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A Brief Medical Assistant Job Description
What exactly is in a medical assistant job description? A medical assistant’s job will depend upon a few factors including the supervising doctor’s expectations, the state in which he or she works and the amount of training and experience he or she has received. Assistants may perform administrative, clerical or clinical duties. In some areas, they may perform any combination of these tasks. No matter the task, the assistant is essential in keeping an office running smoothly.
Assistants usually do multiple jobs in smaller offices. Larger offices or practices may have several assistants that specialize in specific areas. Assistants who serve administrative tasks have duties such as arranging hospital admissions, billing, bookkeeping, scheduling medical tests, submitting medical claims forms, updating and maintaining patient files and many other general clerical duties. Clerical assistants primarily maintain the front office. They answer phones, greet patients, schedule appointments, sort mail and type letters and memos for the supervising doctor.
Clinical medical assistants can actually take part in the medical aspect of the job. They can assist the doctor during exams, call in pharmacy prescriptions, collect lab specimens, draw blood, explain procedures to patients, remove sutures, sterilize instruments for procedures and take electrocardiograms. Of course the ability to undertake these tasks depends on experience and state regulations. Assistants who specialize in certain areas such as optometry and podiatry will have duties according to their particular areas.
Medical assistants may work in clinics, hospitals or private practices. Most actually work in private offices where they have to perform a number of tasks including taking a patient’s blood pressure, height, temperature and weight; running simple lab tests; and writing down the medical history of the patient. They also order supplies and furniture for the office and in essence act as office managers.
Assistants may receive on the job training in some cases, but usually those interested in the field will take a training course. These courses may only last a few weeks and give the prospective assistant the necessary skills to perform administrative and clerical tasks. Those who want to perform clinical tasks will need more extensive training.
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