Which of the following activities might the medical assistant perform in the medical office

A medical assistant career is one of the most sought-after roles in today’s job market. Between the pandemic and other health crises, doctors’ offices and hospitals are seeking medical assistants to improve their practice and keep up with demand. In fact, certified medical assistant jobs are expected to grow by around 18% through 2030, making the field highly secure. In as little as ten weeks, you could be at the forefront of the medical field, making a positive impact in the lives of others.

What Can a Medical Assistant Do? 

The role of a medical assistant varies by state, criteria, and practice. More generally, certified medical assistant jobs will allow you to perform administrative tasks, such as updating patient records, billing, and coding, admissions forms, or referrals. A medical assistant career will also prepare you for clinical tasks, such as collecting vitals and laboratory specimens, administering an electrocardiogram as a certified EKG technician, or preparing patients for a physical exam.

What Are Some Certified Medical Assistant Jobs?

  1. Administrative Medical Assistant 

Without an Administrative Office Assistant, a doctor’s office or hospital would likely be a disorganized mess. This role is one of the most popular certified medical assistant jobs because the certification process provides the necessary skill set to organize a medical setting for billing, scheduling, insurance claims, accounting, and communication needs. You’ll be one of the most trusted professionals present, valued by licensed doctors, nurses, and patients.

  1. Surgical Technologist 

A surgical tech certificate can set you apart by giving you the skill set necessary to ensure that the operating room and patient are ready for a procedure. This job is most often performed in a hospital setting, but you could be hired at any medical location that offers surgery. This process involves sterilizing instruments and making sure that equipment is properly arranged. Depending on the practice and needs of the surgeon, you might also assist during or post-operation.

  1. Certified EKG Technician 

Heart conditions and cardiovascular diseases are incredibly common in the United States, and a certified EKG technician can help in the diagnostic process, ensuring that patients receive necessary and prompt treatment. An electrocardiograph (EKG) measures cardiovascular activity through stress and monitoring tests and is monitored by a certified EKG technician. The results of these tests can better inform doctors on how to proceed with a patient’s health and well-being.

  1. Phlebotomy Technician 

A phlebotomy technician, — a phlebotomist — is responsible for collecting samples from patients or blood donors. These certified medical assistant jobs are crucial across all healthcare fields, as blood samples are closely linked with a myriad of medical testing, allowing doctors and labs to diagnose health conditions, diseases, and other illnesses properly. This job can be performed at hospitals, diagnostic labs, hospitals, long-term care centers, or blood drive organizations, providing a diverse array of possible work environments.

The world of certified medical assistant jobs is plentiful, and this list is by no means exhaustive. You could also pursue a career as a health inspector, a medical claims professional, a specialized medical assistant, and more!

While a medical assistant certification sets you up for the job market and a lifelong career, it might also spark the desire to get a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management or Nursing. Or it could lead you to apply to an Associate Degree program as a Physical Therapist Assistant or an Occupational Therapy Assistant. The options are seemingly endless, and the world is your oyster.

If you’re ready to begin your medical assistant careerapply to Lackawanna College today. With diverse and qualified faculty members, gracious staff, and ready-to-learn peers, your certification process starts on day one, allowing your knowledge and expertise to increase exponentially in as little as ten weeks. You’ll take classes like Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Terminology, Nutrition and Wellness, Communication Skills, and many others — all of which will provide you with an unmatched skill-set ready to land your dream job. Here at Lackawanna College, we look forward to taking the first step with you. To request more information about our medical assisting certifications or to apply today, follow this link.

What Medical Assistants Can and Can’t Do

Medical Assistants are key players on the healthcare team, providing direct patient care and helping doctors, nurses, and specialists do their jobs well. Without their help, physicians wouldn’t be able to focus on their top priority: patient care. As a Medical Assistant, you will handle a wide variety of duties on both the clinical and administrative sides of the office—but there is also a list of duties that you aren’t allowed to perform.

