8 answers
Aaliyah
Student
Milpitas, California
3
Questions
Updated
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What are the three most important things to know before becoming a medical assistant?
What would you consider the three most important things to consider when it comes to being a medical assistant?
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8 answers
Janet Lim
Medical Assistant
3
Answers
Stratham, New Hampshire
Updated
Janet’s Answer
1. Ability to do any of the basic vitals on any patient, and when they are necessary: height/length, weight, head circumference, pulse (heart rate), respirations (number of breaths), temperature, blood pressure.
2. Know the right questions to ask depending on the patient's visit type. For example, if a patient comes in with a rash: Ask about when it appeared, location, if it spread since it appeared, any fever, any new foods or skin/soap products when the rash appeared. As stated before, you would do a weight, temperature, and blood pressure (if the patient is at least 3 yrs old).
3. Know how to manage your time between patients and what tasks to prioritize. If you came out of a pt's room and the next one arrived, prep for that pt and wait to do whatever task is waiting for you (unless they came 10+ mins early). If you have no patients waiting to be roomed, work on stocking your rooms and supplies anywhere needed. Work on paperwork or faxes that need to be done, etc.
2. Know the right questions to ask depending on the patient's visit type. For example, if a patient comes in with a rash: Ask about when it appeared, location, if it spread since it appeared, any fever, any new foods or skin/soap products when the rash appeared. As stated before, you would do a weight, temperature, and blood pressure (if the patient is at least 3 yrs old).
3. Know how to manage your time between patients and what tasks to prioritize. If you came out of a pt's room and the next one arrived, prep for that pt and wait to do whatever task is waiting for you (unless they came 10+ mins early). If you have no patients waiting to be roomed, work on stocking your rooms and supplies anywhere needed. Work on paperwork or faxes that need to be done, etc.
Nicole New
Registered Medical Assistant
2
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Proper training and attention to detail are crucial in the medical field no matter how small the title is. Medical assistants work in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and physician offices. The work environment can be fast-paced and require multitasking, this is something you have to be good at. Having strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. You'll interact with patients daily, as well as collaborate with healthcare providers and other staff members.
Kathleen Rezek
Laboratory and compliance
66
Answers
Stanwood, Michigan
Updated
Kathleen’s Answer
Hi, Aaliyah! I love your name; as you "go up" to a possible career as a medical assistant you will need :
Patience, especially when patients are not feeling well or are not understanding what you need from them or are telling them to do.
Empathy, so they know you care and want to help them.
Wisdom, to know your professional obligations and not venture information that may need to be retracted later.
This is a noble venture and I wish you well. As you learn and grow, you might choose to go on to a career in nursing or another healthcare field. But a medical assistant is a good job and a good place to start if you do discover that you love healthcare!
Kathie
Patience, especially when patients are not feeling well or are not understanding what you need from them or are telling them to do.
Empathy, so they know you care and want to help them.
Wisdom, to know your professional obligations and not venture information that may need to be retracted later.
This is a noble venture and I wish you well. As you learn and grow, you might choose to go on to a career in nursing or another healthcare field. But a medical assistant is a good job and a good place to start if you do discover that you love healthcare!
Kathie
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Aaliyah
Brian Stimpson
Medical Assistant
4
Answers
Manchester, New Hampshire
Updated
Brian’s Answer
Hi Aaliyah
For me, three of the most important things for a Medical Assistant are:
Compassion or Empathy-Listen to what they have to say, empathize with their feelings, their joy and their pain. Don't judge them. I celebrate a week sober with a patient just as much as knocking 4 points of A1C or clean bill of health after surgery.
Respect-Treat every patient how you would want to be treated, how you want your family member treated. Every person is fighting their own battles, don't add to the things dragging them down, lift them up.
Sense of humor-Laughter can be the best medicine. Try to get your patient to laugh, or at least smile. If you can't get them to then don't let your smile fade until you are out of the room. Be a positive influence on their day.
These three things are what I get the most compliments on from patients, family members, providers and managers. Everything else is easy. I try to make sure every patient from newborn to 102, yes I have roomed every age in between, has at least a few minutes of positivity in their day.
