The duties Of a medical assistant include scheduling appointments for patients, processing paperwork and records, billing insurance companies, filing patient information, and maintaining inventory. The medical office assistant also takes care of computer-related tasks such as data entry, ordering supplies, and performing administrative tasks
The medical assistant’s role varies depending on his employer, but he also may work as a receptionist or in the billing department.
Medical office assistants often learn their skills through a vocational school or community college program that offer certificates or diplomas in health information management, medical records technology, and other areas of the field. Some employers prefer to hire graduates of two-year programs, while others allow training on the job.
Most employers require an associate’s degree when hiring a medical assistant. With experience and additional education, medical assistants may become health information managers or even administrators of their practices.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 2011 there were over 800,000 medical assistants in the United States. The majority worked in physician offices. However, some worked at hospitals, health care agencies, and medical laboratories. The median salary of a medical assistant was around $29,000 per year in 2011.
medical office assistants can help doctors maintain high standards by performing tedious administrative tasks associated with patient check-ins, insurance billing, prescription requests, and appointment scheduling. They also provide information to patients on emergency calls, hospital visiting hours, and insurance coverage.
medical assistants work in different medical environments, including the following:
–hospitals, where they deal with patients who have been recently admitted or are scheduled for surgery. these assistants keep records up to date and help prepare patient charts for new arrivals.
–urgent care centres that provide immediate care outside of regular business hours. medical assistants screen patients, provide triage services and help refer those who need further treatment to hospital emergency rooms.
–nursing homes, where they assist with doctor appointments, patient treatments, and medication administration. This may include giving injections or monitoring the use of oxygen tanks or other devices by nursing home residents.
–surgical centres, where they schedule appointments, keep medical records, and assist in the operating room.
–outpatient clinics or ambulatory care facilities that provide day-to-day health examinations and minor treatments. they also help with appointment scheduling, billing procedures, and record-keeping.
–private practices of physicians, dentists, or optometrists. in these offices, medical assistants deal with patients one-on-one and assist during examinations.
–healthcare agencies that provide care to patients who require nursing skills. they may help with personal hygiene, record vital signs, and move patients between bed and chair.
–home healthcare agencies, where medical assistants work closely with private citizens or families to provide health care for sick relatives who cannot leave home. the patient’s records must be kept up to date and prescriptions filled.
–medical laboratories, where assistants perform routine laboratory tests and prepare blood samples for doctors’ offices and clinics. They also may handle billing and record-keeping tasks.
Medical Assistants usually do the following tasks:
–greet patients and visitors, schedule appointments, and check patients in and out of treatment areas.
–provide basic information about medical procedures, treatments, and hospital policies to patients and their families.
–perform administrative duties such as filing patient records, typing correspondence or insurance forms, and maintaining department records and supplies.
–prepare patients for examinations by taking blood pressure, temperature, and other vital signs.
–help physicians with routine clinical tasks such as preparing patient examination rooms, sterilizing medical instruments, or removing sutures from surgical incisions.
–assist in surgery by passing instruments or holding retractors.
–perform laboratory tasks such as analyzing and processing blood samples, taking cultures, or extracting tissue for microscopic examination.
–prepare written reports detailing patient care, record test results, update files, and fill out insurance forms.
–perform administrative duties such as ordering supplies, scheduling appointments, or arranging transportation for patients.
—assist with medical research by maintaining laboratory specimens, processing data, entering information into databases, and filing records.
–perform administrative tasks such as answering telephone calls, handling correspondence, and participating in community outreach programs.
–ability to multitask and manage time efficiently
–previous office experience is always a plus
–keeping calm under pressure and remaining cool during emergencies
–excellent customer service skills and people skills
–good organizational abilities and attention to detail
–detailed-oriented, with error checking capabilities
–able to communicate well and converse with patients and providers in a friendly, empathetic, and professional manner
Medical Assistants Education Requirements:
Assistants responsible for office management duties should have at least an associate’s degree in business administration or medical administrative services.
–those interested in research may need a bachelor’s degree along with experience working in a medical laboratory.