Top 15 Patient Care Assistant Jobs
Becoming a doctor or surgeon requires many years of training. However, patient care jobs are usually far less demanding in terms of their educational requirements. As such, they can be a great way to get into the healthcare sector without spending many years in training.
Demand for patient care assistants is exploding. The medical sector will add at least 132,600 positions, according to forecasts by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2030.
Patient care assistants typically work in hospitals, physician’s offices, and various other clinics. They may work with residential or outpatients, depending on the setting.
Average wages for patient care assistants are around $15 to $17 per hour, according to the latest statistics. However, this may increase significantly, depending on demand levels over the coming years.
The Top 15 Patient Care Assistant Jobs
1. Administrative Patient Care Assistant
As the number of patients flowing into hospitals and medical clinics increases over the coming years, so too will paperwork requirements. Doctors’ offices and healthcare providers won’t be able to keep up with the growth of administration, without hiring new staff.
That’s where administrative patient care assistants will come into the picture. These professionals perform backroom, desk-based paperwork on behalf of patients, physicians, and other members of the medical team. Their primary roles include filling out insurance information for visiting patients, recording medical data, ensuring that the clinic remains fully stocked, answering the telephones, and managing a variety of other communication services.
Because the role is generic, they work in a wide variety of medical institutions and settings.
Salary: $37,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
2. Occupational Therapy Patient Care Assistant
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Occupational therapy patient care assistants are also in high demand due to the increasing numbers of patients with posture and joint issues. The primary duty of these professionals is to assist the occupational therapist in their daily role.
Most occupational therapy assistants do a combination of medical and administrative work. On the clerical side, they may check patients in and out, prepare rooms for chiropractic procedures, and answer the phone.
To succeed in the role, candidates need to have good medical vernacular. They should also know how to update medical records, liaise with insurance companies, and manage mail and inventory.
Salary: $34,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Certified Chiropractic Clinical Assistant
3. Family Medicine Patient Care Assistant
Physician’s assistants in family medicine help doctors provide medical treatment to both individuals and whole families. As such, you will need a broad, general education, and, preferably, some experience in the medical sector. Primary duties working alongside a qualified doctor include diagnosing illnesses, treating injuries, making nursing rounds, ordering lab tests, interpreting results, prescribing medication, and going on home visits.
Requirements to become a family medicine assistant are typically higher than in other areas. Many physician’s offices request a master’s degree.
Salary: $100,400 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Master’s degree in a relevant medical field
4. Anesthesiologist Assistant
Operations are complex procedures. Surgeons almost never work alone. Instead, they require a team of people around them to provide support.
Anesthesiologist assistants have various duties to ensure that hospitals carry out operations successfully. Duties include ensuring that all vital information is correct, checking patients’ vital signs, and processing treatment and recovery documentation.
Salary: $95,820 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Master’s Degree plus anesthesia training
5. Virtual Patient Care Assistant
Virtual patient care assistants are similar to administrative medical assistants, except they work remotely. Primary duties for the role include entering patient data into computer files, upholding HIPAA compliance, scheduling appointments, and maintaining records databases. In some practices, physicians may also ask virtual medical assistants to perform online health assessments over the phone or the internet. Furthermore, they may ask them to work with medical billing staff to arrange patient payments.
To become a virtual patient care assistant, you may need experience as a regular medical assistant in an in-patient setting. The majority of over-the-phone and email-based jobs don’t require any form of postsecondary certification. However, taking courses in health information services may make you more attractive in the labor market.
Salary: $63,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6. Night Shift Patient Care Assistant
While most patient assistants work during the day, healthcare is a twenty-four-hour sector. Therefore, hospitals and clinics regularly hire assistants to work the night shift as well. Because of antisocial working hours, pay tends to be significantly higher.
To become a night shift patient care assistant, you’ll need to take an accredited medical assistant educational program and pass the final exam. It is also helpful if you have previous experience working as a medical experience in various settings.
To be successful in the role, you will need to be able to pay attention to detail and remain alert, even during the early hours of the morning. You’ll also need to determine whether patients can wait for regular shift pattern nurses and doctors to arrive in the morning, or need emergency attention now.
Salary: $38,500 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
7. Obstetric Patient Care Assistant
If you want to go into women’s healthcare, you may want to consider becoming an obstetric patient care assistant. Those entering the field require a broad knowledge of healthcare issues for all ages and stages of life.
Primary duties of obstetric assistants include performing breast exams, taking PAP smears, screening for sexually-transmitted infections, and helping with certain gynecological issues. Many obstetric medical assistants also coordinate care for pregnant women throughout their pregnancy, particularly from the second trimester onwards.
To become an obstetric patient care assistant, you may require specific certification. Pay is in line with most other medical assistant roles.
Salary: $36,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Specialty Certified Medical Assistant
8. Cardiology Patient Care Assistant
Cardiologist medical assistants are professionals who work with a range of other healthcare staff, including a senior cardiologist, to help patients maintain heart and cardiovascular health. The role includes taking vital signs and blood pressure and assisting in clerical duties. In the office, assistants may take electrocardiograms, educate patients about proper nutrition, and record various heart test results.
