What Is the Purpose of a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants perform a variety of tasks within a doctor's office.

Medical assistants are responsible for various tasks in a physician's office or hospital. Most of these workers are employed by a physician to assist the doctor with various clinical and administrative duties.

Administrative

Medical assistants update patient files and maintain medical records for the doctor. They are also responsible for filling out insurance forms and making arrangements with hospitals concerning patient care and arranging lab tests.

Clinical

Medical assistants greet and prepare patients for examinations and may assist during those examinations. Some medical assistants draw blood and take specimens for testing.

Specialized Functions

Many medical assistants specialize in certain areas based on the doctors they intend to work for. Examples of specialized assistants include ophthalmic assistants who specialize in eye care and conduct vision testing and diagnostics, or podiatric assistants who make castings of feet, make X-rays and assist the podiatrist in surgery.

History

Medical assistants often take histories on patients before the doctor sees them so that the doctor will know what he is dealing with when he sits down with the patient.

Vitals

The medical assistant often records vital signs during office visits. These vitals include blood pressure, weight, temperature and heart rate among others.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assistants
• State University: Medical Assistant Job Description