The Medical Assistant’s Duties

The Medical Assistant’s Duties according to the AAPA are providing administrative and clinical support to physicians.

The medical assistant may perform a variety of administrative duties such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and handling patient records. Clinical duties may include taking and recording medical histories, measuring patients’ vital signs, and preparing patients for examinations.

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Job Description

The medical assistant job description is broad and varied. Most Medical assistants work in physician’s offices and perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks. Some of the duties of a medical assistant may include:

Answering patient phone calls
Scheduling appointments
Checking patients in and out
Verifying insurance coverage
Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
Taking and recording patient medical histories
Preparing patients for examination
Assisting the physician during the exam
Drawing blood and performing basic lab tests
Instructing patients on taking medications and special diets
Performing routine office procedures such as administering injections, removing sutures, caring for wounds, etc.
Maintaining equipment and supplies

Medical assistants must be able to multi-task and have excellent people skills. They must be able to work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment. Many medical assistants have an associate’s degree or certificate from an accredited program, but some are trained on the job.

Medical Assistant Duties by Department

The medical assistant job description can vary by department or facility. In a small doctor’s office, the MA may be responsible for a wide variety of tasks, from scheduling appointments to drawing blood. Most MAs work in outpatient care centers or hospitals and have more specific duties. The following is a list of common medical assistant duties by department:

Medical Assistant Duties in Pediatrics
In a pediatrician’s office, the MA may be responsible for:
-Greeting patients and their families
-Taking patient vital signs
-Assisting with immunizations
-Answering phones and scheduling appointments
-Entering patient data into the electronic health record (EHR) system
-Collecting urine and stool samples
-Instructing parents on at-home care such as wound care or administering medication

Medical Assistant Duties in Internal Medicine
An MA working in internal medicine may have the following duties:
-Taking patient histories
-Performing basic laboratory tests
-Conducting electrocardiograms (EKGs)
-Assisting with minor procedures
-Administering injections

Medical Assistant Duties in Surgery
MAs working in surgery have both clinical and administrative duties. They may be responsible for:
-Prepping patients for surgery
-Transporting patients to the operating room
-Assisting surgeons during procedures
-Changing dressings and removing sutures

Medical Assistant Duties in Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) …

The Medical Assistant’s Role in Patient Care

The medical assistant’s role in patient care is to provide quality care and services to patients under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Medical assistants are responsible for a variety of duties, including but not limited to:

– Taking and recording patient medical histories
– Performing basic laboratory tests
– Assisting with examination and treatment procedures
– Providing patient education and instructions
– Scheduling appointments and maintaining medical records

The Medical Assistant’s Role in Administrative Tasks

The medical assistant’s role in administrative tasks includes work such as handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, handling medical records and billing. They are also responsible for answering the telephone, taking messages and greeting patients. In some cases they may also be responsible for making travel arrangements for doctors who make house calls or travel to other hospitals.

The Medical Assistant’s Role in Clinical Tasks

The medical assistant’s role in clinical tasks is to perform various tasks and duties to support the physician. Medical assistants may be involved in a variety of tasks, including taking medical histories, recording vital signs, highlighting symptoms, performing various diagnostic tests, and assisting with minor surgery.

The Medical Assistant’s Education and Training

Most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some have completed postsecondary education, and most states do not require certification for medical assistants. Medical assisting programs typically last about one year and lead to a certificate or diploma. Some community colleges offer 2-year programs that lead to an associate degree.

A small number of schools offer bachelor’s degrees in medical assisting, but these programs are generally designed for students who already have some experience in the field or for those who want to move into management positions.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredits more than 600 medical assisting programs that meet its standards, and the National Healthcare Association offers certification for medical assistants who complete a CAAHEP-accredited program and pass an exam.

The Medical Assistant’s Certification

In order to be a medical assistant, one must have a certification from an accredited institution. The duties of a medical assistant include clerical work, such as scheduling appointments and maintaining Medical records as well as clinical work, such as taking vital signs and giving injections. Medical assistants must be able to multi-task and work well under pressure. They must also have excellent customer service skills.

The Medical Assistant’s Salary

The medical assistant’s salary will depend on their level of experience, the type of facility they work in, and the geographical location of their job.

The Medical Assistant’s Job Outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job market for medical assistants is expected to grow by 29% from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to the increasing demand for healthcare services as the population ages.

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support doctors and other healthcare professionals. They may schedule appointments, take and record patients’ vital signs, prepare exam rooms, and assist with patient examinations. They also may collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. Some medical assistants also administer medications or give injections under the supervision of a physician or nurse.

The Medical Assistant’s Career Path

Medical assistants are in high demand due to the recent expansion of healthcare services and the aging population. Most medical assistants have an associate degree from a community college, although some have received on-the-job training. Medical assistants typically work in outpatient care facilities, such as physicians’ offices and clinics. They perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the office running smoothly.

Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, handling patient inquiries, and maintaining medical records Clinical tasks usually involve taking medical histories, measuring patients’ vital signs, and assisting with routine examinations and diagnostic tests. Medical assistants may also prepare patients for x-rays or other procedures, remove sutures, or dress wounds. With additional training, medical assistants can perform additional tasks such as helping with minor office surgery or administering medications.