Medical Assistant holding clipboard

Medical assistants play a valuable role in today’s healthcare. Medical assistant duties vary widely, primarily depending on where they work. For example, some work in hospitals and others work in doctors’ offices. If you’re thinking about becoming a medical assistant, aka an MA, you’re choosing a rewarding career with training programs typically less than a year giving quicker entry into the workforce!

 

If you’re wondering what a medical assistant does, we’re going to break it down here.

 

A Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant

 

Medical assistants do a lot of different things, mostly driven by their working environment. Even though medical assistant training is fairly consistent across schools, one medical assistant’s day can look very different from another’s.

 

Most MAs work with patients, measuring vital signs, drawing blood, giving injections, running basic lab tests, and helping doctors. They are also responsible for stocking, sterilizing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment. However, some do more clerical work, such as calling patients with test results, verifying insurance, updating patient records and scheduling appointments.

 

Where You Work as a Medical Assistant Is a Huge Factor in What You Do!

 

Your job duties and schedule will depend a lot on where you work. Here are some typical scenarios:

 

  • A Hospital Trauma or Emergency Room: If you work as an MA in an ER, you likely won’t do much administrative work. You’ll probably work three 12-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts per week, including night and evening shifts. In this fast-paced environment, you’ll be busy all the time! You’ll help clean wounds, take vital signs, transport patients and stock trauma rooms.
  • Other Hospital Departments: MAs also work in Pediatrics, Cardiology, OB/GYN, Oncology, Orthopedics and Outpatient Surgery. Other than OB/GYN, you’ll likely work Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Your duties will vary quite a bit, depending on the department. You may have some downtime between patient appointments. For example, in Cardiology, you’ll operate EKG machines for patients and help with stress tests. In Pediatrics, you’ll give a lot of vaccines and help hold and soothe young patients while doctors perform exams or treat injuries.
  • Primary Care/Family Medicine Doctors’ Offices: You’ll take patient vitals, ask medical history questions, give vaccines, take throat swabs, and assist with minor medical procedures. You’ll also likely do more clerical work like managing prescription refills and verifying insurance. Your schedule is typically weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM.
  • Specialty Doctors (Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Allergy and Asthma): You’ll perform clinical and administrative medical assistant duties but you’ll do other tasks based on your department. For example, dermatologists perform many minor surgical procedures (such as removing skin cancer lesions) in the office. They will rely on you to assist. In an allergist’s office, you might administer skin prick tests. Your schedule is typically weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM.
  • Home Health: Some MAs travel to patients’ homes. As a home health MA, you’ll do things like track vital signs, draw blood, collect specimens, check glucose levels and change bandages. You might verify that a patient is taking their medication and has adequate food and safe surroundings. You’ll also update medical records and share results with the patient’s doctors. Home health MAs typically don’t work nights or weekends.

 

Patient Care

 

Most medical assistant duties involve hands-on patient care. In fact, you’ll usually spend more time with each patient than their doctor! You’ll do a lot of preliminary medical tests (like take vital signs) and ask about medical history and symptoms. Your work makes the doctor’s time with the patient more efficient, the doctor can review the information you’ve collected and quickly diagnose conditions.

 

Most MAs can perform these routine tasks:

 

  • Take vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, weight and height)
  • Give injections (vaccines, medication)
  • Collect throat and nasal samples
  • Operate EKGs to monitor heart health
  • Run in-office lab tests
  • Care for wounds
  • Clean and sanitize equipment and exam rooms
  • Restock medical supplies
  • Ask screening questions and document answers

 

Administrative Responsibilities

 

Most medical assistant duties include some administrative and clerical work. The only exception is specialty medical assistant jobs, such as in emergency rooms and labs. Some larger hospital networks separate MAs into “front-office” and “back-office” roles. If you prefer less patient care, you can look for “front-office” jobs.

 

Typical medical assistant administrative duties include:

 

  • Patient communication: Answering phones, calling patients with test results and explaining insurance coverage
  • Insurance and billing: Verifying insurance coverage, getting authorizations, and collecting payment
  • Medical records and scheduling: Updating patient records and scheduling appointments
  • Tracking medical supplies: Placing orders for supplies and verifying expiration dates

 

Skills and Qualities Every Medical Assistant Needs

 

As a medical assistant, you’ll need a combination of technical medical skills and “people” skills. You’ll learn how to perform the many medical duties in your medical assistant training program. These skills include learning how to:

 

  • Take vital signs, draw blood, administer tests, give injections, sterilize equipment, and prepare exam rooms.
  • Ask patients about their medical history and symptoms and document their answers.
  • Understand medical terminology so you can read patient records and doctors’ instructions.
  • Work with insurance companies and scheduling programs.

 

To be a successful MA, you’ll also need strong interpersonal skills because you spend so much time working directly with patients.

 

  • Empathy: You’re often working with patients who are scared and in pain, so it’s important to listen and show you care.
  • Attention to detail: In addition to accurately entering patient data into their charts, you’ll also need to carefully measure medication doses as mistakes can be fatal.
  • Teamwork: You’ll always be working with a team of healthcare professionals. They will rely on you to do your duties well and follow instructions carefully.
  • Communication: You’ll need to listen well to patients and providers. You’ll also explain complicated medical procedures and test results.

 

Challenges and Rewards of the Medical Assistant Role

 

Working as a medical assistant can be a very fulfilling career! Here are some of the rewards of working as a medical assistant:

 

  • Flexibility: One of the best things about being an MA is you get to choose your work environment. Love kids? Work for a pediatrician! Want a fast pace and condensed work schedule with lots of days off? Work in an emergency room! Prefer to do more lab work? Work in a hospital phlebotomy lab!
  • No need for years of school: Unlike many healthcare jobs, most medical assistant training programs take less than a year to complete.
  • Meaningful work: Your efforts and skills make a difference in people’s health.
  • Stable work and high pay: You’ll be in demand and can earn a good salary (in California, annual salaries range from $39,290 to $77,300).

 

However, like all jobs, medical assistants face some challenges:

 

  • Physically demanding work: Unless you work primarily as an administrative MA, you’ll be on your feet for long hours. You’ll also be moving gurneys, wheelchairs and medical equipment around frequently and lifting patients.
  • Busy workload: Most MAs have little downtime between caring for patients, doing administrative tasks, restocking, and cleaning.
  • Exposure to germs: You’re often exposed to sick people, and you’re at risk for accidental needle sticks.
  • Dealing with angry patients or demanding doctors: Sometimes patients are frustrated, or in pain, so they take it out on you. Doctors can ignore your feedback or bark orders.

 

How You Can Get Started in this Career!

 

The first step is to find an accredited medical assistant training program, ideally one that offers both administrative and clinical training. Having training in both areas will make it easier to find a job. Exposure to both sides of medical assistant duties will also help you decide which work environment you like better.

 

National Career College offers a medical assistant program accredited by the ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools). You’ll complete classroom work, gain hands-on experience in medical offices, and receive administrative training.

 

Once you complete your training, you can earn either a CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) or an NCMA (National Certified Medical Assistant) certificate by passing an exam. Learn more by requesting information and start your medical assistant career path today!