What a Medical Assistant Can Do

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medical Assistants were often called on to perform responsibilities they hadn’t done before. In many states, their scope of practice expanded to include testing patients for COVID and administering vaccines. While these duties may or may not become a routine part of your responsibilities, you can expect to continue to learn new tasks and procedures as the medical profession evolves. Here are just some of the usual duties that you can expect to perform now as a Medical Assistant:

  • Greet patients Assist patients with paperwork
  • Answer phones and emails Schedule patient appointments
  • Order office and medical supplies from vendors
  • Take patient vital signs
  • Prepare exam rooms
  • Update patient records
  • Handle bookkeeping, billing, and coding of insurance forms
  • Clean and sterilize medical tools and equipment
  • Assist the physician during exams and outpatient surgeries
  • Collect blood and urine specimens for lab tests
  • Care for wounds and change dressings
  • Administer medications under the supervision of a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant
  • Provide patients with diet and medication instructions, per doctor’s orders
  • Answer and direct patient questions Serve as liaison between patient and healthcare team

This list does not cover every responsibility that you’ll have, but it does provide a comprehensive overview of what you could expect to do each day.

What a Medical Assistant Can’t Do

Although your list of responsibilities is long, there are still some duties that you won’t be allowed to carry out. These duties are not within your scope of practice and will need to be performed by medical professionals who have the proper training:

  • Treat or diagnose patients
  • Evaluate patients or their plan of care
  • Interpret test results
  • Advise patients about their medical conditions
  • Administer IV medications or anesthesia
  • Prescribe medication
  • Perform physical therapy
  • Perform invasive techniques such as colonoscopies or spinal taps
  • Operate laser equipment

State-Level Scopes of Practice

Just as job duties can vary from facility to facility, they can also vary state to state. Each state board offers its own scope of practice for the profession, so the duties you can’t perform in one state may be allowed in another. For example, in California, you can perform additional supportive services such as skin tests or blood draws if you’ve received proper training from your employer. And in Montana, a physician may delegate invasive procedures to you as long as they provide onsite supervision. The key is to know and understand the guidelines for Medical Assistants in your state.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Assistants are among the fastest growing occupations in this decade. One of the reasons for this is an aging population that requires regular care for chronic health conditions. In order for physicians to take on more patients, they’ll need more Medical Assistants to handle other important tasks that keep the practice running smoothly.

The best way to learn more about what Medical Assistants can and can’t do is through formal training. At Charter College, we offer a Certificate in Medical Assistant that will give you the hands-on training you’ll need for an entry-level job in the field. Classes are enrolling now. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.

What tasks does a medical assistant perform?

Taking medical histories..
Explaining treatment procedures to patients..
Preparing patients for examinations..
Assisting the physician during examinations..
Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens..
Performing basic laboratory tests..
Instructing patients about medication and special diets..

What procedure may an MA perform in the medical office?

Medical assistants are unlicensed, and may only perform basic administrative, clerical and technical supportive services as permitted by law. An unlicensed person may not diagnose or treat or perform any task that is invasive or requires assessment.

Which of the following is part of the medical assistant's responsibility?

In an administrative setting, the duties of a medical assistant can include the handling of patient records, dealing with phone calls, and scheduling appointments. These all require excellent listening and communication skills, as much of the information that's given to patients will likely come from the assistant.

What does a medical assistant do quizlet?

A clinical medical assistant focuses on patient care and the clinical aspects of the practice. They may conduct assessments, prepare patients for medical exams, assist with exams, perform minor treatments, document medical histories, take vital signs, and instruct patients on home care.

Which of the following is within the medical assistant's scope of practice?

Filing and updating patient medical records. Coding and filling medical insurance forms. Scheduling hospital admission or lab appointments. Taking care of billing, bookkeeping, and correspondence.

What type of responsibility is it when the medical assistant helps the physician during a physical exam?

The medical assistant may assist the physician while performing the physical examination. The medical assistant will be responsible for handing the proper instruments and supplies to the physician.