities, on the other hand, are for more long-term sentences. Health care workers in state correctional facilities report that the patients are more resigned to the fact that they will be in prison for quite some time and as such are often easier to work with and better behaved. State correctional facilities also offer higher salaries. In both types of facilities, the medical services may be either run by the government or run by private companies, which is another important consideration. It is best to research who runs the individual services at the facility you are interested in working for and investigating their reputation, as some are run better than others.
Due to the nature of the work, medical assistants who wish to work in corrections facilities normally need to pass a background check. They are also subject to additional monitoring such as drug testing on an ongoing basis in order to maintain the security of corrections facilities and ensure appropriate conduct between employees and patients.
The salary for medical assistants in corrections facilities is slightly higher than the average salary for medical assistants in general. Typical earnings could be around $20 an hour or $35,000 per year but this varies depending on geographic location, experience, and specific duties. Medical assistants in corrections facilities also enjoy great benefits programs which are in line with those offered to other government employees. Overall, medical assisting in corrections facilities is a very worthwhile career for the right person.
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