Medical assistants are multiskilled allied health professionals specifically trained to work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians' offices, clinics, and group practices. They perform both administrative and clinical tasks to help keep busy medical practices running smoothly. Clinical duties include:
- assisting with examinations,
- recording vital signs,
- preparing patients for various procedures,
- sterilizing instruments,
- maintaining examining rooms,
- drawing blood,
- recording electrocardiograms,
- removing sutures and changing dressings.
Administrative responsibilities of the medical assistant include answering telephones and greeting patients, maintaining medical records, performing medical coding, completing health insurance forms, scheduling appointments, and preparing medical and financial reports.
