| St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants Department of Distance Education Online Medical Assistant Program |
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| Nature of Medical Assistant's Work: Our Medical Assistant online distance education training program prepares a graduate to work as an entry-level Medical Assistant. Within this general career category there are a number of specialty areas, including Medical Administrative Office Assistant, Clinic Assistant, Medical Office Manager, Phlebotomist, Physical Therapy Technician in a doctor's office, clinic or hospital. Graduates will be able to check vital signs, assist in physical examinations, electrocardiograms, and perform basic laboratory tests. As a Medical Assistant you may have some of these duties: Assist with medical exams, procedures and treatments Collect and process patient specimens Perform routine medical diagnostic tests (EKG, EEG, CBC, Phlebotomy, etc.) Prepare and administer medications under physicians orders and supervision Schedule, coordinate and monitor patient appointments Process and manage insurance claims, receivables and payables Transcribe Patient medical documentation into charts Patients' medical records Perform Patient education in health-related issues Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly. Medical assistants should not be confused with physician assistants who examine, diagnose, and treat patients, under the direct supervision of a physician. The duties of the Medical Assistants vary from office to office, depending on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants are usually "generalists," handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators. Medical Assistants perform many administrative duties. They answer telephones, greet patients, update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handle billing and bookkeeping. Clinical duties vary according to state, federal and other governmental laws and include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about medication and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical Assistants may also arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean. Assistants who specialize have additional duties. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery. Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide medical eye care. They administer diagnostic tests, measure and record vision, and test the functioning of eyes and eye muscles. They also show patients how to use eye dressings, protective shields, and safety glasses, and how to insert, remove, and care for contact lenses. Under the direction of the physician, they may administer medications, including eye drops. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and assist the ophthalmologist in surgery. Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They constantly interact with other people, and may have to handle several responsibilities at once. Most full-time medical assistants work a regular 40-hour week. Some work part-time, evenings or weekends. Almost sixty percent of Medical Assistants work in offices of physicians, about fourteen percent worked in public and private hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities and almost ten percent worked in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors and podiatrists. The rest worked mostly in outpatient care centers, public and private educational services, other ambulatory healthcare services, State and local government agencies, medical and diagnostic laboratories, nursing care facilities, and employment services. According to the United States Department of Labor: "Employment of Medical Assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012 as the health services industry expands because of technological advances in medicine, and a growing and aging population. Increasing utilization of medical assistants in the rapidly-growing healthcare industries will result in fast employment growth for the occupation. In fact, medical assistants is projected to be the fastest growing occupation over the 2002 to 2012 period. Employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work primarily in outpatient settings, which are expected to exhibit much faster-than-average growth." Overall the employment outlook for Medical Assistants is excellent! |