Medical assistants are essential to the healthcare industry, working to keep things running smoothly and organized. They are responsible for completing many clinical and administrative tasks in a variety of healthcare settings. Hospitals are one setting that medical assistants can choose to work in that provides many benefits depending on what you’re looking for out of your workplace.
Prism Career Institute offers a Medical Assistant program in Philadelphia, PA, and in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, that efficiently prepares students for the workforce. Here, we discuss medical assistant jobs and the benefits of working in a hospital.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Generally, medical assistants play a large role in a hospital setting because they assist doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They ensure hospitals run smoothly in their day-to-day operations. To become a medical assistant, students must first complete a medical assistant program like the one at Prism Career Institute. After completing courses and taking the right exams, students are prepared to work as medical assistants.
Before working in a hospital, medical assistants can gain experience in a variety of settings, such as:
- Clinics
- Family practices
- Private practices
- Nursing homes
- Assisted living facilities
Tasks for Medical Assistants in a Hospital Setting
Medical assistant responsibilities in a hospital setting include:
Clinical Tasks
Medical assistants can complete small medical tasks around a hospital, mainly assisting doctors and nurses with giving care to patients. Some medical assistants can be assigned to a designated unit or floor, meaning they work only in that department. The clinical duties that a medical assistant completes can be different depending on what your department requires. However, most medical assistants typically complete the following clinical tasks:
- Taking patient vitals
- Conducting procedures, like electrocardiograms (EKGs) or blood tests
- Assisting patients with medications
- Helping patients with treatments
- Guiding patients through exams
- Collecting and prepping lab samples
- Educating patients
- Administering medications
- Sending prescription refills
- Wound care
Administrative Tasks
Along with regular clinical duties, medical assistants are expected to complete various administrative tasks around a hospital setting. Regardless of the department or unit you work in, there are always administrative duties to be done, like handling and organizing paperwork. It is up to medical assistants to complete these duties to allow hospitals to run smoothly and efficiently. Some administrative tasks that a medical assistant may complete include:
- Greeting patients
- Billing
- Working with insurance companies
- Gathering patient information
- Organizing patient charts
- Helping patients fill out paperwork
- Updating patient charts
- Answering phones
- Scheduling appointments
Emergency Room
Medical assistants can be assigned to the emergency room department of their hospital. Those who work here can expect to deliver quick responses and always be ready to help. Because patients typically seen in emergency rooms require urgent medical care, medical assistants must be vigilant and prepared for anything. Those who work in an emergency room setting may complete other tasks besides regular medical assistant duties, such as:
- Prepping exam rooms
- Providing support to patients
- Transporting patients
- Inquiring about a patient’s medical history
Benefits of Medical Assistant Hospital Jobs
There are many benefits for medical assistants working in a hospital, such as:
Unique Work Hours
Working in a hospital can deliver unique work hours that can fit with a variety of lifestyles and schedules. For starters, hospitals are open 24 hours a day. This means some medical assistants may have to work overnight hours. Additionally, some hospital shifts may require long work days. In this case, medical assistants can have more days off during the week. If you’re looking to switch up your traditional work schedule, working in a hospital can be a great fit.
Job Security
Medical assistants have always been needed in the healthcare industry, and hospitals are looking for well-trained medical assistants now more than ever. The number of medical assistants leaving the healthcare field is growing every day, so the demand for skilled medical assistants is only going to increase. Choosing a medical assistant career path can not only allow students to find work once they finish courses, but they can also feel secure in their jobs.
Job Mobility
As a medical assistant, there are plenty of opportunities for you to move up in a hospital setting. For starters, you can continue with schooling to obtain positions as a nurse or other healthcare occupations. In addition, cities and towns all across the country need hospitals to ensure the well-being of their community. This means medical assisting allows you to find a job anywhere you go, including in other states.
Enroll in Courses at Prism Career Institute
With three campuses and convenient program schedule options in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, Prism Career Institute offers courses that allow students to start their career journeys. We aim to give students the resources and tools they need to become successful. To learn more about medical assistant hospital jobs and our Medical Assistant program, contact us or apply online today.