A medical assistant’s job is more than just, well, a job. It is far more rewarding and offers a variety of roles and responsibilities. The daily life of a medical assistant varies depending on the specific practice and the department you work in.
Some medical assistants get to work for family practice for decades, allowing you to experience working in three different primary departments like the front office, the back office, and the lab. You may also get to work with other physicians.
Duties and Responsibilities
No matter which department you work in, the main factor in being a medical assistant is your commitment to your duties and responsibilities. That includes your attention to detail and professionalism.
Let’s explore the primary responsibilities of medical assistants working in three different departments:
Front Office
If you’re working at the front desk, you’ll mostly be responsible for answering the multi-line phone system and asking triage questions to assess the severity of the caller’s problem. You may also be responsible for informing the physician about the patient’s concerns, greeting patients as they walk in, and scheduling appointments.
The most important part of being a medical assistant is showing professionalism and tact when attending to patients. You must also follow protocol at all times when determining a patient’s immediate needs. Moreover, your attention to detail and ensuring data consistency or clarifying them when necessary is also essential.
You might also need to gather patients’ insurance information, verify addresses and phone numbers, collect insurance co-payments, maintain HIPPA authorizations, and call companies to approve testing or surgeries.
Remember that mistakes can be costly, so you must be careful throughout the entire process.
Back Office
Working in the back office provides you with opportunities like interacting with patients and assisting physicians in treating patient concerns. You may also end up measuring patients’ vital signs, including pulse, blood pressure, respiration, height, and weight. You’re also responsible for gathering the patient’s medical history and checking the patient’s chief complaint.
You may also perform visual acuity testing, ear irrigations, audiometry, and setting up the exam room before a procedure throughout the day. You may also assist physicians with minor surgical procedures.
Moreover, you are also responsible for making patients feel comfortable during their appointments. You should help reduce their anxiety by relaying information from the physician to the patient so that they can easily understand. Practicing a calm demeanor when directly dealing with patients is a must.
Laboratory
If you’re assigned to work in the lab, you may be responsible for performing in-house laboratory procedures. Some of these include venipuncture, urinalysis, pregnancy test, EKGs, throat cultures, and drug screens. Similar to what has been stated above, your attention to detail is also a crucial factor. A single error could result in a misdiagnosis.
Conclusion
Whatever role you have or department you work in, it is undeniable that medical assistants are an essential function to the healthcare team. They contribute to the success of physicians and their practices and ensure that patients are comfortable during their visits.
At Northwest Suburban College, we hone excellent future medical assistants. We are committed to providing career-focused health sciences education and healthcare career training in Schaumburg, IL. Access quality, affordable education, and accelerated programs with Northwest Suburban College! Get in touch with us if you want to become a medical assistant!
