The Many Roles of Medical Assistants Today
December 9, 2010
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So what, exactly, is it that medical assistants do? They wear many hats. Medical assistants are essential to a variety of different medical facilities ranging from private and public hospitals, primary care practices, specialists offices, extended care facilities to out-patient offices.
In the past the majority of medical assistants were trained on the job, but given their expanded roles and responsibilities over time, now, most medical assistants have some form of formal training like a 1-2 year program.
Administrative medical assistants’ responsibilities consist of filing patient’s medical records, scheduling appointments, bookkeeping and billing.
Clinical medical assistants often deal with more technical and hands on patient responsibilities. The ability of medical assistants to perform certain duties vary state by state according to the law, but clinical medical assistants often: make medical histories and record vital signs of patients, prep patients for examinations, collect laboratory specimens and perform basic laboratory tests; as well as performing tasks around the exam room such as sterilization, and arrangement of examining room equipment.
If you are looking for a growing industry for a fresh start at a new career, take a look at the medial assistant training programs that Sanford-Brown has to offer: http://www.sanfordbrown.edu/Areas-Of-Study/Allied-Health-Technicians-And-Therapists/Medical-Assisting
*Sanford-Brown does not guarantee employment or salary.