Medical Assistants have a variety of options when it comes to selecting a work environment. Medical Assistants can work in several different setting such as physicians’ offices, health clinics, and hospitals. Depending on location, their day to day duties may vary as well as their work hours. However, regardless of where they work, medical assistants typically work for and directly with physicians. In order to help you determine which work environment may be right for you, we have compiled a list of the common work environments for Medical Assistants.
Where Can Medical Assistants Work?
Physicians’ Offices
The majority of Medical Assistants work in physicians’ offices and other privately owned healthcare facilities. Medical Assistants working in these locations often are assigned duties based on the needs of the specific practice, but they generally responsible for performing clinical duties such as taking patient histories, recording vital signs, giving injections, and other basic tests and examinations. They may also perform basic clerical duties of an office receptionist, conveying clinical information to patients, scheduling appointments, and entering patient info into medical records.
Hospitals
While not as common as physicians’ offices, some medical assistants may work in a hospital. In a hospital, a Medical Assistant may be responsible for scheduling, handling billing and filling out patient forms. They may also work on preparing blood samples and other specimens taken from patients for lab tests.
Outpatient Clinics
An outpatient clinic is a healthcare center started by a practicing physician(s).
Within these clinics, medical assistants typically have very broad responsibilities. They often do everything from greeting patients and answering telephones to performing the various clinical tasks associated with their role. They may also instruct patients about general care, medicinal procedures and special diets.
Please keep in mind that this is not an all-inclusive list of the available work environments for a medical assistant. Job responsibilities may vary based on location, employer, and experience.
Medical Assistant Training Program at Dorsey Schools
The Dorsey Schools Medical Assistant diploma program gives students the opportunity to learn specialized skills that are necessary for employment in a medical office, clinic, or other healthcare facility.
Students within the Medical Assistant program will have the opportunity to learn a variety of topics including:
- Taking and recording a health history, vital signs, and physical measurements
- Infection Control
- Pharmacology Basics
- Administering Medications and Injections
- Specimen Collection and handling for laboratory tests
- First Aid
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Medical Office Procedures
- Electronic Health Records
- And more
What does a Medical Assistant do?
A Medical Assistant is an Allied Health professional that typically works on the front lines of Doctors’ Offices and Clinics by assisting patients and physicians. Medical assistants are responsible for a wide variety of tasks that may vary from office to office depending on size, location, and specialty of the facility.
Duties of a Medical Assistant
A Medical Assistant is an Allied Health professional that is responsible for assisting patients and physicians. They generally handle both clinical and administrative functions of the workplace including preparing patients for examinations and taking medical histories, answering telephones and scheduling appointments.
For a more in depth description about what a medical assistant does, click here, to find out more.
To learn more about Medical Assistant training Dorsey Schools, visit us online at www.dorsey.edu, give us a call at 888-422-1188 or request info online.
Medical Assistant Program – Gainful Employment Disclosures
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who have completed the program, and other important information, please click here.
