Gender Discrimination for male Med. Asst.

I find that a lot of physcians currently
would prefer to hire a female Med. Asst., regardless of their skills or experience.I have found my current job search hampered by an seemingly apparent gender bias. I wonder if there are any other'MALE'Med. Asst.'s that have encountered similar circumstances.
I would hope that physicians would want a true 'Technician'-Med. Asst. capable of performing any and all point of service testing rather than just a pretty face, but alas it does not seem to be the case in most instances. I am a Med. Asst. that can perform an E.K.G. with a MINIMAL exposure of skin/breast tissue ( I tuck gown underneath the breast) and female patients are extremely comfortable with my demeanor when I perform any and all testing, Stress Echocardiograms electrode placements etc, whereas I find that my female counterparts sometimes expose female patients for an E.K.G. electrode placement like if they were a display at a Macy's window. Just one of the many observations I rn across during my ten plus years of Medical Assisting. Any and all comments would be welcome. My email addres is as follows - eacos2000@yahoo.com

If this were women being disqualified, they would hire a lawyer and sue... so, I think the same should apply.. men need to start suing for descrimination in hiring practices.. any good lawyer would take the case with payment upon win... based on the number of males to female ratio in the medical industry, it should be very easy to prove descrimination...

Yes I definetly agree that Male Med.
Assistant's get the short end. I was
sent to a prominent N.Y. hospital once as a temp. Medical Assistant and "overheard" the Lead Physician/Older person state that He DID NOT WANT A MALE MEDICAL Asst. I was summarily sent back to my agency to which I complained but nothing was done. I just did not think about a possible legal case, but it seems that in this situation it very well could have been likely and possible. The clinic was NOT an OB-GYN, in fact I believe it was an
endocrinologist clinic.
I was so very very disappointment in the field and the discrmination to this day still exists in employment agencies and

I think there's a bias against males in the medical field because alot of male hands-on workers like medical assistants, nurses and even doctors have been known to behave inappropriately. When you're a female patient with cancer or who just gave birth or whatever and you're there to see your doctor, the last thing a woman needs to deal with is a pervert with medical certification. A few bad apples spoils the whole bunch. Sorry.

NM in Jamaica, New York said: I think there's a bias against males in the medical field because alot of male hands-on workers like medical assistants, nurses and even doctors have been known to behave inappropriately. When you're a female patient with cancer or who just gave birth or whatever and you're there to see your doctor, the last thing a woman needs to deal with is a pervert with medical certification. A few bad apples spoils the whole bunch. Sorry.

so should guys give up because some men were perverts?

natekruk@aol.com

I am a certified registered medical assistant and have 15 plus yrs of certification. And I cannot find a job anywhere. What can I do? I am a male also and have encountered the same problems. What do the male medical assistants do to get a job?

Yes, it is tough for a Male Med. Asst. particularly in the last
5-7 years. I would suggest and this is what I have done,
concentrate or highlight in your CV/Resume more Administrative
proficiencies. which can lead to Office Manager or Med. Asst.
supervisor slots within clinical offices. It is a shame that
more and more private physicians are disregarding a True
Med. Asst./Technician in favor of a (sorry to sound prejudiced)
pretty face who perhaps does not know a straight needle from a
23 gauge butterfly. With someone with over 15 years of experience
I think the best move is Management/Upper Level Administrative.
Good Luck to you.

Thanks for your response, I will be updating my resume send me more specifics on what to do. thanks have a great day!

i was wondering attending a local school to become a cma. is it really that bad for men out there. i am 33 and looking to enter this into a new carrer. any suggestins

I am thinking of atrending school this spring to become a medical assistant. From what I've been reading it's supposed to be the number one growing occupation in the country. But as a man will I be able to get a job ? don't want to waste my time and money.

Rick,
Medical Assisting is a good field to get into for anyone - male or female. Sometimes we, as male Medical Assistants, do encounter gender descrimination from the staff and MDs/providers. But once you find the right professional setting - and prove your value and skills (especially a good bedside manner that encompasses compassion/professionalism) it is rewarding. I think that there are pro's/con's to being a male MA. I think, though, that the older male MDs can totally be judgemental and think that the role is a female one. And those are DOC's that you really wouldn't want to work with, anyway. It's their loss - not yours. But I also have known some clinic managers to specifically want and hire more male MAs/RMAs/CMAs in their mix. Sometimes the MD/NP/PA-C will even be your best ally and supporter in getting the experience you need/desire, promotions, etc... . Also, after you get your diploma/degree in the field, you can specialize too (level II EKG tech, medical coder/billing specialist, office manager, and other roles). Good luck and go for it!

