Medical Assistant

Medical assistants carry out administrative & clinical jobs to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running efficiently. They should not be puzzled with Physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and cure patients under the direct administration of a physician.

The jobs of medical assistants differ from office to office, depending on the site and size of the practice and the practitioner's area of expertise. In diminutive practices, medical assistants typically do lots of different kinds of jobs, handling both administrative & clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, doctors, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to concentrate in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.

For clinical medical assistants, jobs vary according to what is allowed by State law. Some general tasks consist of taking medical histories & recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for inspections, and supporting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants gather and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes carry out essential laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and disinfect medical instruments. They might instruct patients regarding medications & special diets, prepare & administer medications as directed by a doctor, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, prepare patients for x-rays, draw blood, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.

As medical assistants are not licensed professionals they are for all time required by law to work under the direct administration of a licensed healthcare provider such as a physician, registered nurse, nurse practitioner or doctor assistant whenever they provide direct patient care procedures.