The medical field features some of the most challenging yet fulfilling positions there are. Medical assistants are professionals that all medical environments can rely on, even when the unexpected happens. Prism Career Institute provides a Medical Assistant training program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, New Jersey, that prepares students for various work situations, including emergencies. Here, we explore some emergency medical assistant duties that may be necessary.
What Is the Role of Medical Assistants in Emergency Situations?
Medical assistants have a lot on their plates on a given day, which is why they’re so vital to their work environments. Aside from the everyday clinical and administrative tasks they can expect to perform, when emergency assistance is needed, these medical professionals may be required to help. But what responsibilities do medical assistants need to prepare for?
One of the most likely tasks you may be asked to perform is first aid. This includes taking patient vitals to help doctors evaluate their current state, applying dressings to wounds to prevent infection, administering CPR, and more. Medical assistants’ main responsibility in these situations is to help keep the patient calm and stable until doctors and nurses have arrived or are able to address the problem.
The scope of your duties in these scenarios will vary based on your work environment. Emergency room medical assistants can expect to handle these tasks far more often than those in medical offices, but anyone taking on this role should be prepared. Being able to act quickly and confidently can be the difference between a good and bad outcome.
What About Emergencies Outside of the Workplace?
Urgent situations that happen outside of a medical facility will require more from medical assistants as there are not always doctors nearby. Fortunately, with the training and knowledge you’ve amassed, you’ll be ready to step in. In these situations, you should follow these steps until help arrives:
Call for Emergency Assistance
Grab your phone and dial 911. If you don’t have your phone with you, have someone nearby call. Once on the phone with an emergency representative, it’s best to use speaker-phone mode so that you have both hands available, and the person needing help can answer any necessary questions.
Find a Safe Space
Oftentimes, those needing emergency help might still be in harm’s way. Whether they are near moving vehicles or falling objects, if you can, you’ll want to move them to a safe location. Enlist help from someone nearby if moving them would be too difficult on your own.
Perform Emergency Services
As soon as possible, you’ll want to follow whatever emergency instructions are provided by the dispatcher. In many cases, this will involve some of the same responsibilities you would have in the workplace, but you won’t have other medical professionals by your side. Therefore, you’ll need to stay focused and attentive until an ambulance arrives.
Important Emergency Medical Assistant Qualities
Not everyone can handle the work that these specialists take on, but those that can tend to have the following traits:
- Ability to multi-task: In this job, you’ll often need to be able to perform several tasks at once.
- Strong communication: Medical assistants not only need to listen to patient’s concerns but effectively communicate them to doctors and nurses.
- Ability to handle pressure: It almost goes without saying, but anyone working in emergency situations will need to take quick, decisive action when time is of the essence.
Enroll in Our Medical Assistant School
Prism Career Institute features a comprehensive curriculum in our medical assistant program, helping those in Philadelphia, PA, and Cherry Hill and West Atlantic City, NJ, get a quality education that will help them enjoy thriving careers. Our programs blend in-class and online lectures with hands-on training in our lab, helping you get the textbook knowledge and clinical practice you need. Students will also benefit greatly from our externships, which provide real-world experience to give our graduates a leg up.
This expansive education includes a total of 720 course hours and runs for 40 weeks. Our NJ campuses even allow for evening classes for those with busy daytime schedules. Graduates will be able to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam provided by the National Healthcare Association (NHA), and we’ll even cover your exam fee.
Start Your Career Journey Today
If you want to impact lives and think you can handle the emergency medical assistant responsibilities, enroll at one of Prism Career Institute’s PA or NJ locations. We offer financial aid for qualified students to help make your education more affordable. Our career services department is a great resource for both current students and alumni. Fill out our online form if you’re ready to take the first step.