Thank you all for your advice. I will be attending school starting in april. Now how do you get into those specialty fields you were talking about? I am going to be an MA and i will take the certification test to be certified. Thank you for all your help!!!Sems to be a good bunch of people in the field!!!

You generally have to start in Family Practice to get your feet in the door. I actually started in a hospital as both a Patient Care Tech/Ward Clerk, and then, eventually to Interventional Medicine. Hospitals/hospital-affiliated clinics pay the most, by the way. If you can't find a job right away as a Medical Assistant, then look at other healthcare positions in the hospitals. Some of those positions are: Health Unit Coordinator/Unit Secretary, Patient Care Tech, Physical Therapy Aide, even transporter. You can also greater increase your chances of getting a job as a hospital-based MA by gettting your CNA (you can getting training from a nearby nursing home; the training is usually 4 weeks with the first 2 or 3 being part-time in the day time and then a full-week of clinical). Even consider taking the Certified Professional Coder exam after graduating from MA-school. I believe that the MA schools still teach Medical Billing and Coding as part of their cirriculum. Also, you may even be able to get into a clinic being cross-trained as a Surgical Tech. I have worked w/several Surgical Techs who were cross-trained into that profession (and these were traveling techs that made good money and had their housing and transportation payed for). Just get your foot in the door and then keep your eyes open for opportunites. Also, make sure that your program is accredited so that you are eligible to sit for the CMA(AAMA) certification exam. If not, find out if you can at least sit for the RMA(AMT) cert.

David in Seattle, Washington said: You generally have to start in Family Practice to get your feet in the door. I actually started in a hospital as both a Patient Care Tech/Ward Clerk, and then, eventually to Interventional Medicine. Hospitals/hospital-affiliated clinics pay the most, by the way. If you can't find a job right away as a Medical Assistant, then look at other healthcare positions in the hospitals. Some of those positions are: Health Unit Coordinator/Unit Secretary, Patient Care Tech, Physical Therapy Aide, even transporter. You can also greater increase your chances of getting a job as a hospital-based MA by gettting your CNA (you can getting training from a nearby nursing home; the training is usually 4 weeks with the first 2 or 3 being part-time in the day time and then a full-week of clinical). Even consider taking the Certified Professional Coder exam after graduating from MA-school. I believe that the MA schools still teach Medical Billing and Coding as part of their cirriculum. Also, you may even be able to get into a clinic being cross-trained as a Surgical Tech. I have worked w/several Surgical Techs who were cross-trained into that profession (and these were traveling techs that made good money and had their housing and transportation payed for). Just get your foot in the door and then keep your eyes open for opportunites. Also, make sure that your program is accredited so that you are eligible to sit for the CMA(AAMA) certification exam. If not, find out if you can at least sit for the RMA(AMT) cert.

David,

Thanks for the advise and information. I'm for sure gonna go for it.

I am a Male Medical Assistant also and feel that as a Male I too and being discriminated here in the state of Maine. I have gone on countless interviews only to receive an email weeks after the position has been filled that they chose to go with someone with more experience. Never in my life have I had to deal with something like this. I was a CNA for 8yrs and felt it would be a nice change to become a medical assistant. I enjoyed all I learned and my evaluation from my internship was impressive. After moving to the state of Maine and applying for countless positions after a yr I am choosing to go back to college once again in a little over a yr from graduating. The college that I am interested in attending after finding about a Nursing program told me that they too are having a hard time placing Male Medical Assistants for work. Why is it that all these colleges are continuing to take money from Male students, knowing that they have no success in placing them with jobs? To me that's is just wrong. We (Male Medical Assistants) should start to pursue legal actions and let these facilities know that we are not going to take this anymore. Then maybe they will think twice when other male medical assistants apply for work at there offices and hospitals.

I live in Dallas Tx and i just grad 7 weeks ago i am a Male and am finding it very hard to evan get an interview. Feel so depressed, i know i know my stuff i did well in school and on my externship but no job... what can i do i was thinking about going to a local news station let them run a investigation as to why the school lets males come in when they know there hard to place its all about the money i guess just wish i new i would be with out work.....any ideas would be helpful

gary in Dallas, Texas said: I live in Dallas Tx and i just grad 7 weeks ago i am a Male and am finding it very hard to evan get an interview. Feel so depressed, i know i know my stuff i did well in school and on my externship but no job... what can i do i was thinking about going to a local news station let them run a investigation as to why the school lets males come in when they know there hard to place its all about the money i guess just wish i new i would be with out work.....any ideas would be helpful

not a bad idea at all start calling out these diploma milla

gary in Dallas, Texas said: I live in Dallas Tx and i just grad 7 weeks ago i am a Male and am finding it very hard to evan get an interview. Feel so depressed, i know i know my stuff i did well in school and on my externship but no job... what can i do i was thinking about going to a local news station let them run a investigation as to why the school lets males come in when they know there hard to place its all about the money i guess just wish i new i would be with out work.....any ideas would be helpful

Are you sure it is because you are male or is it because you are a new graduate with no experience? DFW has a ton of Medical Assisting schools putting out new graduates all the time. Most places advertise for experience only. It's just not a good time to be a new graduate in any career.

