Medical Office Front and Back Area

Medical Assistant Work Areas

Medical assistants are trained to work in all areas of the medical office, including the reception area adjacent to the waiting room area, the office's administrative areas and archives, as well as the back office clinical areas, whhich includes the patient examination and treatment rooms. It should be regarded as one whole area that works together rather than separate units of the office.

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Eliminating the Front vs. Back Mindset

In most cases the responsibilities for the smooth operation of the medical office is shared among all staff members. They work hand in hand and although the office space is indeed divided into different areas, especially in larger offices, working together as a team is important! As a matter of fact, it is best to completely eliminate the "front versus back office team" mindset right from the beginning: Working as a Team.

The Administrative Medical Assistant

Administrative medical assistants work in the front office and reception area where they are usually the very first medical office staff members the patient sees when they arrive for their appointment. Front office staff are often referred to as the medical secretary, receptionist, or simply the front desk medical assistant.

Administrative medical assistants must have excellent interpersonal skills as they greet the patients, verify their appointments, make copies of their insurance cards, check referrals and then ask them to take a seat in the waiting area.

The Clinical Medical Assistant

Clinical medical assistants, on the other hand, work in the back office along with other clinical staff members and the physician where a wide array of healthcare services for the patient is performed, such as: physical exams, health screening, immunizations, infection assessment, advise on health conditions, medications and sometimes diet.

Rarely will you see the clinical medical assistant interact with patients up front in the waitiing and reception area, except for those brief moments, when they call the next patient in.

Readiness in an Emergency

It is very important that all medical assistants, whether assigned to the front or the back office, are ready to handle and assist with any emergency situation, or life-saving procedure as a team, should such an incidence occur.

A patient may arrive at the medical office with a serious asthma attack, burns, poisoning, injury, or may suddenly suffer a serious allergic reaction, or unexpectedly faint. Such crises involve danger to the patient and require immediate action and cooperation among medical office staff that is present, may it be in the front or back office.