Part of the role also inevitably includes an element of communication. Cardiologists aren’t always on hand or available to provide support and assistance. Their time may be better used seeing other patients.
To become a cardiology medical assistant, candidates must first graduate from an accredited medical assisting program. The Bureau of Labor Statistics believes that demand for physician’s assistants roles like these will grow 31 percent by 2030.
Salary: $36,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: Certified Medical Assistant
9. Preoperative Patient Care Assistant
Preoperative patient care assistants usually work under the direction of a registered nurse (RN), providing both clinical and clerical support. Primary duties include meeting patients’ care requirements, fostering a harmonious working environment, and ensuring a consistent quality of care.
Preoperative patient care assistants work specifically to prepare patients for surgery. They assure their readiness and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. Oncology, urology, plastic surgery, gynecology, and colorectal patients can all benefit from their work significantly.
Becoming a preoperative patient care assistant only requires a high school diploma or equivalent. You also require excellent communication skills and the ability to operate in a high-pressure environment.
Salary: $38,800 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10. Psychiatry Patient Care Assistant
Psychiatry patient care assistants work to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for patients in psychiatric hospitals and care institutions. Candidates work with patients with mood disorders, psychotic conditions, and mixed diagnoses.
Despite the mental health-focused nature of the work, the role also covers conventional medical testing and diagnostics, particularly for patients with somatic symptoms. Checking vital signs, electrocardiogram results, and bladder scans are also a part of the job.
To be successful in this role, you should have familiarity with using wheelchairs, patient assistive devices, and various patient care equipment. You should also have grit, demonstrate exceptional interpersonal communication skills, and maintain professionalism when interacting with patients.
Entry requirements for psychiatric patient care assistant roles are minimal. Most employers will ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.
Salary: $52,800 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11. Pediatric Patient Care Assistant
A pediatric patient care assistant, sometimes called a child care assistant, usually works under the supervision of a registered nurse and performs a range of practical and clerical functions. Chief duties include assisting in pediatric care alongside RNs, maintaining suppliers, and performing clerical functions.
To be a successful pediatric patient care assistant, you will need to have adequate computer skills, be a good communicator, and have the ability to work independently when required. You will also need to problem-solve and prioritize various demands on your time. It may help your job application if you speak a second language, besides English, particularly Spanish or Southeast Asian languages.
Salary: $28,800 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12. Ophthalmic Patient Care Assistant
Ophthalmic patient care assistants help ophthalmologists facilitate patient care and customer service. These healthcare professionals handle a wide array of duties to prepare patients for eye exams. Specific responsibilities include providing excellent customer service to every patient, evaluating the condition of patients’ eyes, confirming their medical history and current medications, and complying with various hospital and clinic procedures, such as HIPAA.
Successful ophthalmic patient care assistants have a good working knowledge of eye anatomy, experience in refraction, dilation, and visual field diagnostic tests, and a professional attitude. Ophthalmology clinics look for candidates who greet patients promptly, provide service with a smile, and thank them when they leave. They also want people who can work hard when the demand for appointments is high.
Salary: $51,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13. Podiatric Patient Care Assistant
Podiatric patient care assistants work with podiatrists, and doctors who specialize in diseases of the foot. Their work involves various specialist tasks, including developing x-rays, making castings of feet, and helping prepare patients for surgery.
Podiatric patient care assistants also provide all the usual patient care services. In podiatry clinics and surgeries, their work focuses on keeping patients’ feet comfortable, both before and after treatment. Podiatrists may hire them to welcome patients at the door, take notes, provide painkillers, and prepare rooms for patients’ arrival.
To become a podiatric patient care assistant, you need a high school diploma or equivalent. Some podiatrists may also require accreditation, though this is not essential. Other than that, you’ll need to demonstrate sympathy to patients, have an understanding of bedside manner, and take care of everyday administrative tasks.
Salary: $28,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14. Geriatric Patient Care Assistant
A geriatric patient care role, also called a geriatric nursing assistant, is a healthcare professional who works to ensure the comfort and well-being of older patients. Their work involves helping to bathe, feed, undress, and transport patients. They may also help prepare older adults for surgery and clean and organize their rooms.
Geriatric patient care assistants work in various healthcare settings, including clinics, hospitals, and, increasingly, retirement communities. Job prospects are potentially very good as the population ages.
To become a geriatric patient care assistant, you require a high school diploma or equivalent, and any certifications required by the state. You also need to complete an accredited training program with at least 75 hours of contact time.
Salary: $28,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15. Patient Care Assistant With Rehabilitation Skills
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Patient care assistants with rehabilitation skills work in patients’ homes, or in medical facilities. Primary duties include care work, such as bathing and dressing, plus rehabilitation work to help patients recover from their injuries.
Work can be low-pressure and there are often opportunities to take on additional responsibilities. Most workers also work a reliable schedule.
Salary: $45,000 per annum (approx.)
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
Conclusion
Patient care assistant jobs focus primarily on improving the “customer experience.” These professionals are available to listen to patients’ needs and ensure that other medical colleagues remain apprised of their progress. Most of these jobs only require minimal education, allowing jobseekers to enter the healthcare sector without needing to go through many years of education first.