| The medical assistant job description is quite varying in | | | | required of most schools. Employers will prefer that |
| its list of duties. You would be amazed at what all a | | | | you graduate from a medical assistant training |
| medical assistant position entails. | | | | program with at least a certificate if not with an |
| The duties of a medical assistant vary depending on | | | | associate degree. |
| the size and location of the office. For instance, if it is a | | | | Further, in some states will require the passing of the |
| small rural office, probably the job description includes | | | | state certified medical assistant exam. This is because |
| things like secretarial duties, nursing duties, phlebotomy | | | | some states require the certification of medical |
| duties and lab work. Anything a large staff would do, | | | | assistants (CMA). |
| the medical administrative assistant will be doing in a | | | | Clinical duties can vary depending on the state laws. In |
| small rural office. | | | | some states, taking vital signs and charting can be |
| In a large office, however, duties will include things like | | | | done only by the doctor or nurses in the office. In |
| greeting patients, updating patient charts, filing patient | | | | others, a CMA can perform these duties and quite |
| medical records and answering telephones. Scheduling | | | | often do. The same goes for explaining procedures to |
| appointments and arranging for admissions to the | | | | patients and performing simple patient tasks. |
| hospital also fall under the responsibilities of a medical | | | | State laws also stand over lab tasks. Some states |
| assistant. | | | | allow performing lab tests to be performed by medical |
| The medical assistant job description includes working | | | | assistants, while others do not. If they are allowed, the |
| a full 40-hour week which could include evenings and | | | | CMA will not only draw the blood, but perform the |
| weekends depending on the doctor's hours. They also | | | | tests. |
| work with people every hour of each work day, so if | | | | One thing goes across the board, however. That |
| you don't like working with people, this is not the | | | | would be that regardless of the medical assistant job |
| position for you. | | | | description or state laws, medical assistants should |
| Because the position requires so many diverse skills, | | | | never be confused with physician assistants who not |
| training is quite extensive. In order to get in, you have to | | | | only diagnose but treat patients. |
| have a high school diploma or a GED. This will be | | | | |