SUMMARY

The field of medical assisting is rapidly growing in response to increasing health care needs of consumers. The profession of medical assistant offers many opportunities, roles, responsibilities, and settings for employment. Most medical assistants work in ambulatory settings such as physicians’ offices, where they fulfill the administrative and clinical responsibilities associated with operating medical offices. The size and nature of the medical office practice will determine the number of medical assistants and tasks assigned. Caring individuals, who are dedicated professionals with a commitment to maintain their skills through continuing education, make the best medical assistants. Qualities or characteristics regularly found in good medical assistants are integrity, discretion, empathy, the ability to safeguard the patient’s right to confidentiality, thoroughness, punctuality, congeniality, proactivity, and competence. It is most important to remember that the opportunities presented are many and the future of medical assisting looks promising. A career in medical assisting is emotionally and professionally challenging. Certification and membership with a professional organization are essential for professional development, and lifelong learning is expected in the medical assisting profession.