Urgent Care Centers Increasing Demand for Medical Assistants

A Growing Career

Urgent care centers are on the rise across the country and professionally trained Medical Assistants play an important role in these facilities that offer non-emergency care to patients needing to be seen quickly by a doctor.

The Chicago-based Urgent Care Association of America estimates that over 3 million patients visit urgent care centers each week. These centers can offer medical examinations, x-rays, and other lab work, and staff doctors that are able to prescribe medication. These centers are on the rise and Medical Assistants serve an important role by handling administrative duties, as well as assisting with medical staff during the examination process.

One reason for this rapid growth in urgent care facilities is the lack of primary care doctors. The lack of available doctors can make the waiting period to see a doctor extremely long and many patients are finding that they cannot wait weeks before being seen by a physician.

Emergency room costs, which are constantly rising, are another reason for the growth in urgent care centers. Many illnesses and minor injuries do not require an emergency room visit, especially since the cost is often in the thousands of dollars. Urgent care centers can provide non-emergency care at a fraction of the cost of many emergency rooms and hospitals.

At Ayers Career College students of the Medical Assistant training program are prepared to work in a variety of settings, ranging from hospitals and doctor offices to surgical centers and urgent care centers. Students are trained to prepare patients for examinations and other minor procedures, assist with treatments and record vital signs, and also perform administrative tasks.

Students of the Ayers Career College Medical Assistant training program are often able to start their new career in less than a year, and with the high demand for them, the prospects of landing a long-term career in this field have never been better.

The growth of urgent care facilities and the lack of doctors have put more clinical responsibilities on Medical Assistants, which is why it is extremely important for students today to receive the best training and experience. Medical Assistants have a lot of responsibilities and employers are most interested in students that have completed a professional training program, such as the training program at Ayers Career College.

If you are looking for a career that offers good pay, is in high demand, and is expected to grow, then becoming a Medical Assistant could be the right fit for you, especially as facilities like urgent care centers continue to increase across the country. However, the best way to enter this profession and establish a long-term career as a Medical Assistant is to receive professional training and instruction.

If you are interested or want to learn more about Ayers Career College and our programs, contact us today or call us at 1-800-317-0131.