Duties of a Medical Assistant in a Pulmonary Office
Contents
As a medical assistant in a pulmonary office, you will have a variety of duties. These may include scheduling appointments, taking patient medical histories and performing basic laboratory tests. You will also be responsible for providing patient education and answering any questions they may have about their condition.
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Job Description
A medical assistant in a pulmonary office provides support to the pulmonary specialist and staff. The medical assistant may perform a variety of tasks including scheduling appointments, taking patient histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, giving injections, assisting with procedures, and handling laboratory work. Excellent customer service skills are required in order to interact effectively with patients and families.
Duties and Responsibilities
A medical assistant in a pulmonary office will have many duties and responsibilities. They may include but are not limited to the following:
Answering phones, scheduling appointments, and taking messages
Greeting patients and escorting them to the exam room
Taking patient medical histories and vital signs
Documenting screenings, physical exams, and test results in the patient’s chart
Assisting the physician with pulmonary function tests and EKGs
Drawing blood and administering injections
Performing basic office duties such as filing, faxing, and copying medical records
Maintaining laboratory equipment and stocking exam rooms with supplies
Education and Training
Medical assistants in pulmonary offices need to have completed an accredited medical assistant program and have earned their certification. Many times, a medical assistant will complete on-the-job training to learn the specific duties required in a pulmonary office. A medical assistant working in a pulmonary office can expect to perform a variety of tasks, including answering phones, taking medical histories, scheduling appointments, filing insurance forms and handling correspondence. In addition, Medical Assistants may be responsible for giving respiratory treatments and performing basic diagnostic testing.
Certification
In order to work as a medical assistant in a pulmonary office, certification is required in order to show that the medical assistant is knowledgeable about the duties they are expected to perform. The duties of a medical assistant in a pulmonary office include, but are not limited to, taking patient histories and performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, assisting in surgery, providing customer service, and handling patient information.
Salary and Job Outlook
The median annual wage for medical assistants was $33,610 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,880, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $47,090.
Skills and Qualities
There are many skills and qualities a medical assistant in a pulmonary office needs. They include:
– administrative skills to handle patient scheduling, billing, and insurance paperwork
– strong customer service skills to greet patients and answer their questions
– clinical skills to take patient vital signs, measure lung function, and perform basic laboratory tests
– the ability to pay attention to detail and follow instructions carefully
– good communication skills to relay information between the doctor and the patient
– physical stamina to stand for long periods of time and lift patients
Working Conditions
Medical assistants in pulmonary offices work under the supervision of licensed pulmonary specialists. They often work alongside other medical professionals such as respiratory therapists, nurses, and office staff. The duties of a medical assistant in a pulmonary office may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, taking patient medical histories and vital signs, recording patient information, preparing patients for examination, arranging diagnostic tests, and assisting the physician with procedures. Medical assistants may also be responsible for giving patients instructions on taking medications and how to care for themselves at home after their office visit.
Job Opportunities
The duties of a medical assistant in a pulmonary office may vary depending on the size and type of practice. In a small office, the medical assistant may be responsible for a variety of tasks, from answering phones and scheduling appointments to taking patient histories and performing basic laboratory tests. In a larger office, the medical assistant may specialize in one or more areas, such as insurance billing or transcription. Other medical assistants may work in research or education.
job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS predicts an increase of 29% in employment opportunities for medical assistants between 2014 and 2024. This job growth is largely due to the increasing number of older adults who will need care for age-related health conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. In addition, as more physicians enter private practice, they will need support staff such as medical assistants to handle administrative tasks.
Advancement Opportunities
Pulmonary medical assistants can move into other medical assisting positions, such as cardiac or vascular surgery, or they may be promoted to office manager. With additional education and training, pulmonary medical assistants may become registered nurses, respiratory therapists, or physician assistants.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for medical assistants in pulmonary offices is very good. With the increasing prevalence of lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is a growing demand for qualified medical assistants who can help manage these conditions.
Pulmonary medical assistants typically have a wide range of duties, from greeting patients and scheduling appointments to taking vital signs and administering treatments. They may also be responsible for charting patient progress, handling insurance paperwork, and ordering supplies.
Qualified medical assistants in pulmonary offices will have completed an accredited medical assisting program and passed the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Although not required, many employers prefer candidates who have experience working in a pulmonary office or other healthcare setting.
