Medical administrative assistants – often called medical secretaries – held 471,100 jobs in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS also projects that that number is expected to increase to 596,600 by 2018, with the most jobs going to those candidates who have experience with and knowledge of technology and computerized systems. This increase is above the average amount of growth for all occupations, due in part to job growth in other areas of healthcare and social services. In addition, structural changes within the healthcare industry mean that medical administrative assistants will increasingly perform duties for the organization as a whole rather than each one for a single manager. This will allow medical administrative assistants to take on additional responsibilities and increase their employment value.

Medical administrative assistants often work in physicians' offices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities performing a wide range of duties. Though the environments vary, the job duties remain primarily the same and include transcription; correspondence preparation; and assistance with reports, speeches, articles and conference proceedings. They spend a lot of time sitting, typing and looking at a computer screen, which can lead to eye strain, stress and repetitive motion issues. Most medical administrative assistants are full-time employees, though some work part-time and some work on a temporary basis. In some cases, medical administrative assistants may also work from home.

If you are looking for a way to get involved in the healthcare field without the hands-on patient treatment aspect, medical administrative assistant education from Dawn Career Institute may be just the thing for you. If your skills or interests include word processing, writing and communication, consider pursuing education in medical terminology and procedures from Dawn Career Institute. And, with online education offered, it's possible for you to complete your program when and where it's convenient for you.