Role of Medical Assistants
Background
Medical assistants work mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics, alongside physicians, forming essential members of a patient-centered medical team. Medical assistants are critical to the safe and efficient delivery of health care, with their role being just as versatile as they are important in the clinic.
Work environment and job training
Most medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities 1. Training to become a medical assistant can be much faster than pursuing a medical or nursing degree. A medical assistant needs to earn a high school diploma or GED to enter the role; to become a certified or registered medical assistant, it is necessary to complete a medical assistant program. During the course of their work, medical assistants are thoroughly cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, as demonstrated by the Occupational Analysis of Medical Assistants 2. Much of the training to become a proficient medical assistant can take place through on-the-job training 3.
Versatile roles of medical assistants
Medical assistants have diverse clinical duties within their role. These may include, but are not limited to, taking medical histories, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, assisting the physician during examinations, performing basic laboratory tests, instructing patients about medication and special diets, sterilizing medical instruments, and/or disposing of contaminated supplies. They may also have additional responsibilities, such as preparing patients for X-rays, removing stitches, drawing blood, and/or providing wound care or changing dressings.
Administrative duties
Medical assistants also may have a number of administrative duties to perform alongside their clinical duties. These may include answering the phone, welcoming patients, updating and filing patient medical records, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services, and/or handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping.
Finally, as a medical liaison, a medical assistant can also be instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office, frequently by explaining physician instructions.
A job in demand
Medical assistantship is a career which is growing much faster than most other occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics 4. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 reported that positions in this field would increase 17% between 2021 and 2031, adding nearly 118,000 jobs nationwide 3. Wages for this field tend to vary based on place of employment, years of experience, education completed, and certifications held, but, on average, the nearly 728,000 medical assistants working in the U.S. earned over $38,000 per year in 2021. Researchers attribute this job growth to the predicted surge in the number of physicians’ offices and outpatient care facilities, technological advancements, and the growing number of elderly Americans who need medical treatment.
Outlook
Medical assistants play a vital role in the healthcare industry, providing services for both medical professionals and patients. Medical assistants as such represent critical members of a health care delivery team, and should continue to be valued by clinical colleagues, employers, and patients alike.
References
1. Medical Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm. (Accessed: 14th July 2023)
2. AAMA – Occupational Analysis of Medical Assistants. Available at: https://www.aama-ntl.org/medical-assisting/occupational-analysis. (Accessed: 14th July 2023)
3. What Do Medical Assistants Do? A Job Overview. Available at: https://www.medicaltechnologyschools.com/medical-assistant/what-does-a-medical-assistant-do. (Accessed: 14th July 2023)
4. Medical Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-6. (Accessed: 14th July 2023)