Become A Medical Assistant
This article provides an overview of medical assistant careers and the requirements to become a medical assistant. This article will outline medical assistant job duties, salary levels, and employment prospects, as well as discuss the career's necessary skills, training, educational requirements, and certification requirements.
Medical Assistant Job Duties
Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of medical practitioners. Their duties will vary depending on the size, type, and location of a medical practice. In smaller practices, medical assistants tend to be generalists with both clinical and administrative duties, reporting either to an office administrator or physician. In larger practices, medical assistants tend to specialize and report to a supervisor or department administrator. The administrative duties of a medical assistant may include:
Answering telephones
Greeting patients
Updating and filing patient's medical records
Filling out insurance forms
Correspondence
Scheduling appointments
Arranging for hospital admission
Handling billing and bookkeeping
The clinical duties of a medical assistant vary according to individual state law. Clinical duties can include:
Taking medical histories
Recording vital signs
Explaining treatment procedures or instructing patients about medications and special diets
Preparing patients for examination
Assisting the physician during the examinations
Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
Performing basic laboratory tests on the premises
Disposing of contaminated supplies
Sterilizing medical instruments
Preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
Authorizing drug refills as directed
Telephoning prescriptions to a pharmacy
Drawing blood
Preparing patients for x rays
Taking electrocardiograms
Removing sutures
Changing dressings
Arrange examining-room instruments and equipment
Maintaining supplies and equipment
Medical assistants should not be confused with physicians assistants, who typically have broader clinical duties. Some medical assistants in specialist's offices may have additional specialized clinical duties.
Medical assistants typically work a 40-hour work week. Some work nights and weekends. Some work part-time.
Medical Assistant Job Skills
Medical assistant skills include:
Courteous and pleasant manner to effectively deal with the public and to be able to put patients at ease
Manual dexterity and visual acuity to perform certain clinical duties
Strong attention to detail to perform clinical duties accurately and efficiently
Excellent verbal communication skills to be able to explain physician's instructions
Strong ethical and confidentiality standards because of confidential patient medical information that they handle
Good organizational skills to effectively deal with patient records and other administrative tasks
Medical Assistant Income
Salaries for medical assistants vary depending on experience, skill level, and location. As of 2002, salaries for medical assistants were around $23,940, with the top 10% earning more than $34,130. Earnings for medical assistants vary by industry segment with the median annual incomes for the industries employing the largest number of medical assistants being:
General medical and surgical hospitals
$24,460
Physicians offices
$24,260
Outpatient care centers
$23,980
Other health care services
$23,440
Offices of other practitioners
$21,620
Also, see related careers such as: Nursing Assistant
