Hi,
I read the posts in regards to low pay in medical assisting, I think we all know that the smaller the practice the less the pay.

I may get bood for this but you have to also take the doctor and the size of his/her practice into consideration, I work at a single doctor family practice office he sees 25-30 patients a day many are medicare patients and some never pay at all. We do have medical assistants that work for minimum wage because its all the doctor can afford, he has many other expences. includeing bills for the practice, malpractice insurance exct, so just keep it in mind that some doctors are on a fixed budget.

our medical assistants are all trained from schools we dont hire off the streets but he simply cannot afford more pay, and with the economy being the way it is, we all need to understand that even employeers suffer

i totally agree with you.
you shouldn't get bood
i notice many people listing their feelings about the pay their rec. but none even said if they considered the doctors expense.
also when a doctor take 3rd party payment, he/she has to wait for the payments to come thru.
so they may not be a liquid as a every-one think.
i knew several docs who just about broke even. no fancy cars suites either.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: RMA-LPN

Are You Still In School? NO

Danni R what do you think about this subject?

Sometimes it isn't about pay, although that is why we all work.

Lately, I have been weighing my options. Like the providers, who I work with, I find I have become emotionally invested in the community and the folks who trust our clinic. The people who I work with are a great bunch of folks, like all family's we aren't always chummy, but overall there would be no trading them off. So the dilemma is, are the non-monetary rewards and deficits balancing out and making it worth sticking around. Initially when I applied for the job, it was to be a gateway to get me where I want to go. Now I’m finding other reasons to stay, from the current management, co-workers and the facility itself, to the folks who we serve, there are many more rewards than can be measured in the paycheck.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA (AAMA)

We have discussed this topic here a few times with other MAs and Jefff is right, also! You have to ask yourself WHY do I want to be a medical assistant first. If it is primarily to make good money, then this career path isn't it. I have written a couple articles also, addressing who makes more money, family physician, specialist, small office, large office, group practice. It is true, a small medical office, esp. if it is a family physician(general medicine), they are not as fortunate as specialists (e.g. asthma & allergy, dermatology, and such). The billing process is one aspect to consider, but also the amount they get paid. Everything you said is true. Good points made.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Website Owner/Site Admin

Just wondering...supposed to be doing my externship at a OBGYN office not big but not a 1 physician office either, but have not really heard anything from my teacher/advisor/program director about it. Start school tomorrow and feels like it never ended! Would you think pay would be a little higher at a OBGYN office and is it considered a specialty?