What are the Duties of a Medical Assistant in Pediatrics?

As a medical assistant in pediatrics, you will be responsible for providing support to the pediatrician in caring for patients. This may include taking vital signs, recording medical histories, administering vaccinations, and more. You will also be a key resource for parents, providing them with information and guidance on their child’s health and development.

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Job Description

Medical assistants play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of medical facilities. In pediatrics, Medical Assistants may be responsible for a variety of tasks, from greeting patients and families to scheduling appointments and handling insurance paperwork. They may also take medical histories, measure vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, and assist the doctor during procedures. In some cases, they may even give vaccinations.

Duties

A medical assistant in pediatrics provides basic care and assists the pediatrician with routine procedures. They may also help with administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments and maintaining medical records

The duties of a medical assistant in pediatrics can vary depending on the size and type of practice. In a small private practice, the medical assistant may be responsible for a range of tasks from greeting patients to scheduling appointments and handling billing. In a larger practice or hospital, the medical assistant may be part of a team that includes nurses and other health care professionals.

Medical assistants in pediatrics generally have an associate degree or certification from an accredited program. Some states require certification or licensure for medical assistants, although this is not currently required at the federal level.

Responsibilities

Medical assistants in pediatrics may have a range of responsibilities, depending on the size and type of facility they work in. In smaller practices, medical assistants may be responsible for a variety of clinical and administrative tasks. In larger facilities, medical assistants may specialize in one area, such as working primarily with patients or handling insurance and billing tasks.

Clinical duties for medical assistants in pediatrics can include taking patient histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during exams, providing instruction to parents on care of their child at home, scheduling appointments and tests, handling correspondence, and maintaining Medical records

Medical assistants who work in pediatrics may also be responsible for administrative tasks such as answering phones, greeting patients, coding and filing insurance forms, handling billing and bookkeeping tasks, ordering supplies, arranging laboratory services, and scheduling hospital admissions.

Salary

Medical assistants in pediatrics earn a median salary of $33,610 per year. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Qualifications

In order to work as a medical assistant in pediatrics, one must have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete an accredited medical assistant program, and pass a certification exam. Most states also require medical assistants to complete a brief period of on-the-job training. Some employers may prefer or require candidates to have completed a pediatric medical assistant program or have previous experience working with children.

Training

There are a few MA programs that offer specialization in pediatrics. If you cannot find a program like this, don’t worry. Any good medical assistant program will have courses that cover the basics of working in pediatrics.

In addition to your formal training, you will also need to develop people skills. Working with children can be challenging. They are often scared, anxious, and may not understand what is going on around them. You will need to be able to put them at ease, explain procedures in language they can understand, and make them feel comfortable in what can be a scary situation.

Certification

To work in pediatrics, medical assistants need certification from an accredited institution. Certification is not required in all states, but it is always preferred by employers. Many medical assistants choose to become certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The AAMA offers a certification exam that, when passed, grants the medical assistant the credential Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). In order to be eligible to take the AAMA’s exam, medical assistants must have completed an accredited medical assisting program and have worked in the field for at least five years.

Career Outlook

Children are not simply small adults. They have unique physical, psychological, and social needs that require special training to understand and address. Medical assistants who specialize in pediatrics gain the skills and knowledge necessary to provide quality care to infants, children, and adolescents in a variety of settings.

A medical assistant supporting a pediatrician or other healthcare provider who specializes in pediatrics typically has duties that include taking medical histories, recording vital signs, handling laboratory tasks, updating immunization records, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, and handling bills and insurance paperwork. Many also perform basic office duties such as answering phones, handling bookkeeping tasks, and acting as a liaison between patients and providers. In some cases, medical assistants may be responsible for administering medications or providing health information to patients and their families.

FAQs

Here are some of the duties that medical assistants may perform in a pediatrician’s office:

greeting patients and their parents, escort them to the exam room, and take patient histories
measuring and recording patients’ height, weight, and vital signs
updating patients’ medical records
drawing blood and giving injections
scheduling appointments and laboratory tests
handling correspondence
keeping the waiting room clean and organized

Resources

As a medical assistant, you play a vital role in the healthcare team. You will be responsible for performing a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the daily operations of a medical office. In some cases, you may also be responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and handling insurance paperwork.

When working in pediatrics, you will provide care for patients from birth to age 21. Your duties will vary depending on the size and scope of the practice, but may include taking patient medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for exams, assisting with procedures, administering medications and vaccinations, and providing instruction on wound care and home health remedies. You will also be responsible for maintaining patient records and scheduling follow-up appointments.