Medical Assisting

Medical assistants are important figures in healthcare. These professionals offer vital assistance to others within the facility, ranging from physicians, nurses, and clinical specialists to other administrative personnel. Medical assistants work in conjunction with these other team members to support the treatment and care of patients, ensure the facility is run correctly, and help in any other way necessary.

Generally, medical assistants are in high demand, and the number of jobs in this field will grow significantly over the next ten years.

Medical assistants, who work within various fields of medicine, are responsible for numerous tasks. Because of this, the medical assistant profession has separated into distinct specializations: clinical medical assistants and medical administrative assistants.

It is crucial for anyone considering a career in this profession to understand what to expect, including the day-to-day tasks, potential salary, and other factors.

Young female medical assistant working at the hospital and medical staff

Clinical Medical Assisting

In general, clinical medical assistants work in a clinical environment and provide direct help to physicians and other healthcare professionals to treat and care for patients in the facility. Ultimately, the specific responsibilities of a clinical medical assistant will depend on the place of employment, an individual’s qualifications and abilities, and several other factors. An individual in this type of position may perform any of the following duties:

Sterilize equipment used in the clinical setting
Administer medication to patients
Prepare patients for examinations, treatments, and any other procedures
Perform blood tests and prepare them for the laboratory
Prepare examination rooms for the patients to be treated
Furthermore, a clinical medical assistant may receive training on additional types of equipment to undertake several ancillary tasks at work.

Working in clinical medical assisting demands a degree of compassion and interpersonal skills.

Learn More

Medical Administrative Assisting

Medical administrative assistants spend their time in the front end of a clinic or other healthcare facility. While medical administrative assistants may assist patients, physicians, and other staff members, they do so through a more administrative route. For example, some of the day-to-day tasks include the following:

Fill out insurance forms with information provided by the visiting patients
Schedule patient appointments and follow up with patients when necessary
Record patient information and manage medical records
Answer telephones and handle other related communications services
Ensure that the clinic has sufficient equipment and supplies
Perform any other administrative tasks as requested by the clinic administrator or other healthcare personnel

In some cases, a medical administrative assistant may also aid doctors in the treatment room; this may be the case in smaller facilities where only one additional employee is necessary. However, in many cases, the medical administrative assistant will not be required to perform hands-on treatment for patients and remain at the front of the office.

Learn More