What does a Medical Assistant do?
A Medical Assistant is a multi-competent health care professional involving administrative and clinical task to keep the offices, clinics, and laboratories of physicians running smoothly. The duties vary from on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants usually are "generalists," handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, or physician. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.
Administrative duties:
Medical Assistants answer telephones, schedule appointments, greet patients, update and file patient charts, order supplies, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, handle billing, collections, and bookkeeping.
Clinical duties:
Clinical duties vary according to state law and include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sterilize medical instruments. Medical Assistants telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical Assistants should not be confused with physician assistants who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician.
A Medical Assistant is a multi-competent health care professional involving administrative and clinical task to keep the offices, clinics, and laboratories of physicians running smoothly. The duties vary from on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants usually are "generalists," handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, or physician. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.
Administrative duties:
Medical Assistants answer telephones, schedule appointments, greet patients, update and file patient charts, order supplies, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, handle billing, collections, and bookkeeping.
Clinical duties:
Clinical duties vary according to state law and include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sterilize medical instruments. Medical Assistants telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical Assistants should not be confused with physician assistants who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician.
Online Medical Assistant Training for medical assistants at: www.medassistant.org
