Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with Physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician.
The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner's specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually do many different kinds of tasks, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.
Medical assistants who perform administrative tasks have many duties. They update and file patients' medical records, fill out insurance forms, and arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services. They also perform tasks less specific to medical settings, such as answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing and bookkeeping.
For clinical medical assistants, duties vary according to what is allowed by State law. Some common tasks include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.
Medical assistants also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.
Ophthalmic medical assistants, optometric assistants, and podiatric medical assistants are examples of specialized assistants who have additional duties. Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide eye care. They conduct diagnostic tests, measure and record vision, and test eye muscle function. They also show patients how to insert, remove, and care for contact lenses, and they apply eye dressings. Under the direction of the physician, ophthalmic medical assistants may administer eye medications. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist the ophthalmologist in surgery. Optometric assistants also help provide eye care, working with optometrists. They provide chair-side assistance, instruct patients about contact lens use and care, conduct preliminary tests on patients, and otherwise provide assistance while working directly with an optometrist. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery.
Work environment. Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They constantly interact with other people and may have to handle several responsibilities at once. Most full-time medical assistants work a regular 40-hour week. However, many medical assistants work part time, evenings, or weekends.
| 1. | Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height. |
| 2. | Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician. |
| 3. | Record patients' medical history, vital statistics and information such as test results in medical records. |
| 4. | Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician. |
| 5. | Collect blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing. |
| 6. | Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets and physicians' instructions to patients. |
| 7. | Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures. |
| 8. | Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies. |
| 9. | Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean. |
| 10. | Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies. |
| 11. | Schedule appointments for patients. |
| 12. | Change dressings on wounds. |
| 13. | Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic. |
| 14. | Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission. |
| 15. | Perform general office duties such as answering telephones, taking dictation or completing insurance forms. |
| 16. | Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies and equipment. |
| 17. | Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses. |
| 18. | Set up medical laboratory equipment. |
| 19. | Keep financial records and perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit and collections and mailing monthly statements to patients. |
| 20. | Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests. |
| 21. | Give physiotherapy treatments such as diathermy, galvanics, and hydrotherapy. |
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