Today’s Medical Assistant: Clinical & Administrative Procedures

Today’s medical assistant Clinical & Administrative Procedures is the perfect resource for Medical assistants looking to update their skills.

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Medical assisting clinical procedures

medical assistant clinical procedures are those procedures that Medical Assistants are allowed to perform under the supervision of a licensed physician. Clinical medical assistant duties include taking and recording patient medical histories, measuring vital signs, administering medications and injections, preparing patients for examination, and collecting and processing laboratory specimens. Medical assistants also may schedule patients for appointments, assist with insurance billing and coding, and handle other administrative tasks in a medical office.

Medical assisting administrative procedures

Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative duties, but the percentage of time spent on each depends on the size and type of healthcare facility in which they work. In small facilities, medical assistants are often responsible for a greater variety of clinical and administrative tasks. Medical assistants working in large group practices or clinics may be assigned specific duties such as scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, updating and filing patient medical records billing, or coding for insurance purposes.

The duties of a medical assistant

The duties of a medical assistant depend on the size, location, and type of healthcare facility where they work, as well as the state in which they are employed. However, most medical assistants perform a combination of clinical and administrative tasks.

Clinical duties may include taking and recording patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and weight; collecting and preparing laboratory specimens; performing basic laboratory tests; Sterilizing instruments and equipment; assisting physicians with office procedures such as biopsies, suturing lacerations, removing ear wax, performing EKGs; providing patient education on various medical conditions, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices; and scheduling patient appointments.

Administrative duties may include greeting patients and visitors; answering telephone calls; handling correspondence; updating and filing patients’ Medical records billing insurance companies and patients for services rendered; scheduling patient appointments; handling financial arrangements with patients for services rendered.

The medical assistant’s role in patient care

The medical assistant’s role in patient care includes taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during the examination, and performing basic laboratory tests. The following sections describe the medical assistant’s responsibilities in each of these areas.

Medical assistants must be able to obtain an accurate medical history from patients. To do this, they must be able toask the right questions and record the answers accurately. Medical assistants must also be able to take a patient’s vital signs: temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.

Before the physician sees the patient, the medical assistant may prepare him or her by:
-Taking a urine sample
-Drawing blood
-administering medication
-Making x-rays
After taking the patient’s history and vital signs, the medical assistant may assist the physician during the physical examination. For example, he or she may:
-Help position the patient on the exam table
-Hand instruments to the physician during the exam
-Apply solutions to or swab affected areas during procedures such as skin scrapings or ear exams
After the examination is completed, medical assistants may perform basic laboratory tests on patients. These tests may include: -urinalysis -hemoglobin/hematocrit -vision testing -pregnancy tests In addition to clinical duties, medical assistants are often responsible for administrative tasks in a physicians office or clinic. These duties may include: -scheduling appointments -answering phones -filing insurance forms -billing patients Medical assistants who perform administrative duties should have good communication and organizational skills

The medical assistant’s role in the medical office

Medical assistants play a vital role in the medical office. They are the link between the physician and the patient. Their duties include both clinical and administrative tasks.

Clinical duties of a medical assistant include taking medical histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during examination and procedures, giving instructions to patients after examination, and collecting and processing laboratory specimens.

Administrative duties of a medical assistant include scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, coding and filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, maintaining medical records billing patients, and transcribing physicians’ orders.

The medical assistant’s role in the healthcare team

The medical assistant’s role in the healthcare team is both clinical and administrative. Medical assistants are trained to perform both office and clinical procedures. These may include taking and recording patient medical histories, measuring patients’ vital signs, preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician, assisting with minor office surgeries, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, scheduling appointments, handling billing and insurance paperwork, and answering patient questions. In addition to these duties, medical assistants may also be responsible for maintaining patients’ medical records.

The importance of the medical assistant

The medical assistant plays an important role in the delivery of healthcare services. Medical assistants are trained to perform both clinical and administrative tasks in a variety of healthcare settings. They are often the first point of contact for patients and play a critical role in providing them with information about their health condition and the options available to them for treatment.

Medical assistants must be able to effectively communicate with patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team. They must be able to problem-solve and make decisions in a fast-paced environment. In addition, medical assistants must be able to perform a variety of technical skills, such as taking vital signs, administering injections, and performing basic laboratory tests.

The duties of medical assistants vary depending on the specific job title and place of employment. However, there are some common duties that are typically performed by medical assistants. These duties include:

Clinical tasks:
-Taking patient histories
-Assisting with physical examinations
-Collecting blood and other laboratory specimens
-Preparing patients for diagnostic procedures
-Educating patients about their health condition and treatment options
-Administering medication and injections
-Performing routine office laboratory tests
-Coding and billing insurance claims
Administrative tasks:
-Scheduling appointments
-Answering telephones
-Greeting patients
-Updating patient medical records
-Arranging for hospital admissions and lab services
-Managing office supplies

The medical assistant’s education and training

Most medical assistants have formal education such as a certificate or diploma from a medical assisting program. High school graduates who have completed a formal medical assisting program generally qualify for most entry-level positions. Some employers may prefer to hire medical assistants who have completed an accredited program. Employers also may prefer to hire those with certification. Although certification is not required, it may give the medical assistant an advantage in the job market.

Medical assistants must complete a formal educational program to qualify for most positions. Programs typically last 1 year and lead to a certificate or diploma.

Medical assistants must complete an accredited educational program to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination offered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To learn more about this credential, visit www.aama-ntl.org/cma-certification.

The medical assistant’s job outlook

The medical assistant’s job outlook is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In May 2015, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $31,540, according to the BLS.

The medical assistant’s salary

The medical assistant’s salary will be determined by a number of factors, including the size and location of the practice, the scope of the medical assistant’s responsibilities, and the medical assistant’s level of experience.