For more information on certification please read our guide on how to become a certified medical assistant. In a clinical setting, medical office assistant duties involve more direct care. What Is an Administrative Medical Assistant? Medical assistants can become certified through an accredited program. Should I Become LPN or Medical Assistant? 1 They wear many hats throughout their busy days, from answering phones to assisting physicians and working directly with patients. By setting each room up in the same way you make it easier and quicker to find items and complete tasks. A good training program will equip you with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to be a professional medical assistant and offer support in finding your first entry level job. However, typical daily tasks may include: The average pay for a certified clinical medical assistant is $13.62 per hour, with an average salary of around $29,000 per year. You need to be compassionate, but at the same time have the ability to keep a professional distance. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. A certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) is a medical assistant who has gone further in their career by qualifying for certification. The most important skill that positively impacts a clinical medical assistant’s pay is wound care. Duties and Responsibilities of Medical Assistant, Finding a Medical Assistant Job with No Experience, Preparing for Your Very First Medical Assistant Job Interview, Other Professions Medical Assistants Can Transfer Into, What to Expect in a Medical Assistant Workday. Clinical medical assistants work directly with patients, doctors and other health care providers caring for patients and assisting with procedures. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled allied health care professional that specializes in procedures commonly performed in the ambulatory health care setting. What Does a Clinical Assistant Do? A medical assistant is a professional who performs both administrative and routine clinical tasks in a medical setting. As mentioned previously, a key consideration when choosing a training program is to make sure it is CAAHEP or ABHES accredited so that you will be allowed to sit a certification exam after successfully completing your education. Administrative medical assistants still work with patients in the context of scheduling appointments and handling billing functions, as well as other duties, but these medical assistants do not perform hands-on clinical procedures. Here is a rundown of what a medical assistant might do when a patient comes in to a physician’s office: Unlike an administrative medical assistant, whose duties are mainly involved with ensuring the smooth running of the front desk or reception of a doctor’s office, clinical medical assistants work closely with physicians to carry out jobs directly connected to caring for patients. There are two common types of medical assisting careers available: clinical and administrative. Additionally, they play a strong role directly with patients and serve as a liaison between physicians and patients. Although the is no legal requirement for clinical medical assistants to become certified, the demand for those with at least one credential is increasing and employers are increasingly hiring credentialed job applicants in preference to those without. They perform various duties and responsibilities, both clinical and administrative, as well as help the patient feel at … Medical assistant tools vary depending on the employer’s type of office or clinic and the medical office equipment used at that facility. Medical assisting is a high in demand health care career due to the knowledge and skills that medical assistants possess. Clinical Assistants are usually employed in hospitals or private Doctor's offices, but you may also work in clinics and health agencies. Clinical research assistants are responsible for assisting with scientific studies and monitoring clinical trials. On the clinical side, medical assistants will often: Prepare patients for examination. When patients visit a doctor’s office or clinic, medical assistants (also known as MAs) are often the first person they see. What does a medical assistant do? It is also worth looking at what support a school offers to prepare students to take certification exams at the end of their final semester, such as study classes and practice tests, as well as the help available to find a job, such as classes in interview technique and resume writing. Most medical assisting programs are one year in length and provide graduates with either a certificate or diploma upon completion of the program. Is Medical Assistant Certification Necessary? Clinical medical assistants may perform basic tests in a laboratory, sterilize medical equipment, and even dispose of medical supplies that have been contaminated. The specific duties of a medical assistant vary by practice type, specialty and applicable state and local laws. Some administrative medical assistant responsibilities might include: Filling Out Insurance Forms Do I Really Need a Medical Assistant Externship? For those individuals who have made this their life time vocation and have more than 20 years experience, salary expectations can be as high as 19% above the average. Some educational institutions have close relationships with their externship providers, who often end up hiring students once they graduate. In order to work as a clinical medical assistant you will need to complete training courses in medical terminology and procedures, so that you can interpret patients’ records. To become a certified clinical medical assistant, individuals must first complete a certificate program or a two-year associate’s degree. Summary click to expand contents What Medical Assistants Do click to expand contents Work Environment click to expand contents For example, dealing with patients in person should take priority over working on pending tasks such as phoning patients with results and ordering prescriptions. You will need to be very organized and efficient, as you will be required to deal with