While any organization will develop its own list of tasks and responsibilities that are included in their medical assistants’ job description, common medical assistant jobs are included on the list below: Act as a physician’s secretary; Administer oral and inject-able medications; Assist patients with insurance forms and claims If you are sure you want a career where you specialize in the clinical aspect of medical assisting, then you could enroll on a specific clinical medical assisting program. Most clinical medical assistants handle the administrative work for a doctor’s office or health clinic. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician. Their job responsibilities involve working with patients in a clinical context, assisting physicians during procedures, and performing light medical procedures. Only graduates of accredited medical assistant programs are eligible to take the certification exams offered by professional organizations. Think about what you want to look for, then place your idea on our search box. Getting patients ready for examinations, treatments and procedures 3. You will need to keep patient rooms clean and organized in preparation for the next patient. Some of these include administering intravenous medications, interpreting test results, making independent diagnoses or patient assessments, treating patients independent of a physician, or working with anesthesia. The duties of Medical Assistants vary from setting to setting, depending on the size, location, and type. Here is a quick overview (duties vary from office to office depending on location, size, specialty, and state law): Administrative Duties (may include, but not limited to): Follow-up, as well checkup on patients following the doctor’s directive Administrative medical assistants are less directly involved with patients, and more involved with the general running of the medical practice. The clinical medical assistant job description below should give you a general idea of what goes on with this line of work so you can decide if it is right for you. Think about what you want to look for, then place your idea on our search box. Medical Assistant Duties Involving Phlebotomy. The clinical medical assistant job description below should give you a general idea of what goes on with this line of work so you can decide if it is right for you. They may do basic laboratory tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. Although the job duties of a clinical medical assistant are broad, the scope of a clinical medical assistant’s job is always on the medical aspects of the practice rather than administrative tasks. Therefore it is sensible to train on an accredited program that will give you the option of taking a certification exam should you wish to. Medical assistants might also perform the following tasks: Restock medical … However, typical daily tasks may include: The average pay for a certified clinical medical assistant is $13.62 per hour, with an average salary of around $29,000 per year. For those individuals who have made this their life time vocation and have more than 20 years experience, salary expectations can be as high as 19% above the average. For more information on certification please read our guide on how to become a certified medical assistant. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. A clinical medical assistant’s primary focus is to support patient care, from assisting physicians when performing medical examinations to collecting specimens for the lab. Some medical assistants enjoy helping patients so much that they decide to transition to a career in nursing. © print(Date("Y")); ?> EduSearch Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy | Clients | Affiliates |, Guide to Medical Assistant Careers, Schools & Training, Career Overview: Clinical Medical Assistant, Career Overview: Administrative Medical Assistant, Preparing Patients for Medical Tests and Examinations, Explaining Medical Procedures to Patients, Administering Topical, Oral, or Intramuscular Medications, Maintaining the Confidentiality of Patient Information. Even in well-staffed practices, clinical medical assistants often perform some administrative duties. The day-to-day tasks of a medical assistant may be enormously varied. Because the duties performed by these medical assistants are determined and governed by state law, they may vary from one place to the next. The job placement rate is something to consider when selecting your training program. Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. The top performing schools and colleges offer externships as part of the curriculum. Job Responsibilities | Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, as evidenced by the Occupational Analysis of Medical Assistants. Depending on the employer, the same medical assistant can do one or all four of them. Clinical duties. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. In some places, clinical medical assistants may handle other tasks such as preparing and administering medications, applying bandages, taking electrocardiograms and X-rays, maintaining examining rooms, and purchasing and stocking medical equipment. You should check that your chosen program is accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). For example, an optometric medical assistant may perform eye exams on patients or order optometric supplies. All of these factors combine to produce a specific medical assistant job description. A Medical Assistant plays a vital role in keeping doctors’ offices, medical centers, clinics and healthcare offices running efficiently. A medical assistant, also known as a "clinical assistant" or healthcare assistant in the USA is an allied health professional who supports the work of physicians, physician assistants