Exploring Career Pathways: Where Can a CCMA Work?

When you think of a Medical Assistant (MA), you might picture someone working in a doctor’s office, but the career opportunities go far beyond that! Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMAs) are in high demand and can be found in a wide variety of healthcare settings. From bustling hospitals and urgent care centers to specialized clinics and even government or research facilities, MAs have the flexibility to explore many different career pathways. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the diverse places where Medical Assistants can work and what makes each pathway unique.

Where Do Medical Assistants Work?

MAs are a crucial part of the healthcare team. Their responsibilities can range from calling patients into exam rooms to resolving billing issues with health insurance companies. This versatile role blends both administrative and clinical duties, making MAs essential for keeping healthcare settings running smoothly.

When you think of a Clinical Medical Assistant, tasks like taking vital signs, disinfecting and stocking exam rooms, and providing patient education often come to mind. Clinical responsibilities also include following infection control protocols and working closely with patients to ensure they receive quality care. On the other side, MAs also perform behind-the-scenes work that keeps practices efficient, such as confirming patient appointments, documenting supplies, and following up with patients after their visits.

So, where can a CCMA career take you? Let’s explore a few common pathways:

Hospitals and Urgent Care Clinics

Hospitals employ MAs to support patient care in busy, fast-paced environments. In this setting, MAs may assist with intake, coordinate patient flow between departments, and perform both clinical and administrative tasks. Hospitals offer exposure to a wide variety of cases, which makes them a great environment for MAs who want to gain broad experience. You can dive into more specific areas such as pediatric hospitals, or working in Urgent Care Clinics.

Family Clinics and Pediatrics

Many of our MAs work in family medicine and our students have a huge interest in pediatric care. At these clinics, they often build long-term relationships with patients and families. In this pathway, MAs may assist with vaccinations, growth and development assessments, and patient education for families. It’s a rewarding environment for those who enjoy working with children and forming ongoing connections with patients. Johanna G. has been excelling at her rotations with Cicero Family Care through Riverview Health. The staff onsite have seen her grow in her clinical skills, fostering a training environment that has helped multiple students find their niche in family medicine.

Neurology and Pain Centers

Specialized clinics, such as Pain Centers, also employ MAs. In these settings, MAs often gain in-depth knowledge in one area of medicine. They may perform tasks like preparing patients for specific procedures, assisting with MRIs, observing follow-up Physical Therapy treatments, or educating patients about condition-specific treatments. 

Our returning senior, Ally R., is currently completing her rotations at Indiana Neurology and Pain Center (INPC). She stated, "I am planning on going to Marian University in the fall and majoring in Nursing. After college, I would love to become a travel nurse either pursuing labor & delivery or pediatric ICU!" While Ally is participating in rotations in a Neurology clinic she has gained the skills necessary to room her own patients, handling challenging topics and cases, as well as strengthening the soft skills necessary as she looks forward to pursuing her Nursing degree in the fall. 

She is joined by her fellow classmates Elizabeth R. (left) and La’yanna M. (right) currently completing their rotations at the INPC Pain Clinic.

Often dealing with patients who are seeking pain management for chronic conditions, Elizabeth and La’yanna have shown incredible soft skills and bedside manner while handling patient concerns and providing assistance with their care. Elizabeth stated that her goals after completing her KLR CCMA course rotations are "to further my education in the medical field with aspirations in working in pediatrics. I got accepted into Marian University and plan to major in biology. As of recently I have become interested in Marian's nursing program which I think will really help me to be successful in the field."

Allergy Clinic and Holistic Care

Specializing in long-term treatment and relief of allergy symptoms, medical assisting skills can apply to allergy care as well.  Our students have participated in this area of healthcare locally at Carmel Allergy! This specialization focuses on individualized treatment for personalized care. It leverages the areas of study in immunology to treat asthma, allergy, and immunology concerns. Our current KLR senior in rotations here has practiced assisting patients of all ages in treatment for hives, difficulty breathing, wheezing and more!

Behavioral Health

KLR Medical Assistants have a strong focus on improving soft skills before heading into rotations. While working with a very diverse population of patients, they learn to handle conflict resolution, recognize the stages of grief, and be ready for complex cases. The behavioral health sciences is another specialization you will find our MAs participating in. Elizabeth E. and Makenzy T. have practiced these important skills at Aspire Indiana. Behavioral health focuses on the emotional and mental well-being of people, leaning into the holistic approach of treating patients as a whole, not just the parts. These students have engaged in assisting with prevention, learning about the diagnoses involved, and taking an active role in how to provide assistance in treatment.

Additional Certifications and Next Steps

Becoming a CCMA can also be a stepping stone to other healthcare careers. Many MAs pursue additional certifications or specialized training, which opens the door to new opportunities. A few common next steps include:

• Pre-Nursing: Using MA experience as a foundation to enter nursing programs.

• EKG Certification: Specializing in cardiac care by learning to perform electrocardiograms.

• Sonography: Training to become an ultrasound technician.

• Labor and Delivery: Assisting in women’s health and maternal care settings.

• Emergency Rooms: Working in high-intensity environments where quick thinking and strong clinical skills are critical.

• Phlebotomy Certification: Focus on blood draws and working with laboratory settings.

• Pursuing Higher Education: Many of our students have plans for pursuing a college degree. This pathway allows students to gain a competitive edge in their educational and professional backgrounds.

Our Medical Assistants have one of the most versatile roles in healthcare, gaining both clinical and administrative experience in a multitude of areas within healthcare. Whether they are working in primary care clinics, or specialized practices, KLR CCMAs play a vital role in patient care and office efficiency. With additional training and education, an MA career can serve as a stepping stone to various healthcare careers and open the floor to new opportunities that students may never have thought they would find.