Career Ladders for Medical Assistants in Primary Care Clinics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study examines the use of career ladders for medical assistants (MAs) in primary care practices as a mechanism for increasing wages and career opportunity for MAs. A growing body of research on primary care suggests that successful expansion of support staff roles such as MAs may have positive organizational and quality of care outcomes, but little is known about worker outcomes.

Objective

Evaluate the effectiveness of career ladders in improving wages and career opportunity among MAs.

Design

We use a mixed-methods design to evaluate the impact of career ladders on MA job quality.

Participants

We draw on interview data collected from 115 key informants at four large health systems (ranging from 24 to 29 clinics each), and we analyze wage and emp

SUBMITTER: Dill J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8606365 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature