Medical Assistant Schools

What does a Medical Assistant do?

A Medical Assistant can be expected to perform routine administrative and/or clinical tasks in the offices or clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors and optometrists. In small practices, they are generalists who handle both administrative and clinical duties and report directly to a physician, office manager or other health practitioner. Those in a large practice tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of the lead department administrator.

Medical Assistants perform many administrative duties including but not limited to answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and fileing patients medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduleing appointments, arranging for hospital admission / laboratory services, billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical duties will vary according to the local state law and may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, explaining treatment procedures to patients and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens, dispose of contaminated supplies, or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises and sterilize medical instruments. Some may also instruct patients about medication 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, change dressings and remove sutures.  Medical Assistants may also arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms clean.