Kaplan College’s Medical Assistant Program

Looking to get into the medical field? Kaplan College’s medical assistant Program could be a great fit for you! Learn more about the program and how to get started today.

Checkout this video:

What is a Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant is a trained professional who typically works in a physicians office, clinic or other healthcare facility. Their job duties can range from taking patient medical histories and scheduling appointments to preparing patients for exams and assisting the physician during the exam. In some states, Medical assistants may also be allowed to perform certain tasks, such as administering injections or removing sutures, under the supervision of a physician.

The medical assistant program at Kaplan College provides students with the training they need to become certified Medical Assistants The program curriculum covers a range of topics, including medical office procedures, anatomy and physiology, and medical law and ethics. In addition to classroom instruction, students in the program also participate in externships that give them hands-on experience working in a healthcare setting.

Duties of a Medical Assistant

A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other health care providers. Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and facilities of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly.

The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the size and location of the practice and the practitioners’ specialty. In small practices, medical assistants might handle all the administrative duties, such as appointments, billing, and insurance claims. In larger practices, there are often separate staff members for these tasks. In all settings, however, medical assistants interact directly with patients by taking their vital signs; updating their medical histories; helping to prepare them for examination; explaining procedures; collecting specimens for laboratory tests; assisting with minor office surgery; instructing patients about medication and special diets; scheduling follow-up visits; making referrals to other health care professionals; handling correspondence; transcribing physicians’ orders from charting systems into patients’ records; and keeping treatment rooms clean and organized.

Medical assistants usually report to an office manager or administrator, although they might also take instructions from a physician or nurse.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

A medical assistant is a multifaceted allied health professional who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals. Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in physician offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings. The duties of medical assistants vary from state to state and depending on the size and location of the employer, but they generally include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, assisting with patient exams, explaining treatment procedures to patients, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, billing and coding insurance forms, preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, sterilizing medical instruments, applying bandages and other wound care treatments, removing sutures (stitches), drawing blood for laboratory tests, administering medications by injection and providing patients with instruction on self-care after discharge from healthcare facilities.

The Role of a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are healthcare professionals responsible for performing a variety of clinical and administrative tasks to support the work of physicians and other medical staff. They are often the first point of contact with patients and play a vital role in ensuring that medical facilities run smoothly.

Medical assistants typically have an associate degree or certificate from an accredited medical assistant program. Some states also require medical assistants to be licensed or registered. The scope of practice for medical assistants varies by state, but most are allowed to perform tasks such as taking patient histories, measuring vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with diagnostic tests and procedures.

What is the Job Description of a Medical Assistant?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health care professionals. They might take medical histories and record vital signs, prepare patients for examination, authorize prescription refills, draw blood, give injections, perform routine laboratory tests, schedule patient appointments and provide instruction on patient care.

What are the Responsibilities of a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants are unlicensed multi-skilled health care professionals who perform administrative and clinical duties under the supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse.

The scope of medical assisting responsibilities varies from state to state and by employer, but typically includes taking and recording medical histories, vital signs, and patient weight; updating patient records; scheduling appointments; handling correspondence; preparing treatment rooms for examinations; sterilizing instruments; disinfecting equipment; applying dressings; assisting with procedures such as lab tests, diagnostic imaging, vaccinations, and record-keeping.

What are the duties of a medical assistant?

A medical assistant’s duties vary depending on the size, location, and type of healthcare facility where they work. However, there are some common duties that most medical assistants perform. These can include maintaining medical records scheduling appointments, preparing patients for examinations, taking and recording patients’ vital signs, and giving patients injections or other medications as directed by a physician.

What is a medical assistant’s job description?

A medical assistant’s job is to provide various clerical and clinical duties in support of the work of physicians and other health care professionals. In small offices, a medical assistant may be responsible for a wide range of activities, from greeting patients to handling billing and coding insurance forms. In larger offices and clinics, medical assistants generally have more specific job duties.

Common job duties for all medical assistants include:

Answering telephones
Scheduling appointments
Taking and recording patient vital signs
Preparing patients for examination
Assisting with minor office procedures, such as administering injections or removing stitches
Performing basic laboratory tests
Instructing patients about medications and special diets
Handle billing and coding insurance forms

What are the responsibilities of a medical assistant?

A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. The medical assistant may perform administrative and clinical tasks. Administrative duties may include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patient Medical records scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services, and handling billing and insurance matters. Clinical duties may include taking medical histories, recording vital signs (blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature), preparing patients for examination, collecting and processing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests on-site, drawing blood, administering medications as directed by a physician or nurse, providing patient education and instruction on wound care and treatments, handling minor office surgeries under the supervision of a physician or nurse, assisting with procedures such as biopsies and colonoscopies. A medical assistant may also take X-rays under the direct supervision of a licensed health care professional.

What is the job description of a medical assistant?

The medical assistant job description is broad and varied. Most medical assistants have great people skills and enjoy working with the public. They are comfortable working in fast-paced environments and can juggle multiple tasks at once. A typical day in the life of a medical assistant might include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, taking patient vitals, drawing blood, and answering phones.