What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
The medical assistant serves as an important link between the patient and the doctor. They
provide essential support in the areas of medical office administration and management, patient care and lab
procedures, patient care and customer services, just to name a few.
"I have noticed that there are many medical assistants that are
unemployed due to lack of certification, not enough job experience and outdated skills!"
Experienced medical assistants with recognized certifications and who are on the
up-and-up on their skills should have no problem landing a good job in a variety of healthcare settings, including
medical offices, clinics, laboratories, blood banks, state health facilities and other places where licensed
healthcare practitioners, clinicians and therapists need a helping hand. When applying for positions the key
is a well written medical assistant resume and cover letter, or a
properly filled out online job application to match the job description.
Where can I work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistant can work in almost any medical facility where they are supervised by the
physician who hired them. Doctors and senior medical staff train, supervise and monitor their medical assistant's
activities on the job. The neat thing about being a medical assistant is that the opportunities in the healthcare
and medical services are so wide open. There are countless special focus areas, such as family medicine,
pediatrics, geriatrics, internal, gynecology, urology, dermatology, cardiology... you name it, and you can work in
so many places, from small single-provider to large group practices, to ambulatory health clinics and large
regional medical centers—it's all out there and available to you in your role as a medical assistant.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants (PA) also like to have at least one or two medical
assistant on their staff to keep the office running smoothly and efficiently. It is their responsibility to keep
the office's work flow going and contribute to the doctor's ability to provide efficient patient care.
Medical Assistants
Responsibilities:
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Schedule and confirm appointments
Prepare patients for examination
Explain treatment procedures
Assist during the examinations
Administer medications
Perform diagnostic screening tests
Change wound dressings
Remove sutures
Collect laboratory specimens
Perform selected clinical and administrative duties
Order and restock supplies
Bookkeeping and basic accounting
Insurance billing and coding
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Prepare patients for examination and treatments
Take patient histories and vital signs
Prepare exam and treatment rooms and set up equipment
Perform venipunctures, obtain throat cultures
EKGs and other procedures as directed
Follow CLIA, OSHA and JCAHO regulations
Order and maintain lab and medical supplies and equipment
Attend required meetings and participates in committees as required
Participate in professional development activities
Data entry and typing
Maintain patient files, records and other information
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The medical assistant duties and responsibilities listed above are only a small example of duties and
responsibilities as a Medical Assistant.
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