Medical Assistants

What medical assistants do

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. 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.

Typical tasks

1. 1Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
2. 2Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
3. 3Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
4. 4Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
5. 5Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
6. 6Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
7. 7Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
8. 8Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
9. 9Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
10. 10Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.

Technology used

• Epic Systems
• Microsoft Office software
• Intuit QuickBooks
• MEDITECH software
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Word
• eClinicalWorks EHR software

How to become one

Education

The most common level among workers surveyed is a post-secondary certificate (45%). Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.