• Obstetrics: The branch of medicine that deals with midwifery and childbirth.
• Pediatrics: A field of specialization that includes delivery of medical care to children, infants, and adolescents.
• Orthopedics:A specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and cure of musculoskeletal deformities, including tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones.
• Family Medicine: The branch of medicine devoted to health care for people of all genders and ages.
• Allergy and Immunology: A discipline related to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders associated with the immune system.
• Cardiology: Study of the disorders related to the heart and the circulatory system.
• Podiatry: The medical specialty that deals with the treatment of disorders of the ankle, foot, and lower extremity.
• Gastroenterology: The branch that focuses on the treatment of the digestive system, including the alimentary canal.
• Chiropractic Medical Assistant: The branch that emphasizes on using massage, cold and hot therapy, and a mix of hands-on treatments to cure various health conditions.
• Ophthalmology: Study of treatments for eye disorders.

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If you are looking for specializations in an administrative capacity, you have the following alternatives:

• Financial Management: The management of financial activities, from planning to controlling, of the healthcare organizations.
• Health Information Management: Collecting, organizing, and securing medical information.
• Medical Coding and Billing: Reading, analyzing, and transcribing patients’ information using medical codes to bill insurance providers.

Besides the above alternatives, medical assistants have several other specialization options, including endocrinology, urology, and transplantation surgery, etc.

Life as a Medical Assistant

Each new day in the life of a medical assistant brings new challenges as they have to deliver care to patients with deviating personalities. Reviewing the daily schedule of patients with doctors, preparing patients’ rooms (for a medical procedure or minor surgery), and filling out paperwork (health check forms, insurance forms, surgical permission forms, etc.) required for the day are some of the day-to-day tasks of in medical assistance. However, in case of emergencies, their duties may vary and they might have to work during holidays or weekends, in any shift, for extended hours.

Fulfilling both clinical and administrative tasks simultaneously is not easy. But, with patience, passion, and excellent organization skills, one can easily manage this fast-paced career. A sense of fulfillment after a hectic day takes away all your tiredness and makes you fall in love again with your job.

Work Environment for Medical Assistants

Most of the medical assistants work in outpatient care centers, hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, medical research centers, nursing care facilities, and insurance companies. The duties and responsibilities depend on their area of specialization. Generally, full-time medical assistants work 40 hours a week, but during emergencies, their working hours may extend. You may also choose to work part-time, during evenings or weekends.