Education and Training

Over the years, the education and training of medical assistants has undergone many changes. Today’s medical assistants are well trained and respected practitioners in the allied health field. Students may obtain a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in the field of medical assisting. • Certificate programs—The length of the course of study varies from one institution to the next. Some certificate programs are six weeks in length, whereas others may take up to a year to complete. These programs are typically offered in vocational schools or career colleges. Certificate programs often focus only on the development of either clinical skills or administrative skills. Students may choose the traditional classroom setting or may opt for distance learning (online). Most certificate programs require a hands-on externship to complete the program. Depending on the type of program offered, graduates of certificate programs may be eligible to sit for a national certification examination. Students who choose this training option may be supplementing prior training or may simply want an introductory career in the health care field.

 

Accreditation

Accreditation is the review an institution voluntarily undergoes to determine whether its school meets or exceeds standards set forth by an accrediting body. Accreditation ensures that a school meets established criteria. It is important to understand that schools and programs are accredited— people are not.

Professionalism 

Lifelong learning is an important responsibility for all professionals. After completion of a formal education program and successful completion of a national certification examination, the professional medical assistant will continue to search for opportunities to maintain his or her credential through continuing education. The health care industry is constantly changing, and it is imperative that professionals keep abreast of these changes by participating in continuing education activities.

Regulatory Agencies:

The curriculum for a medical assisting program is designed so that a student meets cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills in the following content areas: Anatomy and Physiology Applied Mathematics Infection Control Nutrition Concepts of Effective Communication Administrative Functions Basic Practice Finances Third-Party Reimbursement Procedural and Diagnostic Coding Legal Implications Ethical Considerations Protective Practices

Focus is placed on credentialing requirements and opportunities to obtain employment and to increase employability.” Content areas outlined by ABHES include: General Orientation (to the profession of medical assisting)

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Law and Ethics
• Human Relations
• Pharmacology
• Administrative Procedures / Clinical Procedures / Medical Laboratory
• Career Development

The four main content areas are:

• Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice

• Roles/Responsibilities

• Interprofessional Communication

Teams and Teamwork Concepts and ideas related to these content areas are discussed in the later chapters.

Role of the Medical Assistant

The clinical medical assistant’s main responsibility is to assist the physician or health care practitioner in providing patient care. Central to a medical assistant’s responsibilities are sound clinical skills. He must be able to obtain vital signs, collect specimens, administer medications, and run basic laboratory tests. It is not unusual to find medical assistants who conduct cardiac stress tests and assist with minor office surgeries. Administrative duties may also be part of the job description. In small clinics or physicians’ offices, the medical assistant may function as the receptionist, insurance clerk, or office manager.

The field of medical assisting is open to both men and women in a variety of work settings, such as physicians’ offices, ambulatory care (outpatient) clinics, government agencies, and free-standing facilities. Although traditionally medical assistants worked only in physicians’ offices, increasingly they are being employed in urgent care facilities. These facilities are typically open beyond the traditional hours—at night and on weekends.

Responsibilities of the Medical Assistant The list of responsibilities that medical assistants perform is extensive. For this reason, the education and training for this field is carefully designed and must involve both theory and hands-on experience. The actual duties of the medical assistant vary from office to office. A good medical assistant, who has received a well-rounded education, will be able to adjust to different work environments. However, never perform duties that are beyond your level of responsibility, education, and training. Medical assistant responsibilities will also vary according to the size and type of setting and state laws that apply. Always familiarize yourself with federal and state regulations and guidelines governing the procedures that medical assistants are allowed to perform in whatever environment you work. Most state regulations refer to this as the medical assistant scope of practice.

Generally, medical assistant duties are grouped into two categories—administrative and clinical—and include the following competencies: Administrative Competencies: Business and Front Office

• Scheduling patients, including referrals to specialists • Greeting and receiving patients • Screening nonpatients and visitors • Arranging for patient admissions to hospitals, patient tests, and procedures such as X-rays and laboratory tests • Providing patient instruction regarding procedures and tests performed in the physician’s office and hospitals

• Updating and filing patient medical records • Coding diagnoses and procedures for insurance purposes • Computer skills and use of new technologies • Handling financial arrangements with patients • Managing the telephone, reports, correspondence, and filing

• Handling mail, billing, insurance claims, credit, and collections • Operating office equipment • Preparing and maintaining employee records• Handling petty cash • Reconciling bank statements • Maintaining records for license renewals, membership fees, and insurance premiums

• Assisting the physician with articles, lectures, and manuscripts • Utilization review of necessary procedures and referrals

• Coordinating managed-care coverage for patients and physicians • Ensuring compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines (HIPAA will be discussed in the more in medical law and ethics section.)

Clinical Competencies: Care and Treatment of Patients • Assisting patients in preparation for physical examinations and procedures

• Collecting, preparing, and transporting laboratory specimens • Performing venipuncture • Assisting the physician with procedures • Instructing and educating patients on treatments and procedures • Cleaning and sterilizing equipment • Obtaining patient’s height, weight, and vital signs • Preparing and maintaining examination and treatment rooms • Inventory control—ordering and storing of supplies • Disposing of hazardous waste and other materials

• Administering medications under the supervision and orders of the physician, where permitted • Changing bandages and dressings, as well as suture removal, where permitted • Handling drug refills as directed by the physician • Performing electrocardiograms (ECGs) • Complying with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and employee instruction • Performing skills relevant to a particular practice (for example, audiometry, spirometry, and Holter monitor) • Disposing of contaminated supplies • Sterilizing medical instruments • Preparing patients for X-rays

Medical assistants who work in specialty offices, such as pediatric or ophthalmic offices, will have additional duties for which they will be trained by appropriate personnel in the office. A more thorough introduction to potential tasks will be covered in later lessons.