What is the most important role of a medical assistant

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HealthcareSeptember 30, 2022

With the US aging population poised to outnumber children under 18 by 2034, healthcare is a booming field. Employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 16% between now and 2031, much faster than other occupations, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s great news for students interested in this career path. 

Medical assistants are the backbone of medical offices, playing an integral role in delivering healthcare services to patients. If you like working with people and have good organizational skills, this field might be a good choice for you. 
Medical assistants work in all kinds of settings, but mainly in outpatient facilities such as physician offices, optometrist offices, orthopedic offices, labs, college student health centers, urgent care facilities, and assisted living facilities. 

Medical assistants are an important part of the medical team because they handle both administrative tasks and patient care, serving as a liaison between the patient and the medical staff. Are you a people person? One of the main parts of the job is interacting directly with patients. You’re the first person to see them, get them settled in the patient room, and take basic vitals, like their weight, height, blood pressure, and temperature. You’re an important part of their experience. While you’re not allowed to diagnose or treat a patient, it’s possible you could handle small medical tasks like administering medications or giving a shot. 

In other offices, such as an optometrist’s office, your patient care will look a little different. There, you might handle things like glaucoma testing, contact lens fittings, or fitting for new glasses. In an orthopedic office, clinical duties might include taking vital statistics, preparing lab samples, and educating patients on an injury and treatment options. 

Behind the scenes, you'll handle key administrative tasks, like scheduling appointments, recording patient histories, filing patient charts, and filling out insurance forms. This work requires attention to detail and organizational skills. The office relies on your skills to keep patient information accurate and up to date. If that’s you, this field could be a great choice. 

If you are interested in learning more about the role and opportunities of being a medical assistant, schedule a tour at one of our campuses. We have programs in a number of states. Call 1-855-436-7847 now for more information. Get started today! 

Are you interested in a rewarding career in which you can help others? Have you ever considered a career as a Medical Assistant? Becoming a Nurse, a Doctor, or a Pharmacist takes years of schooling and thousands of dollars in tuition, but you can train to be a Medical Assistant in as few as 9 months with training from NCE. Read on to discover 5 great reasons to pursue this rewarding medical career.

  • Medical Assistants are in High Demand

The Healthcare industry in the United States is booming, and with an aging population, and ever increasing demand for healthcare services and the professionals that provide them, Medical Assistants are more in demand than ever. Medical Assistants work in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, private labs, and other healthcare facilities in every town, every city, and every part of the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, adding about 2.4 million new jobs, much faster than the average for all occupations.

  • Medical Assistants are an Important Part of a Medical Team

Medical Assistants play a vital role in the healthcare field. A Medical Assistant is a type of Allied Health Professional, and they work directly alongside doctors, physicians, and other medical providers to provide patients with the highest level of care. Medical Assistants perform an assortment of both administrative and clinical tasks, freeing up the doctor’s time for other important tasks. Medical Assistants are often responsible for important administrative duties, including greeting patients, updating and filing patients' medical records, and scheduling appointments.

  • Medical Assistants Perform Vital Healthcare Tasks

Medical Assistants are responsible for many important clinical tasks that assist and support the doctor and the other medical staff. The Medical Assistant may be responsible for conducting routine tasks and procedures such as measuring patients’ vital signs, administering medications and injections, recording information in medical recordkeeping systems, preparing and handling medical instruments and supplies, and collecting and preparing specimens of bodily fluids and tissues for laboratory testing. The Medical Assistant will also prepare the patient for any scheduled procedures, and answer any questions they may have regarding the procedure. Medical Assistants organize patient’s charts, arrange for hospital admissions, order prescriptions through the pharmacy, and clean the exam rooms between patients.

  • Medical Assistants Help Patients

Medical Assistants are hands-on health workers, providing direct care to patients. A tolerant, patient, and caring manner is important for these workers. Medical Assistants act as a patient coordinator by providing a means of communication between patients, doctors and other health care providers. The Medical Assistant is often the one who explains and prepares the patient for a medical procedure; the Medical Assistant is also the one who takes the patient’s medical history and receives and discerns any pertinent health information. The Medical Assistant manages the relationship between the patient and the other medical staff. The Medical Assistant is often the first, and the last, face the patient sees during their medical visit.

  • NCE can train you to be a Medical Assistant in just 9 months!

Unlike becoming a nurse or a doctor, you can train to be a Medical Assistant in months, not years. NCE offers an excellent, industry-recognized training program that is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). NCE provides hands-on training from industry professionals, and prepares students for the Medical Assistant National Certification from the NCCT. With training from NCE, you can enter the medical field in less than a year!

If Medical Assisting sounds interesting to you, give NCE a call at 888-317-4140 to speak to one of our friendly Admissions Representatives. We can answer your questions, schedule a visit to NCE’s large, modern campus in beautiful Citrus Heights, California, or help you begin the enrollment process. What are you waiting for? Make it happen with NCE!

What is the main responsibility of a medical assistant?

Explaining treatment procedures to patients. Preparing patients for examinations. Assisting the physician during examinations. Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens.

What is your strongest characteristic as a medical assistant?

A caring and compassionate attitude is one of the most important qualities you'll need as a medical assistant.

What seven duties are your first priority as a medical assistant?

The seven duties that are a medical assistant's first priority when arriving in the morning are unlocking the doors, checking messages from the previous night, checking e-mails, checking for lab results, turning on the computers and other machines, pulling health records for the day's patients, and checking the fax ...

What are 4 traits that great medical assistants should have?

A People Person: 4 Ideal Medical Assistant Personality Traits.
Good Communicator. In the medical assisting profession, you must be able to communicate with patients effectively, whether that means translating complex medical terms into plain language or asking the right questions. ... .
Compassionate. ... .
Meticulous. ... .
Adaptable..