I graduated july 2010 as a male MA i had 1 interview, never heard a word after at least 3 calls back to HR, I finally got a job as a phlebotomist with Carter Blood Care in Bedford,Tx. working on their mobile units, its horrible the people you are forced to work with are unprofessional and most have no professional training, I have over 200 applications out to potential employers here in DFW, lots of jobs, also lots of MA's graduating every month, I also believe the field is very bias to male's, and yes, there should be something done about it!

I am a recent graduate from a Medical Assistant program and acieved a perfect score on the RMA exam plus near perfect grades (96.6 GPA). I have been wondering about this very subject as I can't even get an interview. There are people (females) that I went to school with that are getting interviews and even jobs at the same places I've applied to and I have better grades and recommendations. Just don't understand it. I came from a non-medical career and have over 20 years of office and customer service experience but, can't even get anything for medical reception either.

yes it is extremely tough for Male MA's. keep
positive, look for possible temp voulteer opportunities
in hospital's where people can see you and you can
get inside track with human resources dept on
job opening's. I got hired at a Federal facility
Veterans Administration Hospital, look for posting's
on their website usajobs.opm.gov
and look under Health Technician, same function(s)
as a medical assistant or for Nursing Assistant,
they will accept Med. Asst. graduates for NA slots
even if you are not state certified as a Nursing Asst.

Good Luck Keep your head up.

Edwin A

this is kind of scary after reading all of this, I am panning on attending school for AAS MA, was wanting to make a difference in peoples lives and figured it would be good start and ultimately help me for my goal of EMS/Firefighter, now I'm not so sure after reading the comments. I want to learn as much as possible and be prepared for when I get out in the field and figured MA is a good place to start, WATC here in Wichita has great training, but being male, am I just going to waste $10,000 on an associate of applied science in this field?

Probably so, im paying back 12k and still not working as sn ma but doing phlebotomy Pp

Yes, I wasted 12k, cant find a job as an ma, but I am working as a phlebotomist

Get a real man job. Work in construction or be a trash collector.

a real man job? I've done my share of construction, HVAC, plumbing, drywall, painting, welding, mechanics....currently I'm an aircraft machinist. I would rather help people medically rather than build wing ribs and various other airplane parts for the rest of my working life. Just remember every time you go to the Dr's office or hospital, those MA's, phlebotomist, orderlies, CNA's CMA's, charge nurses and even the doctors themselves were once something else and they chose the career path they chose because of 2 things, the drive to help others, and a better life for themselves and their families. there is no need to be a jerk abot what a person does, unless they have actually offended you in some way, and even thn, that's the indivdual person, not their career.

Lol, it was a joke. I am a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer, but have been an Electrician. However, saying that people join healthcare to "help people" is bull&^%& They do it because it's a relatively easy high paying job. Plus its about the only jobs left in America, but that won't last for ever. and don't get me started on doctors.

YoYo in Concord, North Carolina said: Get a real man job. Work in construction or be a trash collector.

Sure do That. I was in construction for 30 years and haven't worked for the last 5.

I have a large circle of Medical Assistants on Google 1+ (or whatever it is called), my Google social network. While there are indeed far more women, I have to say that there also is a surprisingly good amount of men (male medical assistants) which to me, speaks for the fact that male medical assistants enroll in medical assisting training programs and ARE being hired. Also, there are some male medical assistants on our medical assistant community forum. So, bottom line: the industry is changing and making room for more men in scrubs and stethoscopes.

Danni R.

I been applying for medical assistant jobs for the last two years and get no call backs, but when my girl friend apply she get a call back asap. My experience is just as good as hers.Should i just lying on my apps or what should i do?

I need to talk to the Governor or the President because this ain't right. I might start a discrimination protest for the unemployed who get turned down.

Nursing, Nursing Assistant, and Medical Assistant jobs have been traditionally held by females in the 20th century, and now in the 21st century more and more men are trying to pry in to the field. However, most hiring managers are still old school and it is going to take time for them to retire. Unfortunately, it is easy for everyone to say "just give it time" because time is a very valuable, especially when a person is unemployed and in debt. If you have the money, motivation and time go for your RN. Because the job prospects look better for a male RN vs a male CMA, and the national RN shortage is greater than the CMA shortage. Good Luck to all.