The First Person You See
We are usually the first of persons you see. We're at the reception desk where you sign in. We call you in, take your height and weight. We escort you to the exam room where we proceed to take your vitals (blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration. We set the stage for doctor/patient integrity by being professional and obtaining the reason for your visit (chief complaint) so the doctor may better serve you.
The Medical Assistant; whether Administrative or Clinical, sets the pace for office patient flow. To assist the physician in your treatment plan, we may perform an EKG (electrocardiogram), and assist you in taking the PFT (pulmonary function test). Because we are assistants, we may perform injections or draw some blood (venipuncture) from you, the patient. We follow OSHA and HIPAA standards and take the necessary safety procedures and universal precautions to assure for clinical efficiency.
The development and exercise of good customer service skills is essential to the medical assistant. The better the medical assistant communicates with the patient, the better the foundation for the physician to develop a medical regime for the patient and also conserves time for other patients who are waiting.
Medical Assistants are knowledgeable, skilled and professional. They are a vital part of the healthcare industry. So although most recent grads are waiting weeks and sometimes months to obtain employment; do not think for one minute that the medical assistant is not needed, rather it is needed that the medical assistant remain professional.
If you have been thinking about becoming a medical assistant, here are a few qualifications you must have: *professionalism,*empathy and compassion, *honesty,*flexibility, *be adaptable to change, *willingness and ability to be a team player.
Since some people find a doctors visit/examination to be frightening and/or nerve racking, having the above qualities can help the patient feel more comfortable and at ease.
(S. Turner)
