Behind every well-run medical office is a medical administrative assistant keeping things together. If you are considering a career as a medical assistant, you may be surprised to learn the variety of medical office procedures you will learn to help properly care for patients. As part of a medical administrative assistant program, you will develop skills in several areas.
Routine Patient Care
The small tasks performed daily by medical administrative assistants add up to make a huge impact on patients' overall experience. Maintaining exam rooms and providing excellent customer service ensure that customers can get in and out of their appointments quickly.
By learning proper medical office procedures for taking vital signs, the well-trained medical assistant can make patients feel comfortable and well cared for. As patients arrive, medical assistants will take current measurements, discuss the patient's recent history, and ask probing questions to gather important information for doctors to help them make proper decisions regarding the patient's care.
These tasks help doctors assess patient diagnoses quickly and allow patients to complete their appointments in a timely manner.
Laboratory Procedures
During training, medical assistants may be exposed to several laboratory procedures that will allow them to assist doctors when needed. Even during cardiac diagnostic tests, doctors may need the extra hands of a qualified medical administrative assistant.
Students will also be trained in the proper handling of laboratory procedures and specimens to ensure that mishandling or contamination does not occur. Oftentimes, it is not the doctor that collects blood or urine specimens, but the medical assistant.
Most professionals looking to enter this field also work towards earning a phlebotomy certification. This not only makes them a more marketable employee, but it also helps them better understand how blood specimens are obtained and handled in a laboratory environment.
Administrative Skills
While the majority of medical assistant tasks are patient-oriented, there are some administrative tasks that are important for keeping an office running efficiently. Students who can handle and document patient charts, set appointments and demonstrate proficiency in a variety of computer skills will be invaluable to a busy physician's practice.
By combining these medical office procedures into one course of study, schools provide students with a solid foundation for building a financially rewarding career.
