What is a Medical Assistant?

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Description of a Medical Assistant

The medical assistant is a wonderful addition to any medical office and adds real value to any doctor's practice. Medical assisting, as a profession, has been around since the 1950s. It is one among the many allied health professions in which a person can grow and be a proud contributor to their community, no matter where they are.

Medical Assistant's Work

Medical assisting is an excellent occupation for men and women of all ages, and from all walks in life. Scores of people have chosen medical assisting as their lifelong career path and are very successful at it, regardless of gender, and age. While all responsibilities of running the practice as a business rests squarely on the doctor, and office management, the medical office's work flow and reputation depends largely on the skills and competence of their medical assisting staff. 

Medical Assistant's Duties

Medical assistants frequently work in medical offices and health care practices as part of a diverse, well-organized health care team. They are also readily hired by local, and regional medical centers, walk-in clinics, and ambulatory wellness clinics. They are expected to interact with the public, and various health care professionals, and staff.

  Medical assistants are expected to:

• Comply with HIPAA, CLIA, OSHA, AND JCAHO laws and regulations
• React calmly and effectively in emergency situations
• add the friendly smile and caring touch to a doctor visit

Medical assistants complete patient's medical records, take their vital signs, educate them on methods to improve their health and show them how to take their medications. If ordered by the doctor, they will also draw blood, and perform ancillary in-house tests in accordance with their training, skill level, and state regulations.

• ¿Qué es un asistente médico? 
• Was ist ein Medical Assistant (Artzthelferin) 

Furthermore, they assure day-to-day office operations, and see to it that all tasks are handled safely and efficiently as patients are processed in and out the medical office. This allows the doctors, other skilled health care practitioners and nursing staff to focus directly on the medical issues and health concerns of their patients, without having to worry about things such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and other tasks the medical assistant can do.

What a Medical Assistant is Not!

Medical assistants should not be confused with non-physician licensed healthcare practitioners, such as Physician Assistants (PA), or Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA), and medicine aides (MA)! Although they have the same, or similar abbreviated credentials they are different occupations with different educational requirements and functions.

Also, medical assistants are NOT CNAs, and typically will not work in nursing homes, or in the home health care industry, because there isn't always a doctor present, which is required by law when a medical assistant provides direct patient care.

Wikipedia's Definition of a Medical Assistant