Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician. (Physician assistants are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.)
The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner�s specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually are 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, including answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients� medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping.
Clinical duties vary according to State law 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 medications 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 also may arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.
Ophthalmic medical assistants and podiatric medical assistants are examples of specialized assistants who have additional duties. Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide eye care. They conduct diagnostic tests, measure and record vision, and test eye muscle function. They also show patients how to insert, remove, and care for contact lenses, and they apply eye dressings. Under the direction of the physician, ophthalmic medical assistants may administer eye medications. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist the ophthalmologist in surgery. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery.
2007-01-12 07:26:48
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answer #1
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answered by steve 4
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Medical assistant is an allied health occupation, they are generally perform a administrative or clinical task to support the work of physician/doctors and other health practitioner. They are generally hire in a company or working as a assistant of doctor or physician.
2014-11-09 20:50:06
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answer #2
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answered by Chuck 2
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Juli gave an exceedingly good answer. i wanted to function that around right here, the MA collects the affected person from the waiting room, takes each and all the vitals, updates medicine lists, prepares something the healthcare expert could choose (like injections) after that could reschedule you on the tip of your bypass to. The MA is in cost of turning out to be particular the charts are pulled on the commencing up of the day and making particular that they are so as and finished. The MA additionally forwards on prescription requests, telephone messages, and might even handle place of work themes. all of it comes right down to what particular duties any given hospital expects from the MA.
2016-10-07 01:32:51
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answer #3
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answered by lashbrook 4
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