Are you interested in becoming a medical assistant in Austin and want to know more about what they do? If so, you have come to the right place. This article will review many of the clinical and clerical responsibilities that a medical assistant will perform in a physician’s office, hospital or other medical facility. By the end of the article, you will know more about this rewarding career and be ready to ask questions about CyberTex and our Medical Assistant program.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
The medical assistant has many clinical and clerical duties within a medical facility. These are the most common duties that they perform:
Infection Control
Medical assistants are charged with keeping patients and medical staff safe with proper cleaning, sanitation and disinfection protocols. Medical facilities can harbor germs and medical assistants are tasked with infection control.
Patient Exam Prep
Medical assistants prepare patients for physician exams by escorting them to exam rooms, where they properly drape and situate patients. At this time, the medical assistant will review the patient’s health and take their vital signs.
Health History Review
It is crucial to set a baseline for a patient’s health to compare health history during the patient exam interview. Medical assistants help physicians track a patient’s medical history in their electronic health records. This includes the patient’s chief complaint and changes in allergies or medications. Knowing the past can better inform the present and make better future decisions.
Taking Vital Signs
Vital signs measure the patient’s blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature at the beginning of each doctor’s appointment. Vital signs offer the physician clues to health issues or concerns. Small changes may or may not be critical, so having vital sign trends can shed light on the patient’s condition.
Recording Weight and Height
Weight and height help medical assistants calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), information that physicians use to estimate a patient’s body fat. BMI is a significant predictor of many diseases and the best way to calculate medication dosages.
Patient Health Screening
Preventive screenings reveal potential health issues. Assessments of a patient’s health provide crucial information to shape a physician’s diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Specimen Collection
Medical assistants collect specimens following laboratory guidelines when doctors order lab tests. The medical assistant will instruct the patient to properly prepare for a specimen collection, so they are comfortable with the process.
EKGs & Diagnostic Tests
Medical assistants perform EKGs, urinalysis, audiometry, blood glucose testing, and pregnancy screens, to name a few. This information, coupled with vital signs, can help a physician make better healthcare diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Phlebotomy
Medical assistants perform phlebotomy or venipuncture to help the physician understand what is happening in the body without invasive procedures. Blood can tell a physician a lot about a patient’s health.
Administering Medications
Medical assistants administer oral, topical, and injectable medications under a nurse or physician’s supervision. For example, a medical assistant can administer a flu shot or Covid-19 vaccine.
Wound Care
Medical assistants don’t assess wounds but can clean wounds, change bandages, and remove sutures or staples. They also educate patients so they can care for their wounds when they return home.
Assisting with Surgical Procedures
Physicians need help performing minor surgical procedures in medical office settings. Medical assistants support physicians by setting up surgical equipment, draping patients, passing instruments, and educating the patient on after-treatment.
Emergency Care
Medical assistants are always ready for an emergency and maintain emergency equipment, so they are ready when a crisis arises. In addition, medical assistants perform phone triage to prioritize emergencies, so they are directed to the proper person in the medical facility.
Appointment Scheduling
Medical assistants are the best people to schedule appointments because they understand how long a procedure or test will take and which medical equipment is available for the physician to use during the appointment.
Electronic Health Records Management
Medical assistants manage electronic recordkeeping systems, organize charts and facilitate information exchange between patients and medical professionals. Electronic health records have changed the landscape of the medical industry, reducing medical errors and giving the entire medical team information to make better treatment decisions.
Managing Referrals
Physicians refer their patients to specialists. It is the medical assistant’s job to manage the process and forward the necessary charts and information to the specialist’s office.
Billing and Coding
Medical assistants support the office staff and other medical billing and coding specialists with coding insurance forms, submitting claims, and payment collection. In a smaller medical office, medical assistants are more likely to help out with billing and coding tasks.
Inventory Management
Since the medical assistant is constantly using the medical supplies in a medical facility, they are the best person to manage inventory. They will keep track of medical supplies and equipment, ordering when needed.
General Office Duties
Medical assistants support medical office staff by filing, faxing, and responding to emails. They are always ready to pitch in to lend a hand.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know more about what a medical assistant does, it is time to learn more about CyberTex. Let us prepare you for an entry-level medical assistant position so you can help others and enjoy a rewarding career at the same time. It’s a win-win!
Want to Learn More?
The Medical Assistant Training Program at CyberTex Institute of Technology takes excellent care of you by providing hands-on training, practical experience, and the support it takes to get started in a medical assisting career without spending years in school. You will learn clinical and administrative skills and prepare to work in physician’s offices, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
Contact us today to learn more about our Austin and Killeen campuses.
