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Clinical Medical Assistant Career Outlook

According to ExploreHealthCareers.org, the term allied health encompasses as many as 200 health care professions, including health administration, health information management, and medical technology, to name just a few.⁽¹⁾ 

Allied health professions fall into two major categories: technicians (assistants) and therapists/technologists. Technicians work under the supervision of technologists or therapists, who generally have a higher degree of experience and/or education. The “technician” part of the allied health field includes positions like medical laboratory technician, radiological/X-ray technician, medical assistant, and occupational therapy assistant, among several others.⁽¹⁾ 

Working in allied health means being involved in patient health and evaluating and assessing patients’ needs, either directly or indirectly. Some allied health professionals work independently, while others may be part of a health care team.⁽¹⁾ 

Various allied health positions involve contact with patients. Clinical medical assistants, for example, may work with patients to teach them about medications and special diets, draw blood, prepare patients for X-rays, take electrocardiograms (EKGs), change dressings, apply casts, remove sutures, and collect specimens to prepare them for lab testing.⁽²⁾ 

Health care workers are needed in many allied health fields to meet growing demands in the U.S., both now and in the future.⁽¹⁾ If you enjoy helping people (directly or indirectly), have good communication skills and attention to detail, like working with lab equipment and technology, and are prepared for physical work that may mean standing for long periods and/or lifting patients, the range of potential careers in allied health may offer fulfilling possibilities for you.