The Top Tasks of Medical Assistants

Medical Assistants are vital members of any healthcare team. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, from administrative duties to clinical tasks. Here are some of the most common tasks that medical assistants perform:

*Answering phones and scheduling appointments
*Collecting patient medical history and insurance information
*Preparing patients for examinations
*Assisting the physician during examinations
*Performing routine laboratory tests
*Instructing patients on medication and diet
*Maintaining medical records
*Coding and billing insurance claims
*Reordering supplies

The Importance of Medical Assistants

Medical assistants are one of the most important roles in a healthcare setting. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, from answering phones and scheduling appointments to taking medical histories and vital signs. This variety of tasks is what makes medical assistants so important – they are the glue that holds a healthcare team together.

Here are some of the most important tasks that medical assistants perform:

Answering phones and scheduling appointments – Medical assistants are often the first point of contact for patients. They need to be able to effectively communicate with patients and answer their questions.

Taking medical histories and vital signs – Medical assistants need to be able to collect accurate information from patients. This includes taking medical histories and performing basic clinical tasks such as taking blood pressure and temperature.

Assisting with procedures – Medical assistants play an important role in assisting physicians during procedures. They need to be able to understand the physician’s instructions and follow them correctly.

Administering medications – In some cases, medical assistants may be responsible for administering medications. This includes both oral and injectable medications. Medical assistants need to be able to ensure that patients receive their medications safely and correctly.

So, as you can see, medical assistants play a vital role in healthcare settings. Without them, things would quickly fall apart!

The medical assistant Job Description

Most medical assistants have on-the-job training that lasts about four to five weeks. During this time, they learn how to perform their duties from experienced medical assistants and office staff. Some states have certification programs for medical assistants, but certification is not required in most states.

There are many different job duties for medical assistants. They may work in the front office, dealing with patients, or in the back office, doing clerical work or assisting with patient care. Here are some of the most common tasks:
Answering telephone calls
Schedule appointments
Update and file patient medical records
Take and record patient vital signs
Prepare patients for examination
Assist the physician during the examination
Give patients instructions for follow-up care

The medical assistant Salary

Hourly pay for medical assistants can range from $9 to $19, with the average medical assistant making $14 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That works out to an annual salary of $29,000 to $40,000 for a full-time position. Pay varies based on experience, education, geographic location and employer type.

According to the National Healthcare Association (NHA), entry-level medical assistants earned a median salary of $28,860 in 2015, while those with one to four years of experience earned a median salary of $33,610. Experienced medical assistants – those with five to nine years on the job – earned a median salary of $37,390, while those with 10 or more years of experience earned a median salary of $41,040.

The Medical Assistant Training

A medical assistant is a vital part of any healthcare team. Providing support to doctors and nurses, medical assistants perform a variety of tasks in order to keep the medical office running smoothly. Though the duties of a medical assistant can vary depending on the state in which they practice, there are certain tasks that are common to most medical assistants. The following is a list of the top ten tasks typically performed by medical assistants:

1. Taking and recording patient vital signs
2. Drawing blood and performing basic laboratory tests
3. Preparing patients for examinations
4. Assisting physicians with exams and procedures
5. Collecting and documenting patient medical histories
6. Scheduling appointments and maintaining patient records
7. handling correspondence and billing
8. Stocking supplies and preparing medications
9. Instructing patients on care after discharge
10. Performing routine office maintenance

The Medical Assistant Certification

The medical assistant certification is the process of becoming certified by a professional organization in order to practice as a medical assistant. This process usually involves completing an accredited training program and passing a certification exam. Some states also require medical assistants to be licensed.

Medical assistants can perform a variety of tasks in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings. These tasks include taking and recording patients’ vital signs, updating patients’ medical history and insurance information, scheduling appointments, and assisting with procedures. Medical assistants may also be responsible for billing and coding, ordering supplies, and handling correspondence.

To become a certified medical assistant, you must first complete an accredited training program. These programs are typically offered at community colleges, vocational schools, and some hospitals. Once you have completed a training program, you must then pass a certification exam in order to earn your credential.

The Medical Assistant Job Outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the occupation will grow by 29 percent between 2016 and 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to several factors, including an aging population, which will require more medical care, and a growing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that need support staff.

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, but there are some tasks that are common to most positions, such as taking and recording patients’ vital signs and medical histories. They also prepare patients for examination, collect lab specimens, schedule appointments, and handle billing and insurance paperwork.

With the growth in the number of medical assistant jobs, there will also be an increase in the number of opportunities for part-time work, job sharing, and telecommuting.

The Medical Assistant Career

Medical assistants are in demand in all 50 states. They perform both administrative and clinical tasks in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings.

Medical assistants are trained on the job or in certificate or diploma programs. Some states have certification requirements for medical assistants. Employers generally prefer candidates who have completed a formal training program.

The duties of medical assistants vary from state to state and by the size and type of healthcare facility. In small practices, medical assistants typically do both administrative and clinical tasks, such as answering phones; scheduling appointments; updating medical records handling correspondence; billing; and coding for insurance purposes. They also may take patients’ vital signs, prepare them for examination, give injections, assist with minor office surgery, remove sutures, change dressings, take X-rays, handle laboratory specimens, explain treatment procedures to patients, instruct patients on taking medications and caring for wounds, schedule follow-up visits when necessary, and telephone prescriptions to pharmacies. Most medical assistants work in primary care offices.

In larger practices and hospitals/clinics that have a staff of specialists (e.g., surgeons), medical assistants usually are assigned to one or more specific physicians. In these settings they perform only clinical tasks related to that physician’s specialty—for example, Orthopedic Medical Assistants help orthopedic surgeons by preparing patients for examination, applying casts and splints under the supervision of the surgeon, caring for postoperative patients, removing sutures (also known as stitches), handling laboratory specimens related to orthopedic surgery, scheduling follow-up visits when necessary, providing instructions to patients on postoperative care (e.g., range-of-motion exercises), controlling bleeding during surgery by applying pressure or using a tourniquet as directed by the surgeon (tourniquets are not commonly used today), operating suction pumps during surgery to remove blood and tissue from the surgical area as directed by the surgeon; and applying splints or traction equipment following orthopedic surgery under the direction of an orthopedic physician or physical therapist

The Medical Assistant Job Opportunities

Medical assistants are in high demand and there is a large variety of medical assistant job opportunities available. Medical assistants perform many different tasks, from administrative duties to clinical tasks. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, and other healthcare facilities.

Most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, although some jobs may require postsecondary education or certification. Medical assistants must be able to multitask and handle a variety of tasks at once. They must be detail-oriented and be able to work well under pressure.

If you are interested in a career as a medical assistant, here are some of the top tasks you will likely perform:

• Schedule patient appointments
• Prepare patients for examinations
• Take and record vital signs
• Assist the physician with procedures
• Collect and prepare laboratory specimens
• Perform basic laboratory tests
• Instruct patients on medication and diet
• Handle correspondence
• billing and coding

The Medical Assistant Future

The future of medical assistants is very exciting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for medical assistants will grow by 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to the increasing number of aging baby boomers and their need for health care services. As the population grows older, there will be an increasing demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by medical assistants.

The Top Tasks of Medical Assistants