Duties and Career for Medical Assistants

If you are an individual aiming to be in the medical field as a multi-skilled health care professional then one of your options could be becoming a medical assistant. Medical assistant is trained to provide a physician with administrative and technical assistance whenever deemed necessary.

Medical assistants core duties would involve interviewing patients, create and check chart history, check vital signs, assist during minor surgeries, perform EKG’s, conduct basic phlebotomy, administer injections if required. It has been observed that there is a great demand for medical assistants who can manage administrative and clinical functionalities in an proficient manner. At a basic level medical assistant do not have the right to take any decisions regarding the treatment of patients or handling an emergency case. They handle normal routine duties of preparing patients for examination and assisting the physicians. They administer medicines as prescribed by the physicians. They also collect sample specimens, conduct lab tests and disinfect the medical instruments post surgery.

With exposure and experience one could always go in for a certification. The US law does not require the medical assistants to be certified to be working. But with the demanding growth in healthcare services and the need for qualified medical professionals it would be imperative to sit for the Medical Assistants State Examination to be a certified medical assistant. An individual can aim for Registered Medical Assistant and National Certified Medical Assistant certifications.






According to the US Labor department the average median salary of medical assistants was $23,940 in the year 2002. Approximately 40 hours per week and flexible timing options and defined duties. Medical assistant is a career to consider.

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private vocational training institute which offers Medical Assistant Program approved by BVNPT through their campuses in San Mateo, Concord, Fresno and Modesto, CA

Duties and Career for Medical Assistants / Author: Govindan