Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly. They should not be confused with physician assistants who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, medical assistants are usually “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. They answer telephones, greet patients, update and file patient medical records, fill out  insurance forms, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handle 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 medication 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 xrays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical assistants may also arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.  Assistants who specialize have additional duties. 

Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop x rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery.

Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide medical eye care.  They administer 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, they may administer eye medications.  They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist the ophthalmologist in surgery.

Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They constantly interact with other people, and may have to handle several responsibilities at once.  Most full-time medical assistants work a regular 40-hour week. Some work parttime, evenings, or weekends.

Medical assistants held about 365,000 jobs in 2002. Almost 60 percent were in physicians’ offices, and about 14 percent were in public and private hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities and almost 10 percent worked in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors and podiatrists.   The rest worked mostly in outpatient care centers, public and private educational services, other ambulatory healthcare services, State and local government agencies, medical and diagnostic laboratories, nursing care facilities, and employment services.

Most employers prefer to hire graduates of formal programs in medical assisting. Such programs are offered in vocational technical high schools, postsecondary vocational schools, community and junior colleges, and in colleges and universities.  Postsecondary programs usually last either one year, resulting in a certificate or diploma, or two years, resulting in an associate degree.

Courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, as well as typing, transcription, recordkeeping, accounting, and insurance processing. Students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, medication administration, and first aid. They study office practices, patient relations, medical law, and ethics. Accredited programs include an externship that provides practical experience in physicians’ offices, hospitals, or other health care facilities. 

Formal training in medical assisting, while generally preferred, is not always required. Some medical assistants are trained on the job, although this is less common than in the past. Applicants usually need a high school diploma or the equivalent.