A Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant
Thinking of becoming a medical assistant, but not sure what to expect? We’re taking the day from start to finish – is this the future you’re looking for?
Medical assistant positions are expected to grow 23% by 2024. They are a popular choice for individuals looking to work in the healthcare industry but not looking to go through the years of education it takes to become a doctor or nurse.
So, what do these jobs actually entail?
They are pretty much exactly what their name suggests. Medical assistants work alongside physicians in their day-to-day tasks.
In some cases, these employees will do more office work while others will spend more time in a clinical setting.
What we’re saying is that you can do anything from answer patient phone calls to take patients vitals.
As a result, these employees are always busy and definitely never bored. These careers can be challenging yet extremely rewarding.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced position in the growing healthcare industry, this could be the right position for you.
Read on for the duties of a medical assistant.
A look into the life of a medical assistant
The beginning of the day:
Depending on the type of medical facility you choose to work — it could be anything from a senior facility to a private practice — you’ll usually start the day getting organized and preparing for patients arrival.
Medical assistants could work in clerical, administrative or clinical facilities. Depending on their place of work, job duties, and even the state that they work in will affect their day-to-day tasks.
However, keep in mind that they will perform both clinical and administrative duties.
Most assistants will first check the phones to make sure no urgent calls came in overnight. If so, they will answer these calls and set necessary appointments.
After this, they will re-stock patient rooms with necessary supplies for each visit, fill out paperwork, and organize patient charts via the computer database.
Daily tasks:
Once prepared for the day ahead, the remainder will be filled with multiple tasks keeping you on your toes.
As patients begin to show up, you’ll be responsible for answering and transferring calls, logging patients into the computer, making any necessary insurance calls, collecting copays and scheduling any follow-up visits.
And that’s when you aren’t busy with a patient.
When patients arrive, you will be responsible for taking the patient back to the check up room to take vitals and double check health information. You could also collect specimens, administer prescriptions and aid the physician with any examinations.
Ultimately, you will ensure that the doctor has everything they need to serve the patient as quickly as possible.
This is where having patience, organization, and strong detail-oriented skills come into play. You’ll need these to maneuver through the day and keep processes running smoothly and on-time.
Their most important job is to make patients feel calm while being great listeners.
The end of the day:
The end of the day could mean varying things for different medical assistants. Some healthcare facilities will close at normal operating business hours while others will close later.
Whenever it may be, it’s common for an average day to get off schedule. Patients show up late to appointments and may spend more time with the doctor than planned.
Many times you may find yourself staying a little later to finish up closing tasks. End of the day tasks include:
- Making any last minute phone calls,
- Completing patient paperwork,
- Cleaning up patient rooms used throughout the day,
- Refilling prescriptions,
- Explaining treatment processes,
- Ensuring all specimens are completed and sent to the proper labs.
While this career will present you with new challenges to conquer and might leave you feeling exhausted, it’s a critical role in the medical field that allows you to help people every day.
While these positions don’t require much schooling, you will experience the most success when you hold a certificate or associate’s degree. Knowledge of the healthcare field and medical terminology is always a must.
Do you think you’re interested in pursuing a job as a medical assistant? Check out our top of the line program here at Beckfield College and apply today!