Medical Assistants Keep the Office Running Smoothly?

A medical assistant is an essential member of a doctor's staff. Though the duties may vary from office to office, medical assistants perform the administrative tasks necessary to keep a medical office running smoothly. Duties may include maintaining and filing patient records, arranging for laboratory tests and hospital admissions, and filling out insurance forms.

Medical assistant jobs also include other duties. Setting appointments, answering phones, and processing billing are all part of the job. A medical assistant is also there to greet patients and take payments.

A clinical medical assistant may have additional duties. State law dictates what tasks a clinical medical assistant may do in a particular state. Duties may include sterilizing medical equipment, preparing laboratory specimens, and recording vital signs. Keeping examining rooms and equipment clean and organized may also be part of the job.

Some medical assistants specialize in a particular field. Medical assistant jobs in the ophthalmic field help provide eye care by performing diagnostic tests, testing the function of the eye muscles, and measuring and recording a patient's vision. Also providing eye care are optometric medical assistants, who work with an optometrist and may provide instruction to patients such as how to use contact lenses. And podiatric medical assistants process x-rays and make castings of feet.

While no formal education beyond a high school diploma is required for medical assistant jobs, most employers prefer some formal training. Many vocational schools and community colleges offer certification programs for the medical assistant. The employment outlook for medical assistant jobs is Excellent; the field is expected to grow over the next few years. A medical assistant may expect a salary in the low- to mid- $20,000 range in the first year; with experience, this may increase to the upper $20,000 range.

Medical assistants need to be organized and efficient. A patient and pleasant personality is also helpful, as medical assistants deal with the public. If this describes you, a career as a medical assistant may be for you.