Medical assistants are healthcare workers who perform a combination of administrative and clinical duties, including interacting with patients. If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant, it’s important to understand that you will have to interact with patients frequently. It’s essential to be welcoming and friendly when you interact with patients because it can make or break their experience at your facility. For many medical assistants, interacting with patients is one of the most rewarding parts of their careers.
Prism Career Institute offers a Medical Assistant program at our campuses in Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This program helps prepare aspiring medical assistants for patient interactions and other required job duties. Here, we discuss four common interactions with patients that medical assistants will be expected to have.
1. Scheduling Appointments
One common job duty of medical assistants is to schedule patient appointments, either over the phone, via email or portal, or in person. If over the phone or in person, this involves taking the patient’s name, date of birth, preferred appointment times, and sometimes insurance information. Medical assistants also send appointment reminders and can cancel or reschedule visits. It’s important for medical assistants to speak clearly, confirm the appointment date and time, and remain professional throughout the process.
2. Taking Vitals and Medical Histories
Another main job duty for medical assistants is taking patients’ vitals and recording their medical histories. This interaction is typically done at the beginning of appointments. It can include taking and recording the patient’s height, weight, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Taking their medical history can include asking about current or past problems or conditions, current medications, and family history. During this interaction, medical assistants should ask clear questions and listen effectively to ensure all information is detailed properly. They can also encourage small talk with patients to create a comfortable environment and reduce feelings of anxiety.
3. Explaining Procedures
Depending on the medical assistant’s job, they may be responsible for explaining things to patients, including treatment plans, medical procedures like vaccinations or tests, medication schedules, or post-visit care. Although doctors and nurses also often do this, medical assistants may be asked to remind patients at the beginning or end of their appointments or over the phone. These interactions help provide clarity and peace of mind to patients, so medical assistants should be direct and answer any questions or concerns the patient has.
4. Performing Preparations and Procedures
Some medical assistants will be tasked with preparing patients for procedures like blood draws and electrocardiograms, while others can even perform these themselves. Either way, medical assistants will be interacting with patients during the process. During these interactions, medical assistants should explain their actions clearly and check in with patients to make sure they’re comfortable and not in pain. It’s important to be compassionate and understand that some patients can be scared or uncomfortable.
Prepare With Our Medical Assistant Training Program
The Medical Assistant program at Prism Career Institute provides a solid foundation for aspiring medical assistants. This 40-week program provides students with a well-rounded curriculum that helps prepare them to work as medical assistants, including teaching them how to interact with patients and perform administrative duties. Our experienced instructors provide classroom learning on essential topics, while students complete a 150-hour externship to get hands-on experience in real medical settings. Some of the benefits of completing this program include:
- Convenient blended format that includes both online and in-person classes
- Small class sizes are small with individualized attention
- Affordable tuition rates
- Career Services department that offers help with resume writing, interview prep, etc.
- Financial aid opportunities for qualified students
- Day and evening class times available (evening program is offered at the Cherry Hill and West Atlantic, City campuses)
- Accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
Once completing the program, students can take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). Prism Career Institute pays for this once the medical assistant externship is complete. As part of tuition, study resources are also provided. For more information, check out our frequently asked questions page.
Get Started with Prism Career Institute
Be prepared to succeed as a medical assistant when you complete the medical assistant training program at Prism Career Institute in NJ and PA. You’ll learn proper techniques for interacting with patients, taking vitals, performing lab procedures, and more. For more information about the program, apply online or contact Prism Career Institute today.