Job Description Of Medical Assistant

As a part of the healthcare team, medical assistants are primarily involved in clinical and administrative duties designed to help offices of doctors and other healthcare professionals to run smoothly and efficiently. Traditionally, medical assistants were usually employed in mobile healthcare facilities and small clinics, but nowadays it is common to see them working in small and big hospitals, even in inpatient and outpatient as well. The job description of medical assistants can sometimes be confused to that of nurses, especially because they both usually work in a doctor’s clinic or hospital setting and provides care for patients as well.

Depending on where they are employed, the duties and responsibilities of a medical assistant will vary. Factors which affect the nature of their work are usually the assistant’s educational background, work experience, location and size of their practice, and field of specialization. Those who are employed in small practices are generally assigned both administrative and clinical tasks. Medical assistants who perform administrative work may be involved with the processing of medical claims, insurance forms, schedules of medical examinations, and patient billing. They may also perform other clerical work such as answering phone calls, receiving patients, and bookkeeping.

As for clinical medical assistants, their scope of work will be dictated primarily by the laws and regulations of the State they are working in. Their most common tasks include providing assistance to doctors during medical examinations, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, recording of patient’s medical history, taking vital signs, briefing patients before medical procedures, performing basic lab tests, and sterilizing medical instruments. Medical assistants may also be authorized by doctors and other health professionals to perform other tasks such as drawing blood, changing of dressings, processing of prescriptions, taking ECG’s, and administering of medications.

Medical assistants may also choose to specialize in a specific field of medicine, and will require further studies, training and experience. Medical fields such as cardiology (heart), optometry/ophthalmology (eyes), podiatry (foot), and physical therapy can be pursued by medical assistants in order broaden their employment opportunities and scope of work. A cardiology assistant will be working alongside cardiologists in providing heart care, while optometric assistants team up with optometrists to deliver eye care. Specialized medical assistants will be involved in more complex tasks; therefore they are entitled to higher salary thresholds as well.

Keep in mind that the job description of medical assistants can cover a wide range of duties and responsibilities, and will be dictated by a number of factors. You can think of them as more of an “all-around” service provider, be it administrative, clerical, clinical or special. Medical assistants may also choose to apply for voluntary certification, and this can play a significant role in the tasks they will be assigned with. No matter where they are employed, a medical assistant’s goal will always be to take an active role in helping provide healthcare alongside doctors and other medical professionals. This career is a good choice if you are looking for job security and great financial rewards since the demand for healthcare will always be there no matter what the economic conditions are.