Medical assistantsMedical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. They should not be confused with physician assistants, who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician. (Physician assistants are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.) The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner�s specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually are �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, including answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients� medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling 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 medications 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 x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. Medical assistants also may 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 eye care. They conduct 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, ophthalmic medical assistants may administer eye medications. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist the ophthalmologist in surgery. Related news articles Van helps fill health niche for children in far East Side - 16 Oct 2006 El Paso Times,Leticia Delgado, a certified medical assistant, takes patient Karla Herrera's blood pressure in the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. ... ‘Tis the season — to get another flu shot - 16 Oct 2006 Nevada Appeal,...out. The group has more on order, however, and is hoping to get them in shortly, said Yolanda Lopez, a certified medical assistant. ... Red Cross gives Palomar award for most blood collected - 16 Oct 2006 Telescope,Jennifer Julien, a medical assistant who works in the bloodmobile said San Diego hospitals need blood, and that most blood has to be imported from other states ... Fraternity helps boys learn rules of responsibility - 16 Oct 2006 Kentucky.com,At the time, he was a three-sport athlete at a Louisville high school. His son is now 15, and Louden is a medical assistant at UK Sports Medicine. ... Accused instructor is not a medical assistant - Oct 5, 2006 Liberal Southwest Daily Times,Both reported that a medical assistant instructor at Southwest Kansas Technical School was being sued for harassment. The individual ... Medical assistant charged with fondling breasts - Sep 27, 2006 Pahrump Valley Times,Clancy, who was working as a medical assistant at the Specialty Medical Center, admitted to fondling the breast of a female after a report was filed with the ... Police investigating locker room burglary - Oct 14, 2006 Grand Junction Sentinel,Graduates, Lease Purcha....(more). MEDICAL ASSISTANT/ LPN Medical Assistant/ LPN Specialty medical office in G....(more). HOTEL/MOTEL GRAND ... Hospital cleaner, or doc's assistant? - Oct 14, 2006 Times Now.tv,That’s because for some time now, Tejalal Bhimji Padaya has been given the task of conducting medical procedures normally done by a trained medical assistant ... Toledo medical assistant earns certification - Sep 20, 2006 Newport News Times,Angela M. Smith, CMA passed the American Association of Medical Assistant's CMA Certification/Recertification Examination for medial assistants on June 24, 2006 ... St. Hope Medical Assistant Arrested For Alleged Sex With Student - Sep 28, 2006 KXTV,A medical assistant working at a Sacramento high school was arrested Wednesday and charged with having sex with a 17-year-old student, Elk Grove Police ... San Antonio College of Medical and Dental Assistants – San ... - Oct 13, 2006 Business Wire (press release),...ceremony. Students will be recognized for earning diplomas in six programs, including pharmacy technician and medical assistant. ... ACM scholarships awarded - Oct 15, 2006 Cumberland Times-News,Lynne Harris. * Kimberly Kesner, Petersburg, W.Va, was awarded the Medical Assistant Scholarship for study in that curriculum. A ... Conditions in our hospitals, clinics pathetic - Oct 14, 2006 IPP Media - Guardian,...aback at the long and unending queues of patients waiting to be attended by a single doctor or medical personnel in the name of a medical assistant or nurse. ... Koppers names vice president of human resources - Oct 14, 2006 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,They are: Monroeville clinic, F. Buddy Legath and Andrea Brown, physician assistants; Renee Bouchard, medical assistant; and Phyllis Malasky, front office ... Three Grand Prairie residents receive their diploma - Oct 9, 2006 The Arlington News,According to the Texas Workforce Commission, Labor Market Information, Texas Long-Term Occupational Projections, 2004, medical assistant positions are expected ... SCCC recognizes medical assistants - Oct 12, 2006 Advertiser-NewsMedical assistants will be recognized across the country during this special week and honored on Medical Assistant Recognition Day, Thursday, Oct. ... Doctored Diplomas - Oct 1, 2006 Kentucky.com,He said that he was a certified medical assistant and a licensed X-ray technician and that he had a doctor's degree in natural medicine. ... Lufkin's Terrance Parks suspended from Baylor football team - Oct 13, 2006 Lufkin Daily News,FT &a....(more). DEER CREEK NURSING has the following full-time positions available: ....more). Medical Assistant w/ x-ray experience. ... BSP MLA alleges terror tactics by dist admn - Oct 15, 2006 Hindustan Times,He admitted that he did his best to ensure the medical assistant to Repunjay Rai who sustained serious injuries in firing at the PWD office but he has not ... More information on Medical assistants from The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Overview of Medical assistants occupation Number of Medical assistants in the U.S. Salary and earnings for Medical assistants Working conditions for Medical assistants Significant points for Medical assistants Training requirements for Medical assistants Labor Information Home | Occupational data by city | Search Rainforests | Madagascar | What's new |