For me, three of the most important things for a Medical Assistant are:
Compassion or Empathy-Listen to what they have to say, empathize with their feelings, their joy and their pain. Don't judge them. I celebrate a week sober with a patient just as much as knocking 4 points of A1C or clean bill of health after surgery.
Respect-Treat every patient how you would want to be treated, how you want your family member treated. Every person is fighting their own battles, don't add to the things dragging them down, lift them up.
Sense of humor-Laughter can be the best medicine. Try to get your patient to laugh, or at least smile. If you can't get them to then don't let your smile fade until you are out of the room. Be a positive influence on their day.
These three things are what I get the most compliments on from patients, family members, providers and managers. Everything else is easy. I try to make sure every patient from newborn to 102, yes I have roomed every age in between, has at least a few minutes of positivity in their day.
Virginia Ferrari
Allied Health Content Strategist
3
Answers
Rio Vista, California
Updated
Virginia’s Answer
Congratulations on choosing to step into the healthcare field! As a medical assistant, you'll play a vital role in patient care, juggling various responsibilities. To kickstart this path, you'll need to sign up for a Medical Assisting program and secure a national certification. There are many certification organizations, like the National Healthcareer Association, known for its outstanding certifications in allied health.
Your duties might include administrative or clinical tasks, or possibly a mix of both. These tasks can range from registering patients, managing check-in procedures, dealing with authorizations and referrals, balancing medication, scrutinizing charts, noting vital signs, and more.
It's crucial to pinpoint what truly excites you. Are you drawn to providing direct patient care? Or are you more inclined towards the administrative aspects? Keep in mind, every role is key in maintaining seamless healthcare operations.
You'll probably be using an Electronic Health Record system, which is typically easy to navigate. Precision in your work is crucial. Your professionalism and customer service skills are also of utmost importance, as they help create a positive patient experience.
Your duties might include administrative or clinical tasks, or possibly a mix of both. These tasks can range from registering patients, managing check-in procedures, dealing with authorizations and referrals, balancing medication, scrutinizing charts, noting vital signs, and more.
It's crucial to pinpoint what truly excites you. Are you drawn to providing direct patient care? Or are you more inclined towards the administrative aspects? Keep in mind, every role is key in maintaining seamless healthcare operations.
You'll probably be using an Electronic Health Record system, which is typically easy to navigate. Precision in your work is crucial. Your professionalism and customer service skills are also of utmost importance, as they help create a positive patient experience.
Terri Bacon
Ophthalmic Technician
2
Answers
Lyons, Illinois
Updated
Terri’s Answer
For me the most important things were listening skills and communication skills. By listening to the patient you can determine appropriate follow up questions which will help the doctors with their exam and really get to the main concerns the patient wants addressed during visit with the doctor.
If you are going to be doing any special tests it's important to explain to the patient what's involved in the test and what instructions the patient needs to know in order to get good results ( such as fasting or what medications to skip prior to the test)
The doctor I work for told me when I first started, that the patient was here to see them, not me. It's very important to not give any medical advice or opinions as you are not the physician. Patients will ask all the time, what do you think it is? What would you do? It's very important to defer an questions like that to the doctor.
If you are going to be doing any special tests it's important to explain to the patient what's involved in the test and what instructions the patient needs to know in order to get good results ( such as fasting or what medications to skip prior to the test)
The doctor I work for told me when I first started, that the patient was here to see them, not me. It's very important to not give any medical advice or opinions as you are not the physician. Patients will ask all the time, what do you think it is? What would you do? It's very important to defer an questions like that to the doctor.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Aaliyah
Giacomo Paini
Dental hygienist
37
Answers
Vicenza, Veneto, Italy
Updated
Giacomo’s Answer
You follow your passions
You are a professional
You help people
You are a professional
You help people
Giacomo, thank you!
Aaliyah
Nicole New
Registered Medical Assistant
2
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Proper training and attention to detail are crucial in the medical field no matter how small the title is.
Medical assistants work in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and physician offices. The work environment can be fast-paced and require multitasking, this is something you have to be good at.
Having strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. You'll interact with patients daily, as well as collaborate with healthcare providers and other staff members.
Medical assistants work in various healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and physician offices. The work environment can be fast-paced and require multitasking, this is something you have to be good at.
Having strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. You'll interact with patients daily, as well as collaborate with healthcare providers and other staff members.