Welcome to the exciting world of medical assisting! If you’re considering switching careers to become an MA, then learning about a day in the life of a medical assistant is an excellent first step.
As a medical assistant, you’ll become a crucial team member in almost every healthcare facility nationwide. In fact, many consider the role to be the glue that ensures the healthcare sector runs efficiently – the behind-the-scenes heroes, you could say.
Sometimes also known as clinical assistants, a day in the life of a medical assistant will see you take on key responsibilities within many hospitals and private medical offices, including:
- Greeting and welcoming patients
- Schedule appointments
- Taking a patient’s vital signs, including temperature and blood pressure
- Preparing patients for exams
- Assisting doctors and physicians during exams and procedures
- Maintaining patient records
So, join us to explore a day in the life of a medical assistant…
Starting Your Day as a Medical Assistant…
A day in the life of a medical assistant almost always starts by preparing for the day's activities and ensuring that the facility or clinic is ready to receive patients. Planning and structuring the diary is a great way to aid a smoother and more productive workday.
Before the first patients arrive, medical assistants use this time to complete some essential tasks, including:
- Check emails and answer phone messages
- Schedule appointments in the diary
- Collecting incoming patient information and medical records
- Preparing the waiting room, exam room, and sterilizing equipment
- Checking medical instruments and supplies
- Attending a staff meeting or huddle
Next, grab a coffee… before you know it, the first patients start arriving.
A Typical Medical Assistant’s Morning Routine…
As a medical assistant, you’re usually the first person patients meet when they arrive. So, remember to smile and offer a friendly greeting. This is a great way to help patients relax when they enter, as some people can be nervous before they see a medical doctor.
After checking them in, you’ll escort the patient to an exam room to ask them about their medical history, current medications, and the reason for their visit. Before the physicians arrive, you might also record the patient’s vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, and weight.
Under the supervision of your fellow medical professionals, the morning of a day in the life of a medical assistant can also see you:
- Administer medications and injections
- Drawing blood or collecting urine samples for laboratory testing
- Assisting with medical procedures
- Provide healthcare education to patients on nutrition, exercise, and medication usage
As most medical facilities are fast-paced environments, so your mornings might fly by, and suddenly… it’s lunchtime.
Afternoon Tasks of a Medical Assistant…
An afternoon in a day in the life of a medical assistant can be an excellent opportunity to focus on the administerial elements of the role. Working around afternoon appointments, medical assistants can update patient information on the electronic medical records (EMR) systems.
Additional clerical duties performed by medical assistants in the afternoon can also include:
- Scheduling follow-up appointments
- Processing medical billing applications
- Filling out insurance forms and claims
- Managing and restocking medical inventory supplies and equipment
Throughout a day in the life of a medical assistant, there is always an excellent mix of administerial and clinical duties, which always makes the day enjoyable.
After saying goodbye to the last patient as they leave, there are a few last responsibilities before closing up for the day. For example, a medical assistant usually ends their day by confirming all of today's patient's medical records are updated. Finally, they ensure the waiting room and examination rooms are wiped clean and sanitized, ready for another busy day tomorrow.
A Typical Week for a Medical Assistant…
A day in the life of a medical assistant is full of challenges and will keep you on your toes. Working in an impressive array of medical workplace facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and private practices, it’s a tremendous vocation if you’re passionate about helping people.
Of course, a working week for a medical assistant can vary depending on the job duties and a healthcare facility's requirements. Typically, full-time medical assistants work around 40 hours per week. However, some institutions and medical offices also offer part-time and flexible scheduling options.
Train To Become a Medical Assistant Today…
Retraining as a medical assistant could catapult you into an occupation that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects to grow by an incredible 16% from 2021 to 2031. Here at the National Career College, our 8-month medical assisting program could see you qualify for a vocation that the BLS is projecting to see 123,000 openings each year, on average, over the decade. ¹
So, if you like the sound of a day in the life of a medical assistant and you’ve been looking for medical assistant schools in Los Angeles, speak to NCC today.
With expert in-class tuition and a solid clinical externship program, you learn to apply these new skills in a real-world environment. In addition, National Career College allows you to retrain as a medical assistant around your current commitments in as little as 35 weeks. Our fantastic medical assisting program is available through our morning, afternoon, and night class options.
Sources:
