Do you have a passion for helping others feel good about themselves? If you’re looking to make an impact on people’s lives, then you should consider working as a medical assistant. As someone in this profession, you can expect a variety of responsibilities that depend on where you decide to work. Typically, a medical assistant is responsible for the following:
- Administrative tasks
- Clinical tasks
- Interpersonal communication
- Organization
Administrative Tasks
The tasks of a medical assistant can vary depending on where they work. Administrative duties happen behind the desk and require medical assistants to use their organization skills to make sure that their patients are properly taken care of before and after their appointment. Some administrative tasks are:
- Answer phone calls
- Make appointments
- Update records
- Greet patients
- Handle insurance
- Complete patient billing
Clinical Tasks
These tasks help patients during the examination and medical assistants are expected to help make the medical processes run more smoothly. Some clinical tasks are:
- Prep exam rooms
- Draw blood
- Handle medication info
- Educate and soothe patients about procedures
- Take vital signs
- Give injections
- Help the physician with patient examinations
- Understand phlebotomy, EKG, and other lab procedures
Interpersonal Communication
Medical assistants have the opportunity to provide help to both patients and doctors. Being compassionate and dependable are just some of the important qualities a medical assistant needs to effectively communicate with the people they’ll come in contact with every day. They are expected to make sure that patients are taken care of financially and personally. In addition to helping them with their paperwork before and after examinations, medical assistants are also there to reassure the patients during their appointment. This can mean providing support to the patient or helping the doctor to make sure the procedure runs as smoothly as possible.
Organization
Since medical assistants are expected to handle a variety of tasks, it’s important that they are able to organize their day effectively. With both clinical and administrative duties to perform, medical assistants should develop organizational skills to ensure all their tasks are completed in a timely fashion. Handling the paperwork is just one of the many duties where this trait will come in handy. Patients and doctors alike depend on medical assistants to perform their jobs well, so organizing an orderly day-to-day system is key.
Ready to Start Becoming a Medical Assistant?
With a variety of places medical assistants can work, it’s no wonder that medical assisting is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of medical assistant jobs is expected to increase by 29% from 2016 to 2026. At American Institute, you can learn skills that will help you start a future in this fast-growing industry. Contact us if you have any questions about our programs or how you can start the application process.
