Few career opportunities allow you to work at the cutting edge of two leading industries, help people in life-changing ways and work as part of a team.  

Medical assisting is one of those jobs.

If you have ever wondered what medical assistants do, you don't have to look very far for your answers. There is a good chance you have seen them in action the last time you visited a hospital or clinic. You've shared important and confidential information about your health with them. They've entered your information into online medical reports. And together, you and a medical assistant have ensured that your doctor had all the information she or he needed to properly treat you. 

That's the short answer. 

The longer answer to the question of "What does a medical assistant do?" is that they help keep people healthy by:

Gathering important information

Medical assistants are often among the first people you meet when you arrive at a hospital or clinic. They greet you in the exam room, take your vitals and begin a conversation about your health. Everything medical assistants do is designed to help other members of the team do their jobs. 

Doctors use the information medical assistants gather to determine how they will go about getting an accurate diagnosis, which leads to an effective treatment plan. Specialists use the medical records recorded by medical assistants to determine how to address specific problems you're experiencing. And your future visits to the doctor's office will be guided, in large part, by the information your medical assistant gathers.

In a sense, every member of your medical team depends on your medical assistant. That's impressive. 

Helping patients understand their conditions

Healthcare can be overwhelming--especially when you are the patient. One of the key roles medical assistants play is to help patients understand their conditions, treatment procedures and medicine. It's an important role, too, because if patients don't understand their condition, treatment plan and proper ways to take their prescriptions, they might not get better. 

Many clinics and hospitals rely heavily on their medical assistants to act as patient liaisons. Patients will sometimes ask their medical assistants questions they won't ask doctors--and this is a good thing. When patients have someone they trust and are comfortable with, they are more likely to understand their conditions and follow their doctors' orders. For many patients, the medical assistant is the person with whom they feel most comfortable. 

Performing medical procedures

Doctors are busy people, so the more help they can get, the better. Medical assistants often are called upon to help doctors by performing medical procedures including drawing blood, taking electrocardiograms, removing sutures, changing dressings and preparing and administering medications. 

This is important work that makes a significant difference to both the doctor and the patient. Having a medical assistant help with certain procedures shortens appointment times for patients, allows doctors to focus on their patients' overall health and makes the medical assistant an incredibly important part of the patients' medical team. 

Keeping the office running

Medical assistants play a key role in helping hospitals and clinics function efficiently and effectively--and this often starts in the front office. 

It's a role that can include greeting patients, answering phones, updating patient records, assisting patients with completing medical forms, being responsible for scheduling, handling billing and arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services. 

Keeping the office running in an efficient and effective manner is important to patients because it ensures that they will have a pleasant experience and hopefully get healthier sooner. It's important to the doctors because it allows them to focus on their jobs rather than on the business side of the operations. And it's important to the entire team because it ensures that the practice is compensated for their work. 

ecpi was the best decision I've ever made

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Become a Medical Assistant and Be at the Cutting Edge of Technology and Medicine

Yes, medical assistants work at the cutting edge of technology and in an industry that is growing. They work as part of teams that improve the lives of people across the country on a daily basis. Their jobs are interesting, fast-paced and important. 

If you are interested in learning more about a career as a medical assistant, connect with ECPI University today to learn how you could earn an Associate of Applied Science in Health Science – Medical Assisting in as little as 15 months. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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