What are Medical Assistants
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
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Common Job Titles
Assistant Medical Assistants
Chiropractic Assistant
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Clinical Assistant
Assistant Ultrasound Tester
Executive Optometry Assistant
Clinical Assistant II
Medical Assistant - Specialty Clinics
Medical Assistant (MA)
Clinic Assistant
Hospital Clinic Assistant
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
Personality & Work Styles
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cooperation
Integrity
Empathy
Cautiousness
Social Orientation
Self-Control
Stress Tolerance
Sincerity
Work Activities
Getting Information
Working with Computers
Documenting/Recording Information
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Assisting and Caring for Others
Processing Information
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Work Environment
Contact With Others
Exposed to Disease or Infections
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Telephone Conversations
Physical Proximity
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Written Letters and Memos
Skills You Will Receive
Active Listening
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning
Learning Strategies
Mathematics
Science
Other Attributes Important To Know
Oral Comprehension
Written Comprehension
Oral Expression
Written Expression
Fluency of Ideas
Originality
Problem Sensitivity
Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
Information Ordering
Related Careers
Surgical Assistants
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Registered Nurses
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Physical Therapist Aides
Nursing Assistants
Dental Assistants
Technology/Tools Used
Calendar and scheduling software
Billing and invoicing software
Accounting software
Office suite software
Data base user interface and query software
Categorization or classification software
Medical software
Electronic mail software
Document management software
Spreadsheet software
Work Values
Relationships
Support
Achievement
Working Conditions
Independence
Recognition
Knowledge You Will Receive
Administration and Management
Administrative
Economics and Accounting
Sales and Marketing
Customer and Personal Service
Personnel and Human Resources
Production and Processing
Food Production
Computers and Electronics
Engineering and Technology
Education Requirements
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone 3
Tasks Associated with This Career
Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.