Direct patient care hours opportunities

[goheels1229]

Hi! I just graduated from a major university and am looking into multiple job opportunities, but am looking for second opinions as to which would make me a stronger candidate and/or best prepare me for the PA career path.

I have three options currently: work as a medical assistant at a private practice pediatricians office, a care assistant in the internal medicine clinic at a prominent university hospital, or as a research screener at this same hospital's infectious disease clinic.

Duties would be:

Research Screener (HIV clinic):

• Reviewing patient’s electronic medical records to determine which patients are eligible for current HIV studies
• Working with the PAs, NPs and doctors in the clinic to determine if the patient would be a good candidate for certain studies
• Entering exam rooms before providers and notifying qualified patients about any clinical studies they may be eligible for; discussing their potential role in the study
• Screening HIV-positive patients for depression and nutritional competency, as certain HIV drugs administered can worsen depression and are required to be taken alongside a 400-calorie meal

Medical Assistant (private practice, peds):

• Take vitals & measurements (head circumference, height, weight) and enter them into EMR
  
• Take medical history
• Discuss immunizations with parents
• Prepare and administer any necessary immunizations or medications, per direction by physician or PA
• Preparing patients for examination

Care Assistant (internal medicine):

• Scribing part-time for doctors in the Internal Medicine clinic
• Conducting enrollment appointments for new patients in the Chronic Disease Enhanced Care program (patients can enroll for diabetes, COPD, depression, chronic pain)
• Symptom assessment
• Patient education on inhaler use, insulin injections, etc. as needed
• Collaborate with providers to manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD, depression, pain, and hypertension

For the medical assistant position, the biggest draw is that I can live at home and save lots of $$$/pay off undergraduate loans. It's in a major city. The other two are in a college town and would require me to pay rent and other expenses.

If you have any input on which would be best, please comment below!
Thank you!

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[popopopop]

I'd go with medical assistant job and never look back.