Medical Assistant

Working Schedule

Medical Assistants may work part-time or full-time. Shifts can include nights, weekends, or holidays.

Typical Duties

• Schedule patient appointments and follow up with reminder calls or instructions.
• Prepare exam rooms. Ensure they are clean, organized, and stocked with supplies. Sterilize instruments and equipment.
• Check patients in for appointments, verify insurance coverage, and update records.
• Record patient medical history and vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature, and weight.
• Prepare patients for exams, ensuring they are ready to see their doctor.
• Assist physicians as needed during exams and minor procedures like removing sutures or applying dressings.
• Administer injections and medications, under supervision and as directed.
• Draw blood samples. Follow protocols for safe handling and labeling.
• Perform basic lab tests, such as urinalysis or blood glucose monitoring.
• Go over treatment plans and medication instructions with patients or their caretakers.

Additional Responsibilities

• Answer phones and reply to emails or other messages.
• Relay patient concerns to other healthcare team members.
• Manage inventories and reorder supplies, as needed.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and safeguard records. 

Soft Skills

• Bedside manner
• Compassion
• Composure
• Dependability
• Detail-oriented
• Empathy
• Interpersonal skills
• Observant
• Patience
• Reliability
• Safety conscious
• Sound judgment
• Strong communication skills
• Teamwork and collaboration

Technical Skills

• Knowledge of common medical conditions
• Managing appointment scheduling software
• Documenting and maintaining patient records using electronic medical records systems
• Taking and recording vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature)
• Administering medications under supervision
• Drawing blood and performing basic lab tests
• Assisting in minor surgical procedures and wound care
• Performing electrocardiograms
• Familiarity with hygiene, sterilization practices, and infection control

• Hospitals
• Long-term care settings
• Outpatient centers
• Physician offices
• Rehabilitation centers
• Specialized care facilities
• Therapy departments
• Urgent care facilities

Medical Assistants provide vital support to healthcare teams across various settings. They assist with important administrative and clinical tasks, ensuring patients get the care they need in a timely manner.

MAs often assist patients with chronic illnesses or disabilities, providing hands-on support that can be both physically and emotionally demanding. A typical day might involve assisting with procedures, administering medications, taking vital signs, and helping with mobility exercises. These responsibilities require organizational skills and the ability to stay calm under pressure, especially when patients don’t feel well or get upset.

MAs potentially need to work nights, weekends, and holidays, depending on their work setting. Balancing these demanding shifts with personal life can be difficult, and finding time for self-care is crucial to avoid burnout. 

The healthcare sector, particularly in outpatient and long-term care settings, is experiencing a growing demand for MAs. This increase is partially due to people living longer and needing more services to manage chronic conditions. At the same time, thousands of healthcare professionals are retiring, leaving several gaps to fill. That’s why so many organizations are turning to MAs to fill those gaps.

Online educational programs are expanding to make MA training more flexible and accessible for workers wanting to enter the field. However, students must be careful to ensure that programs meet accreditation requirements.

The high demand for MAs is leading to longer hours, more patients, and greater responsibilities for those currently working. That’s why MAs must take good care of their mental and physical well-being to avoid job burnout. 

MAs may have had an early interest in healthcare — or simply in helping others! They might have been caregivers for family members, seeing firsthand how important it is to support those who need it.