Where Do Medical Assistants Work?
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Wondering where Medical assistants work? We have the answer! Read on to learn about the different types of medical assistant jobs and where they’re located.
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General medical offices
Medical assistants work primarily in general medical offices, assisting physicians. They may take patients’ histories, help with examinations, prepare laboratory specimens, and schedule appointments. A smaller number work in outpatient care centers, hospitals, and other health care facilities.
Specialty practices
Medical assistants work in a variety of medical settings, including specialty practices. Specialty practices are defined as those that focus on a specific area of medicine, such as family medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics/gynecology. In these practices, medical assistants may have additional responsibilities related to their area of specialty. For example, medical assistants working in an obstetrics/gynecology office may be responsible for sterilizing equipment and preparing patients for examinations.
Hospitals
Most medical assistants work in hospitals. They may work in the emergency room, labor and delivery, pediatrics, or other hospital units. Many times, they take care of clerical duties, such as answering phones and filing paperwork. They also may be responsible for ordering supplies and keeping track of medical equipment Medical assistants who work in hospitals usually work full time.
Outpatient care centers
Medical assistants work mostly in outpatient care centers, such as medical offices and clinics. Some also work in hospitals. Most medical assistants have an Associate’s degree, although some have completed a postsecondary certificate program.
Outpatient care centers are places where people go to get medical care without being admitted to a hospital. These centers include doctor’s offices, clinics, urgent care centers, and surgery centers. Many times, medical assistants work with a team of other health care providers, such as doctors, nurses, and receptionists.
The duties of medical assistants vary by state but generally include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, assisting during the exam, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence and billing, and coding insurance forms.
Nursing homes
Medical assistants work in a variety of settings, but one of the most common places you’ll find them is in nursing homes Nursing homes are facilities that provide care for people who are unable to take care of themselves due to illness, injury, or old age.
Medical assistants in nursing homes provide basic care and assistance to residents. This can include tasks such as helping them eat and getting them out of bed. They also provide support to the nurses and other staff members who work in the facility.
Home health care services
Home Health Care services provide medical and nursing care for people who are homebound because of illness, injury, or disability. Home health aides help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and using the toilet. They also help with light housekeeping tasks and errands. Home health care services are usually provided by Visiting Nurses Associations (VNAs), home care agencies, hospices, and community health centers.
Schools
One of the most common places medical assistants work is in doctors’ offices. They may work for a single doctor or in a group practice with many doctors. Some medical assistants work for other types of healthcare providers, such as chiropractors, podiatrists, and ophthalmologists. A small number of medical assistants work in hospitals.
Government agencies
Government agencies are another top employer of medical assistants. These agencies include the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Veterans Affairs, and Indian Health Services.
Insurance companies
Medical assistants work in a variety of settings, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health professionals.
In insurance companies, medical assistants may work in claims departments. They may review insurance claims to make sure that they meet the requirements of the policy and that all required documentation is included. They may also contact patients or providers to gather missing information.
Medical transcription services
Not all medical assistants work in doctor’s offices or hospitals. Some find employment in transcription services, where they listen to audio recordings of dictation by doctors and other medical professionals and transcribe them into written reports.