and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. As mentioned previously, a key consideration when choosing a training program is to make sure it is CAAHEP or ABHES accredited so that you will be allowed to sit a certification exam after successfully completing your education. As we’ve discussed, medical assistants often wear two hats and take care of both administrative and clinical duties. Because of the responsibilities that come with medical practice, clinical medical assistant roles are regulated differently from state to state. The medical assistant, MA, job description entails performing administrative and clinical duties, including taking and recording of patients’ personal information and medical history, which they must keep confidential and should never be discussed with anyone else except other medical practitioners involved in the patients’ treatment. Because physicians often have very large patient loads, they use Clinical Medical Assistants as valuable aids to complete many of the routine tasks involved in patient care. Some educational institutions have close relationships with their externship providers, who often end up hiring students once they graduate. However, many people complete their diploma or degree on a general medical assisting program and then choose to specialize in the clinical field once they have some employment experience. Depending on their employer’s needs, they may perform clerical, administrative, or clinical job duties, or all three. Essential work duties highlighted on a Lead Medical Assistant resume example are coordinating clinical staff, providing medical treatment, promoting a positive working environment, assisting office managers, providing treatment information to patients, and preparing staff schedules. Some medical assistants have all of these responsibilities, others only focus on one category, and others do various combinations. Clinical Medical Assistant Duties. Follow-up, as … An externship at a real world medicine practice, such as a physician’s office, clinic or hospital, can give you valuable practical experience and insight into the medical assisting field. Entry level clinical medical assistants will typically earn 7% less than the national average whilst those with 10-20 years experience will typically earn 12% more than the average. As a clinical medical assistant you can save time when assisting doctors or nurses with clinical procedures by anticipating when a procedure needs to be performed and getting equipment ready in advance, although supplies should not be opened until instructed. These duties may include filing records, scheduling lab work and hospital admissions, making follow-up calls to patients, phoning in prescriptions, and calling to get lab test results. They assist with administrative and clinical duties like taking a patient's history and personal information, scheduling appointments, answering the phone or even checking a … They may have additional responsibilities, such as instructing patients about medication or special diets, preparing patients for x rays, removing stitches, drawing blood, or changing dressings. Medical Assistant Job Description. Completing your training on an accredited degree or diploma program is important, especially if you want to become certified after graduation. Certified Medical Assistant … In many practices, MAs are expected to … Certified Medical Assistant Job Responsibilities: Medical assistant duties. This certified medical assistant sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Administrative medical assistants still work with patients in the context of scheduling appointments and handling billing functions, as well as other duties, but these medical assistants do not perform hands-on clinical procedures. A useful tip for you on Medical Assistant Clinical Duties Checklist: Find relevant results and information just by one click. The clerical medical assistant role focuses more on the business aspects of running a medical practice. Clinical medical assistants who are certified are more likely to earn a higher hourly wage or average annual salary and find it easier to advance in their careers than those with just a diploma or degree. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician. Medical assistants work in a variety of settings and have a variety of responsibilities. This means a specialist medical assistant has in-depth knowledge of a particular medical field, so they may have job responsibilities that reflect their specialization. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding for insurance purposes. Medical assistants perform many job duties to keep the offices of doctors, medical centers, and clinics running smoothly. In addition to administrative duties, Medical Assistants perform clinical duties in Some of the common duties of clinical medical assistants include taking vital signs of patients, conducting in-office screening tests, collecting and preparing specimens to send to diagnostic laboratories, and recording medical histories. Although the is no legal requirement for clinical medical assistants to become certified, the demand for those with at least one credential is increasing and employers are increasingly hiring credentialed job applicants in preference to those without. Being a good listener is an essential attribute of a clinical medical assistant, especially when multitasking. Duties and responsibilities for a medical assistant vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice. In addition to administrative duties, a Medical Assistant may be asked to perform clerical and clinical work as well. Interview patients, measure vital signs (i.e., pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight and height) and record information on patients' charts. A good training program will equip you