Duties and responsibilities
A chiropractor assistant works under the direction of a chiropractor. They provide administrative support and help with clinical tasks to ensure that the practice runs smoothly. Their typical responsibilities and duties include:
- Answering phone calls
- Booking appointments
- Processing payments
- Responding to emails
- Gathering a clients information
- Greeting patients
- Ordering office supplies
Qualifications
There are three routes to becoming a any type of medical assistant:
- Complete a 1-year postsecondary education course in medical assisting. These are available at community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools and universities
- To have even better employment opportunities, achieve an associates degree by completing a two year program
- Alternatively, medical assistants can skip the postsecondary education and get on-the-job training
Skills and relevant work experience
As well as completing the relevant education and training, chiropractor assistants will need skills such as:
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- Written and verbal communication skills, as chiropractor assistants will need to communicate with patients and the chiropractor that is supervising them. They will also need to send emails and letters
- Attention to detail, as chiropractor assistants must ensure that they keep an accurate record of everything
- Teamwork skills, as chiropractor assistants will need to work as part of a team with other healthcare professionals
- Organizational skills, as chiropractor assistants need to ensure they keep all documents and files stored in a neat and accessible way
Hours
Most chiropractor assistants will work full time, but part time positions may be available. Chiropractor assistant may work shifts, and therefore may have irregular hours.
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for All medical assistants in the United States was $34,800 in 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,820 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,720. Chiropractor assistants will earn within this range.
Progression
Chiropractor assistants have a positive career outlook as the aging populations puts them in great demand. With experience, assistants can specialize and move into leadership roles. They may also decide to take more education and move into other healthcare roles, such as being a chiropractor physician assistant.