Three Broad Areas of Medical Assisting
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There are three broad areas of medical assisting: administrative, clinical, and laboratory. Depending on the size and scope of the medical practice, each of these areas may be further divided into subspecialties.
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Job Description: Duties of a Medical Assistant
Medical assistants are allied health professionals who support the work of physicians and other health care providers. They perform administrative and clinical tasks in medical offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings.
A medical assistant’s job description may include a variety of tasks, depending on the size and type of healthcare facility where they work. In small practices, Medical Assistants may be responsible for a range of clinical and administrative duties, from greeting patients and scheduling appointments to taking medical histories and recording vital signs.
In larger practices or hospitals, medical assistants typically specialize in one area of responsibility. For example, some medical assistants work primarily with patients, while others may be responsible for tasks such as billing and coding or scheduling surgeries.
No matter their particular area of focus, all medical assistants must maintain a high level of professionalism and work ethic. They must be able to multitask effectively, juggle competing priorities, and maintain a calm demeanor in fast-paced environments.
Education and Training: How to Become a Medical Assistant
There are three broad areas of medical assisting: administrative, clinical, and billing and coding. Most programs will prepare you for all three areas, but some may emphasize one or two more than the others.
Administrative medical assistants are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a medical office. They might schedule appointments, maintain patient records, file insurance claims, and perform other office duties.
Clinical medical assistants work directly with patients. They might take patient histories and vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, assist with routine office procedures such as giving injections or removing stitches, and perform basic laboratory tests.
Billing and coding medical assistants handle the billing and coding for a medical office. They make sure that insurance claims are filed correctly and that payments are received in a timely manner.
Work Settings: Where Medical Assistants Work
Medical assistants work in a variety of settings, including physician’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and even in surgery centers. They may also work for insurance companies or other healthcare facilities. The three broad areas of medical assisting are administrative, clinical, and billing and coding.
Administrative medical assistants are responsible for the non-clinical aspects of running a healthcare facility. This can include tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling patient correspondence, maintaining medical records and handling billing and insurance paperwork.
Clinical medical assistants are responsible for the day-to-day patient care tasks in a healthcare setting. This can include tasks such as taking patient vital signs, administering vaccinations and medications, preparing patients for exams, and collecting lab specimens.
Billing and coding medical assistants handle the insurance and billing aspects of patient care. This can include tasks such as coding diagnoses and procedures for insurance claims, submitting claims to insurance companies, and following up on unpaid claims.
