Medical Assistant

Other Titles

Certified Medical Assistant, Chiropractor Assistant, Clinical Assistant, Doctor's Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, Ophthalmic Technician, Optometric Assistant, Optometric Technician

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.

Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.

Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.

Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.

Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.

Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.

Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.

Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.

Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.

Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.

Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.

Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.

Schedule appointments for patients.

Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.

Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.

Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment.

Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.

Change dressings on wounds.

Set up medical laboratory equipment.

Keep financial records or perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit or collections or mailing monthly statements to patients.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.

Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Instructing→ Teaching others how to do something.

Learning Strategies→ Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Performing Administrative Activities→ Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Developing Objectives and Strategies→ Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Record vital statistics or other health information.

Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.

Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.

Interview patients to gather medical information.

Prepare patient treatment areas for use.

Give medications or immunizations.

Collect biological specimens from patients.

Control prescription refills or authorizations.

Explain technical medical information to patients.

Clean medical equipment.

Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.

Process medical billing information.

Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.

Perform clerical work in medical settings.

Schedule patient procedures or appointments.

Administer basic health care or medical treatments.

Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.

Inventory medical supplies or equipment.

Operate medical equipment.

Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.

Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Finger Dexterity→ The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Flexibility of Closure→ The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Time Sharing→ The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Medicine and Dentistry→ Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Clerical→ Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Psychology→ Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Education and Training→ Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Accounting software -- Bookkeeping software; Billing software; Intuit QuickBooks ; Sage; Xerox

Calendar and scheduling software -- Appointment scheduling software; Acuity Scheduling

Categorization or classification software -- Diagnostic and procedural coding software

Database user interface and query software -- Database software; Microsoft Access

Document management software -- Medical management software; IDX Systems Patient Chart Tracking

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Exchange

Internet browser software -- e.g., Apple Safari; Windows Explorer; Google Chrome; Mozilla Firefox

Medical software -- Electronic medical record EMR software; Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS; Medical condition coding software; Medical procedure coding software; Patient management software; Visual electro diagnostic software; OpenMRS; Healthbridge; Evolve Medical; GoodX; athenaClinicals; Epic Systems; MEDITECH software

Network conferencing software -- e.g., Microsoft Office SharePoint Server MOSS

Office suite software -- Business software applications; Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace

Operating system software -- e.g., Apple macOS; Bash; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux; Microsoft Windows; Microsoft Windows Vista Business; Microsoft Windows XP Professional; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script; Ubuntu; UNIX

Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets

Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs

Alcohol analysers→ Breathalyzers

Audiometers or accessories→ Audiometers

Bedside pulmonary function screeners→ Pulmonary function measurement equipment

Benchtop centrifuges→ Centrifuges

Binocular light compound microscopes

Blood collection needle→ Single draw needles

Body plethysmographs→ Plethysmographs

Butterfly needles

Canes or cane accessories→ Canes

Capillary or hematocrit tubes→ Microcapillary hematocrit tubes

Cast cutters or saws→ Cast cutters

Chemistry analyzers→ Blood chemistry analyzers

Combination refractor keratometers→ Keratometers

Crutches or crutch accessories→ Crutches

Dictation machines→ Dictation equipment

Dropping pipettes→ Pipettes

Electrocardiography EKG units

Electronic blood pressure units→ Electronic blood pressure measuring devices

Electrosurgical or electrocautery equipment→ Electrocautery equipment

Endotracheal tubes→ Endotracheal ET tubes

Enema kits or accessories→ Enema equipment

Eye charts or vision cards→ Snellen eye charts

Eye occluders→ Handheld occluders

Flexible endoscopes or accessories or related products→ Flexible sigmoidoscopy equipment

Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy→ Gait belts

Hearing aids for the physically challenged→ Hearing aids

Hypodermic needle→ Intradermal needles; Intramuscular needles; Subcutaneous hypodermic needles

Lancets

Lap mayo trays or mayo stands for surgical use or accessories→ Mayo stands

Laser printers

Magnetic stripe readers and encoders→ Credit card readers

Medical acoustic stethoscope or accessory→ Mechanical stethoscopes

Medical gas cylinders or related devices→ Oxygen tanks

Medical imaging wet darkroom or daylight processors→ X ray development equipment

Medical oxygen masks or parts→ Oxygen masks

Medical radiation films or badges→ Dosimetry badges

Medical staple or clip removers→ Staple removers

Medical suction cannulas or tubes or accessories→ Suction tubing

Medical suction or vacuum appliances→ Suction machines

Medical syringe with needle→ Syringe needles

Medical syringe without needle→ Syringes

Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use→ X ray machines

Mercury blood pressure units→ Baumanometers; Manual blood pressuring measurement equipment

Microscope slides

Nebulizer or accessories→ Nebulizers; Pulmonary nebulizers

Non vacuum blood collection tubes or containers→ Blood collection vials

Notebook computers

Ophthalmic lensometers→ Lensometers

Ophthalmic retinoscopes→ Retinoscopes

Ophthalmic tonometers or accessories→ Tonometers

Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets→ Opthalmoscopes; Otoscopes

Opticians tools or accessories→ Metric rules

Orthopedic splint systems→ Splints

Oxygen therapy delivery system products accessories or its supplies→ Oxygen equipment

Personal computers

Phlebotomy trays or accessories→ Evacuated collection tube holders/adapters

Scanners

Specimen collection container→ Culturettes

Spirometers or its accessories or its supplies→ Spirometers; Vitalors

Steam autoclaves or sterilizers→ Autoclaves

Suture removers

Tablet computers

Tourniquets

Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation units→ Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation TENS units

Tuberculin syringes→ Tuberculin TB skin test equipment

Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers→ Evacuated blood collection tubes

Walkers or rollators→ Walkers

Wheelchairs

Social→ Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.