Saturday, 26 November 2011

What Is a Medical Assistant?

Many individuals have been considering a career in the healthcare industry. But not everyone has the ability to become a doctor. The good thing is that there are many other professions in this field so you don't necessarily have to be a physician or a nurse. Medical assisting is a career that is just as rewarding. Find out what is a medical assistant and what this job entails to discover if this is the career path for you.

Definition
A medical assistant (MA) is a profession in the medical field that was created for the purpose of helping doctors and nurses. The reason for this is so that physicians and the nursing staff can focus their attention to the health concerns and medical issues of the patients without being distracted with other daily administrative tasks. This way doctors can focus on medical concerns while medical assistants can worry about medical clinic operations. Although MAs aren't licensed medical practitioners, they are an important part of the healthcare team. They actively contribute in any medical setting and have their own set of skills.

The Job of an MA
Medical assistants are there to make sure all operations go smoothly. They keep the doctor on schedule, they keep the medical office organized, and they make it a point that patients are not only attended to but are comfortable and safe. When you think about it, this job is quite fulfilling since you will be able to work side by side with doctors and licensed nurses and at the same time you will be able to build great relationships with patients. This job is definitely one that is perfect for those who love interacting with people since you will be around people on a daily basis.

Tasks of an MA
The tasks of a medical assistant vary because it is dependent upon the medical setting one is working in. These settings can be anything from a medical practice, clinics, medical offices, medical centers, medical facilities, and hospitals. The tasks include both administrative and clinical duties that will help support doctors. Most MAs are considered the right hand of doctors and is responsible for making everything run smoothly and in top shape. Without MAs, doctors will have difficulty accomplishing their everyday duties without any hiccups.

A Day in a Life of an MA
Just to give you an idea, a medical assistant may possibly perform several duties in a day. Part of this involves processing patients as they enter and leave for their medical appointments, showing them to the proper clinic areas, handling telephone calls, going through mail, doing paperwork, keeping patient files up to date, verifying insurance coverage, scheduling patient appointments, assisting the physician, stocking on medical supplies, and other related tasks. Those are all administrative duties of course. MAs may also be assigned to do clinical tasks that include recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, explaining treatment procedures, showing patients how to take medications correctly, assisting patients, and making them feel as comfortable as possible. Basically as a medical assistant, you will be doing a range of things.

Becoming a medical assistant can be very rewarding. These individuals are highly respected and appreciated in the medical field for all the work they do. If this is the career path you choose, it is definitely a good one. Learn more about it through research so that you can be certain that you are more than prepared to take on the tasks. Going through training and taking up classes isn't required but it will help improve your skills and knowledge that will certainly benefit you on the job.

Do you want to know more about what is medical assistant? Then you should drop by the Medical Assistant Portal to get more information.


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