with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to be a professional medical assistant and offer support in finding your first entry level job. When an MA works in a hospital they will be assigned clinical duties that are based on what the patient needs on the floor they have been admitted to. Medical assistant duties The daily tasks of a medical assistant can generally be broken down in two categories: administrative and clinical work. During your medical assistant degree or diploma program, you will learn how to use specialized clinical equipment such as EEG and EFG machines and lab equipment. There are four basic categories of medical assistant duties—clerical, administrative, clinical, and specialist. This is called phlebotomy and it is a regular part of most medical assistant duties. Job Duties for Clinical Medical Assistants. They may do basic laboratory tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. It is also worth looking at what support a school offers to prepare students to take certification exams at the end of their final semester, such as study classes and practice tests, as well as the help available to find a job, such as classes in interview technique and resume writing. In addition to this, those with experience in cardiology and orthopedics saw a 9% and 7% higher than average salary respectively. The day to day duties of a clinical medical assistant will of course depend on the specific job description, as well as the type and size of the healthcare facility. Clinical Medical Assistant Duties in Hospitals. Clinical Medical Assistant Job Description Example. Medical Assistant Job Description Example . One-click and all the information are arranged clearly on site. Some common clinical tasks these professionals do can include: Recording patients' vital signs, documenting physicians' notes and changes in … Job Duties for Clinical Medical Assistants. Their job responsibilities involve working with patients in a clinical context, assisting physicians during procedures, and performing light medical procedures. This qualification is valid for 2 years and medical assistants must recertify by retaking the exam or completing 10 continuing education units (CEUs). Here is an example of the clinical medical assistant job description, comprising of major duties, roles, and responsibilities, which people who work in that position usually perform. Clinical Medical Assistant Duties in Hospitals. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding for insurance purposes. Some medical assistants prefer to specialize in one type although many prefer to perform both administrative and clinical duties. According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) here are some common ones (obviously these can change depending on where the job is): Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements. The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) runs exams at sites throughout the country for graduates to obtain the credential of Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, CCMA (NHA). Patients may be experiencing a whole range of emotions such as anxiety, anger or helplessness and you will need to be sympathetic and understanding of their needs. The duties of Medical Assistants vary from setting to setting, depending on the size, location, and type. One-click and all the information are arranged clearly on site. The basic duties of clinical medical assistants include: Depending on the state, medical assistants may also draw blood (phlebotomy). The medical assistant, MA, job description entails performing administrative and clinical duties, including taking and recording of patients’ personal information and medical history, which they must keep confidential and should never be discussed with anyone else except other medical practitioners involved in the patients’ treatment. Medical assistants perform routine tasks and procedures in a medical clinic. A useful tip for you on Medical Assistant Clinical Duties Checklist: Find relevant results and information just by one click. A medical assistant may focus on administrative duties, such as record keeping and insurance billing, or on the patient care aspect, such as recording vitals and discussing patient history. These medical assistants work in a specialist clinic, such as a podiatrist’s office, optometrist’s office, or a medical testing laboratory (see: medical lab assistant). On the clinical side of medical assistant’s duties, preparing exam rooms is a top priority. Clinical medical assistants have different duties, depending on the state where they work. Medical assistant duties vary widely based on the type of medical assistant, the state a medical assistant is employed in, the employer’s industry, the number of other medical assistants working, and other factors. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements. You need to be compassionate, but at the same time have the ability to keep a professional distance. Some clerical medical assistant job duties might include: The job functions of a specialist medical assistant are somewhat separate from those of other medical assistants. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. The successful candidate will gather patient records and test results, coordinate daily administrative tasks, prepare treatment rooms for examinations and assist our practitioners during medical procedures. Clinical Medical Assistant Job Description Example. Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. In addition to administrative duties, Medical Assistants perform clinical duties in Here is a quick overview (duties vary from office to office depending on location, size, specialty, and state law): Administrative Duties (may include, but not limited to): In many practices, MAs are expected to work both areas. Job Responsibilities | Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, as evidenced by the Occupational Analysis of Medical Assistants. You will need to prioritize your responsibilities. Preparing treatment and examination rooms for patients 2. In larger offices, medical assistants may specialize in clinical or administrative areas, but in a smaller office, one or two assistants may do it all! Duties. When an MA works in a hospital they will be assigned clinical duties that are based on what the patient needs on the floor they have been admitted to. Some work in the offices of physicians, some work in hospitals, and some work in outpatient medical centers or specialty clinics. Medical Assistant Job Description Assist in examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a physician. Copyright © 2020 Medical Assistant Degrees, Associate of Science in Medical Assisting. Unlike an administrative medical assistant, whose duties are mainly involved with ensuring the smooth running of the front desk or reception of a doctor’s office, clinical medical assistants work closely with physicians to carry out jobs directly connected to caring for patients. Since these specialist clinics also tend to be smaller practices, these medical assistants may be more likely to have a combination of clinical, administrative, and clerical medical assistant responsibilities. Medical assistants are caregivers who support doctors or healthcare professionals mainly in clinics or medical offices. While the exact scope of their responsibilities may vary depending on the size of the hospital, medical facility, or practice, medical assistants generally support practitioners and other members of health care team by gathering patient medical history, taking and recording vital sign information, and occasionally assisting with minor, office-based procedures. Because of the responsibilities that come with medical practice, clinical medical assistant roles are regulated differently from state to state. On average those who have experience in wound care will earn 10% higher than the national average. Like most professions, pay is very much influenced by the level of experience and the skills that an individual has. The biggest influence on a medical assistant’s duties is the type of medical assisting being performed. They assist with administrative and clinical duties like taking a patient's history and personal information, scheduling appointments, answering the phone or even checking a … Example medical assistant job description Our busy physician’s practice is looking for a medical assistant who will assist with administrative and clinical duties at our facility. As a clinical medical assistant you will be required to assist healthcare professionals in patient assessment, examination, diagnosis and treatment, working closely with patients who are sick or injured. You will need to be very organized and efficient, as you will be required to deal with a lot of information and a number of patients at once. Medical Assistants Moving Up: A New Opportunity in Nursing. For example, dealing with patients in person should take priority over working on pending tasks such as phoning patients with results and ordering prescriptions. However, there are several physician duties which clinical medical assistants are not allowed to perform. They are similar to administrative assistants in typical office settings, managing the day-to-day office activities that keep an office running smoothly. It is useful to understand the complexities and different phases of drug studies in order to understand what your role as a Medical Assistant would be in a drug study. Clinical medical assistants may also assist nurses and physicians provide direct patient care by taking medical histories, charting vitals, and assisting in examinations and procedures. If you want to make this profession to be your life-long career, you should consider taking the proper medical assistant training and continuing education programs. This requires a number of steps, from disposing of contaminated supplies to sterilizing medical tools. The day to day duties of a clinical medical assistant will of course depend on the specific job description, as well as the type and size of the healthcare facility. In addition, you must be able to think quickly, pay attention to detail and work calmly under pressure. In most cases, medical assistants are hired to work in specific units … Clinical medical assistants have different duties, depending on the state where they work. Assisting with examinations and routine procedures, including minor surgery 4. Clinical medical assistants are the most common type of medical assistant. The role of a clinical medical assistant is to directly assist physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals in providing patient care, with the focus being on performing clinical duties rather than clerical tasks. Here is an example of the clinical medical assistant job description, comprising of major duties, roles, and responsibilities, which people who work in that position usually perform. Lead Medical Assistant Resume Examples. how to become a certified medical assistant, Preparing treatment and examination rooms for patients, Getting patients ready for examinations, treatments and procedures, Assisting with examinations and routine procedures, including minor surgery, Taking blood samples and specimens, dressing wounds and recording vital signs, Performing some administrative duties, for example arranging lab work and prescriptions or filing patient records. Here are some of the most common duties to expect: Medical assistant training includes learning how to draw blood, an important skill that is used often in physicians’ offices and clinical labs. 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