Health Care Team (HCT)

A Medical Assistant is a trained member of the health care team who assists physicians and other health care professionals in numerous capacities. A Medical Assistant should not be confused with a physician assistant, who examines, diagnoses, and treats patients under the direct supervision of a physician.

Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of numerous health professionals running smoothly.

Some Medical Assistants are trained on the job, but many complete one- or two-year academic programs. Courses in the program cover anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology as well as typing, transcription, record keeping, accounting, and insurance processing. Students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, the administration of medications, and first aid. They study office practices, patient relations, medical law, and ethics. Accredited programs often include an internship that provides practical experience in physician offices, hospitals, or other health care facilities.

In small practices, Medical Assistants usually handle both administrative and clinical duties and report to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in larger practices tend to specialize in a particular area, and are typically under the supervision of department administrators.

The duties of Medical Assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and practitioner’s specialty. For administrative duties, Medical Assistants may update and file patients’ medical records, fill out insurance forms, and arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services. They may also answer phones, greet patients, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, and handle billing and bookkeeping. For clinical duties (depending on what is allowed by state law), Medical Assistants may take medical histories and record vital signs, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, and assist physicians during examinations. They may also collect and prepare laboratory specimens, perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, 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.

There are various associations that award certification credentials to Medical Assistants. Although not required, certification indicates that a Medical Assistant meets certain standards of competence. Employers prefer to hire experienced workers or those who are certified. No states currently require licensure.

Medical Assistants work and interact with patients in a variety of different settings. The most common setting, however, is the physician’s office.

A Medical Assistant is often the first member of the health care team that interacts with a patient. The Medical Assistant may greet the patient and take the patient’s history or vital signs.