Competency Checklist for Medical Assistants

This Competency Checklist for Medical assistants is a great way to stay organized and make sure you are providing the best possible care for your patients.

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Job Description

A medical assistant is a person who performs administrative and clinical tasks in a medical office. They work under the supervision of a licensed health care provider, such as a physician, and support the work of office staff.

Depending on their training and the state they work in, Medical Assistants may also perform certain clinical tasks, such as taking patient vital signs, drawing blood, or removing sutures. They may also assist with minor office surgeries, such as the administration of injections.

Competency Checklist for Medical Assistants
The following is a competency checklist for medical assistants. This job description is not all-inclusive, but covers the major duties and responsibilities associated with this position.

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Duties

Below is a list of skills that every medical assistant should be competent in performing. Review the list and check off those skills that you currently feel comfortable performing. If there are any skills you have not yet mastered, make a plan to learn them by seeking out opportunities to practice or enrolling in a formal training program.

Medical assistants perform a variety of both clinical and administrative duties to keep medical offices running smoothly. While specific job duties vary depending on the size and type of facility, there are certain core competencies that all medical assistants should possess.

Clinical Duties:
-Taking patient medical histories
-measuring patient vital signs
-assisting with examinations
-performing basic laboratory tests
-administering medications and injections
-educating patients about their health conditions
-maintaining patient records
-scheduling appointments

Administrative Duties:
-Answering phones
-Greeting patients
-Updating patient records
-Managing medical billing and insurance claims
-Scheduling appointments
-Maintaining office inventory

Education and Training

Medical assistants typically have an Associate’s degree from an accredited Community college. Some enter the workforce with a certificate from a trade or technical school. These programs usually take about two years to complete and include both classroom and hands-on instruction in areas such as Medical Terminology anatomy and physiology, diagnostic testing, lab procedures, insurance billing, and transcription.

Most states do not require certification for medical assistants, but many employers prefer to hire those who have it. The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To earn the CMA, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass a national exam.

Certification

To become a certified medical assistant, you must graduate from an accredited training program and pass a national or state certification exam. Some states also require licensed medical assistants to complete periodic continuing education credits to maintain their certification. The following checklist will help you determine if you have the necessary skills and knowledge to become a certified medical assistant.

-Complete an accredited training program
-Pass a national or state certification exam
-Complete periodic continuing education credits (if required)

Skills

Medical assistants are vital members of the healthcare team, providing clinical and administrative support to physicians and other providers. They must be able to perform a wide variety of tasks, from collecting patient medical history and taking vital signs, to scheduling appointments and handling billing and insurance paperwork.

While the specific duties of medical assistants may vary from state to state and from one healthcare facility to another, there are certain core skills that all medical assistants must possess. This competency checklist for medical assistants can be used by employers to assess the skills of their current staff, or by individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in medical assisting.

-Taking patient medical histories
-Performing routine physical examinations
-Collecting specimens for laboratory testing
-Instructing patients on how to take medication
-Preparing patients for X-rays, MRI/CT scans, and other diagnostic procedures
-Coding patients’ diagnoses and procedures
-Scheduling appointments
-Verifying insurance coverage
-Filing insurance claims
-Maintaining patient records
-Transcribing physician orders
-Ordering supplies
-Answering phones

Salary

The average salary for a Medical Assistant is $15.24 per hour.

Job Outlook

Competency Checklist for Medical Assistants

The job outlook for medical assistants is good. Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 23 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The aging baby-boom population will continue to drive demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by medical assistants.

As practices look to increase efficiency and improve patient flow, they are expected to turn to medical assistants to perform more administrative and clinical duties. In addition, as physicians extend their services into rural and inner-city areas via telemedicine, they will need more medical assistants to staff these remote clinics.

Career Paths

Medical assistants are in demand in a variety of medical settings. The range of their responsibilities depends on the size and type of facility in which they work as well as their own level of experience and training. In small facilities, medical assistants may perform all administrative and clinical duties, while in larger facilities they may be responsible for only one or two specific tasks. The following sections list the basic duties commonly performed by medical assistants, divided into administrative and clinical categories.

Administrative duties:
-Answering phones
-Greeting patients
-Updating and filing patient medical records
-Scheduling appointments
-Arranging laboratory services
-Handling correspondence
-Covering receptionist duties when necessary

Clinical duties:
-Taking and recording patient vital signs
-Drawing blood
-Preparing patients for examination
-Assisting the physician during examinations
– Collecting and processing laboratory specimens
-Administering medications as directed by a physician

Career paths for medical assistants usually involve advancement to positions with more responsibility, such as office manager or supervisor. Some medical assistants move into other health care occupations, such as registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or physician assistant. Others use their training to enter related occupations, such as pharmacy technician or dental assistant.

FAQs

Below are frequently asked questions about medical assisting and competency checklist for medical assistants.

What is a medical assistant?
A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other healthcare providers. Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in a variety of healthcare settings. They may also be known as healthcare assistants, clinical assistants, or health unit coordinators.

What are the duties of a medical assistant?
The duties of a medical assistant vary depending on the type of healthcare facility in which they work. In general, medical assistants perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments and updating patient records. They also perform clinical tasks, such as taking medical histories and measuring patients’ vital signs.

What is a competency checklist for medical assistants?
A competency checklist is a tool used to evaluate the skills and knowledge required to perform a certain job or task. It can be used to assess the competence of medical assistants or any other type of healthcare worker. The checklist should include both theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as specific skills that are necessary for the job.

Resources

The following is a list of competencies that medical assistants need to be proficient in to perform their duties effectively. This list can be used as a resource for employers to assess the skills of their medical assistant staff, or for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in medical assisting.

-Infection Control: Medical assistants need to be able to identify and prevent the spread of infections. They should know how to properly wash their hands, use personal protective equipment, and clean and sterilize instruments.
-Clinical Procedures: Medical assistants need to be able to perform basic clinical procedures such as taking vital signs, administering injections, and performing EKGs.
-Patient Education: Medical assistants need to be able to educate patients on topics such as healthy lifestyle choices, disease prevention, and management of chronic conditions.
-Emergency Procedures: Medical assistants need to know how to handle medical emergencies such as bleeding, heart attacks, and strokes. They should also know when to call 911.
-Basic First Aid: Medical assistants should know how to provide basic first aid care for minor injuries and illnesses.