Medical Assistant Job Description: A medical assistant job description will state the various types of work that you may be involved in and also inform you of the personal characteristics that are required for the job. It will also advise as to the level of qualifications you will require and will also indicate as to whether or not it is desirable that a candidate must already have a certain amount of experience in a similar role. The medical assistant job description will also include whether the position is full-time or part-time, if it is a day or night shift, the total number of hours per week you would be expected to work and the all important salary range. A varied amount of medical assistant roles will require a different medical assistant job description.
Medical Assistant Job Description
Medical Assistant Job Description: There are within the medical assisting jobs range, four main categories, each of these categories will have a very different medical assistant job description.
Clerical - Clerical medical assistants mainly work in an office environment and carry out roles such as answering telephones, scheduling appointments, sorting out mail, typing letters and other associated general office worker tasks.
Administrative – Administrative medical assistants carry out a role that is much more medical related, even though it is still within an office based environment. This job requires the person to have a full understanding of medical terminology and spelling, understand medical documentation and coding, be competent in filing insurance claims, and have knowledge and experience in data entry and advanced various computer applications such as electronic medical records and scheduling appointments. They will also in some cases do the bookkeeping and accounting for a medical practice.
Medical - A clinical medical assistant will have a much more hands on approach when it comes to patients. And the medical assistant job description will include:
- The ability to work as part of a professional team, and more importantly be able to take various instructions from the doctors and nurses you are assisting.
- You must be able to work within the guidelines of your job, as well as consulting with and reporting to senior doctors and nurses.
- A lot of flexibility is needed in order to adapt to the needs of the team and perform a variety of different job assignments.
- You will be need to have a solid understanding of medical law and how it relates to you and your role. You also have to have an ethical awareness in all your relations with patients.
- Clinical medical assistants will also be carrying out essential tasks such as recording patient’s vitals, preparing patients for examinations, explaining certain medical procedures, collecting patient specimens, sanitizing medical supplies and disposal of used materials, under doctor supervision you will be preparing and administering medication, applying wound dressings and giving injections.
- There may also be a role where the clinical medical assistant job description includes the assistant having to take x-rays, and perform electrocardiograms, draw blood and remove stitches. The extent to which a clinical medical assistant will carry certain responsibilities will always be determined by the laws of the particular area, counties/states etc.
Specialized - A more specialized medical assistant job description will more often than not depend on the nature of the area of expertise, and requires an additional range of qualifications or experience which is related to the specific area. Some medical assistants work in areas such as, laboratories, optometry, paediatrics, podiatry or chiropody.
Each and every medical assistant job description will vary greatly. They will be influenced by, the type and size of the practice, and the actual location and areas. Some doctor’s offices will require more administrative skills, while another practice will cover a range of duties from cleaning out waiting rooms, to answering telephones and performing basic clinical tasks. Those that do work in hospitals,and that’s around (12% of all medical assistants), usually find that these duties are split up between a number of employees, so a medical assistant job description in this environment may be much more focused on one type of work, as well as the specialized medical assistants who have much more of a specific job description. In most situations, a medical assistant job description will include a combination of administrative and clinical tasks.
Personal Characteristics – Medical Assistant Job Description
Medical assistant jobs will require that the personal characteristics are ones of compassion, courtesy, empathy, and friendliness. These important traits are especially needed as one will be dealing with the general public, especially the elderly and infirm, so there has to be care and kindness as well as huge amounts of patience. Someone who is neat and has a clean appearance. Manual dexterity and visual acuity are also needed.
Medical assistant job description will require the need to have excellent communication skills both oral and written and have strong organizational skills, to be able to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment. They must have good interpersonal skills and be highly competent and professional, with regards to confidential and sensitive areas of their job and must demonstrate dedication to their profession.
Qualification Requirements Of A Medical Assistant Job Description
A medical assistant job description will prefer a certificate, diploma or associate degree in medical assisting. In some cases there may be a requirement to have graduated from an accredited medical assistant program. But on the whole prospective employers will require that you are a Certified Medical Assistant. This then gives your future employer the guarantee that you have reached a certain level of knowledge and expertise in clerical and clinical skills, and will be a competent assistant, able to offer quality patient care. Most important of all is that you select a medical assistant job description that suits you.
Resources:
Medical Assistant Job Description
American Association Of Medical Assistants – http://www.aama-ntl.org
