Medical Assistant Job Duties

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for medical assistants will increase by 35 percent until about 2016, resulting in 148,000 new jobs. Those who enter the medical assistant field will have a variety of clinical or administrative duties.

Background

The clinical duties a medical assistant is certified to perform vary from state to state.

Administrative Duties

Medical assistants often are responsible for updating patient records, greeting patients, setting appointments, calling in prescriptions or refills as directed by the doctor, answering phones, and arranging for diagnostic testing or other procedures. They may also assist with sterilizing instruments and cleaning examination rooms.

Patient Vitals

Medical assistants typically check the vital signs of the patient when she arrives for an office visit. This includes taking her height and weight, body temperature, blood pressure, and heart and respiratory rates.

Clinical Work

Medical assistants may work alongside the physician during examinations, handing him supplies and otherwise helping as asked. They may give injections, take blood, give X-rays, change dressings, administer vision or hearing tests, and perform electrocardiograms.

Patient Education

Medical assistants often give patients information about a diagnosis, new medication, or upcoming diagnostic test or procedure.

Resources

• American Association of Medical Assistants