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Job Responsibilities

About Medical Assistants

Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform clinical and administrative.

Here is a quick overview (duties vary from office to office depending on location, size, specialty, and state law).

Clinical Duties

may include, but not limited to:

  • Taking medical histories
  • Explaining treatment procedures to patients
  • Preparing patients for examination
  • Assisting the physician during exams
  • Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
  • Performing basic laboratory tests
  • Instructing patients about medication and special diets
  • Preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
  • Drawing blood
  • Performing electrocardiograms
  • Removing sutures and changing dressings

Medical Assistant Wearing Headset

Administrative Duties 

may include, but not limited to:

  • Using computer applications
  • Answering telephones
  • Greeting patients
  • Updating and filing patient medical records
  • Filling out insurance forms
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
  • Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping

Patient Liaison

  • Medical assistants are instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office and often explain the physician's instructions.

PCMH Team Member

  • Medical assistants are essential members of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team. According to a survey by the Healthcare Intelligence Network, medical assistants ranked as one of the top five professionals necessary to the PCMH team.

In Demand

Medical assisting is one of the nation's fastest growing careers, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributing job growth to the following:

  • Predicted surge in the number of physicians' offices and outpatient care facilities
  • Technological advancements
  • Growing number of elderly Americans who need medical treatment