Those who are interested in a fulfilling career are sure to consider looking into the medical field. These positions allow you to make a difference in the lives of those within your community while taking on an exciting role in a busy environment. A career as a medical assistant shouldn’t be overlooked. At Prism Career Institute, we help prepare you for the workforce by providing challenging programs, like our medical assistant program, giving you the tools you need. Here, you can learn more about what to expect from this position.
What Is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is a medical professional who works alongside doctors and nurses to help provide the best possible care for their patients. These professionals work in a wide range of environments, including doctor’s offices, medical clinics, hospitals, and more. The position is especially interesting to those looking for a new career path because they get to use their abilities to help patients in several different ways.
How Medical Assistants Help With Patient Intake
Some of the most important medical assistant responsibilities involve the pre-exam duties. These critical tasks help patients feel comfortable while gathering information that doctors will need to provide the best care. Some of these initial assessment responsibilities include:
- Checking vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature
- Taking height and weight measurements
- Performing vision screening and hearing tests
- Looking the patient over to check for abnormalities
- Asking about current medical conditions, allergies, current medications, and family disease history and recording the information in the patient’s medical history
- Offering assistance to patients with limited or no mobility
What Does a Medical Assistant Do During Procedures?
When a doctor comes in and evaluates the patient, they may decide a test or treatment is necessary. Medical assistants will be asked to help prep the patient and the required tools and equipment for these procedures. They may even be asked to perform diagnostic testing themselves. Some tasks related to procedures are:
- Explaining procedures to patients and getting them ready for them
- Attaching electrocardiogram (EKG) electrodes and other equipment
- Offering support to both doctors and patients during procedures
- Collecting and packing blood and other specimen samples
- Recording necessary details of tests for future reference
Other Clinical Medical Assistant Duties
Aside from responsibilities during treatments, medical assistants are counted on to help provide care for wounds and change dressings as well as administer injections and oral medications. They will be relied upon to help patients understand what they need to know after being discharged.
But the job doesn’t stop once the patient leaves the room. You’ll need to schedule off-site tests with other facilities and call in prescriptions to the patient’s pharmacy. Medical assistants will also need to make sure all medical instruments and equipment are clean and ready for the next patient.
The Administrative Roles of a Medical Assistant
While much of the position revolves around medical tools and equipment and patient care, medical assistants are also needed for clerical duties. These medical professionals will often be asked to take patient calls, schedule appointments, and get necessary insurance information. They may even need to assist patients when filling out documents.
Another important aspect of the position is updating patient files and organizing and filing their charts. This helps everyone quickly find the information they need at a glance, which can save valuable time. Because physicians are often busy, you may be asked to help create and update an organizational calendar for one or more doctors, which helps them stay on the same page.
Why Choose This Career?
Becoming a medical assistant allows you to live out your dream of helping people for a living. They work with doctors and nurses every day to help them solve challenging cases and care for sick or injured individuals. These professionals also benefit from taking on a role that makes each day feel unique. Because you’ll have many different responsibilities, work won’t feel as monotonous.
It’s also worth mentioning that medical assistants are a job on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 15% from 2023 to 2033, which means you can expect nearly 120,000 job openings each year, on average. Because of this, those entering the industry will have an easier time finding work and enjoy long-lasting job security.
Enroll with Us Today
At Prism Career Institute, we provide medical assistant programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, New Jersey. Our expert instructors have crafted an intensive yet rewarding curriculum to help students succeed in the industry. You’ll learn through in-depth coursework, hands-on lab work, and externship opportunities, giving you unrivaled experience. We even provide financial aid if you qualify to help assist you with payments. Contact us today if you are ready to take the first step.