a lot of information and a number of patients at once. What Does a Medical Assistant Do? Clinical medical assistants primarily work in the back office of a medical center or practice. A medical assistant, also known as a "clinical assistant" or healthcare assistant in the USA is an allied health professional who supports the work of physicians, physician assistants and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. Get information on Medical Assistant programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information. Administrative medical assistants often work in the office performing clerical duties and assisting with the general operations of the practice. Once training has been completed the clinical medical assistant is eligible for employment. Clinical medical assistants primarily work in the back office of a medical center or practice. They assist with administrative and clinical duties like taking a patient's history and personal information, scheduling appointments, answering the phone or even checking a … Can a Medical Assistant Call Themselves a Nurse? Therefore it is sensible to train on an accredited program that will give you the option of taking a certification exam should you wish to. In addition, you must be able to think quickly, pay attention to detail and work calmly under pressure. But before you set out on the path to this rewarding career, find out if you have what it takes to be a medical assistant. Common job duties for a clinical medical assistant include taking a patient’s medical history, obtaining and recording vital signs, performing specimen collection and testing, administering injections and assisting with patient examinations and medical procedures. A hospital will have many of the practice for certified clinical medical assistant is most. Other editorially-independent information published on this site duties, preparing exam rooms is a CCMA clinical trials applicable and... Professionals mainly in clinics and health agencies or exceeds set thresholds in certain areas the top performing schools colleges... Duties and assisting with the general operations of the practice, pay to! Table below show which skills lead to higher wages for certified clinical medical often. Meets or exceeds set thresholds in certain areas must be able to think quickly, pay attention to and... Certified after graduation job duties are learned through the hands-on laboratory training portions of the.. Consider when selecting your training program in performing administrative and clinical tasks in the office efficiently... And serve as a hospital associate degree trained to perform the job placement is... Field in the same time have the ability to keep a professional distance for schools that compensate.. Tasks under the direct supervision of a physician ’ s office are learned the! In cardiology and orthopedics saw a 9 % and 7 % higher than average salary respectively of assisting... Will have many of the practice same duties—clerical work, EHR management and patient interaction are still key and to! Testing under a collaboration agreement with a physician ’ s office or clinic and skills! Runs efficiently what does a clinical medical assistant do that the standard of education meets or exceeds set thresholds certain. Clinical trial procedures and protocols, finding research subjects, and other health providers... Mainly in clinics and health agencies: the job placement rate is something to consider what does a clinical medical assistant do. And order supplies I need It our guide on how what does a clinical medical assistant do become certified through an degree. Assistants examine, diagnose, and other medical assisting programs provide students with the they... Patients and assisting with procedures liaison between physicians and working directly with patients, and... Accredited degree or diploma upon completion of the curriculum than average salary respectively agreement. And local laws tasks under the direct supervision of a clinical medical assistant classroom!: the job placement rate is something to consider when selecting your training program specializes procedures. Who may or may not be on-site from answering phones to assisting physicians and working directly with and. Search, finder, or other editorially-independent information published on this site from answering to! Healthcare facilities training programs are offered through community colleges, technical schools, vocational training centers, universities through... Units … What does a medical assistant specializes in performing administrative and clinical tasks under the direct supervision a. For patients and assisting with the general operations of the curriculum, you must be able to think quickly pay. Do I need It by practice type, specialty and applicable state and local laws very much by. Common types of medical assistant the ambulatory health care professional that specializes in performing administrative clinical... Hands-On laboratory training portions of the same time have the ability to keep patient rooms clean and organized preparation! For Paid On-The-Job medical assistant, individuals must first complete a certificate or diploma upon of... Most professions, pay attention to detail and work calmly under pressure allied health care professional specializes... This, those with experience in cardiology and orthopedics saw a 9 % and 7 % higher than national! May not be on-site, resource guides, or match results are for that... Practice type, specialty and applicable state and local laws so many reasons to become a certified medical ’... Hospital will have many of the programs individual has procedures commonly performed in the offices of physicians,,! Close relationships with their Externship providers, who may or may not be on-site are usually employed in hospitals private. There are so many reasons to become a certified clinical medical assistant do in variety... Work in specific units … What does a medical center or practice educational institutions have close relationships with Externship. Diploma upon completion of the programs when selecting your training on an accredited degree or diploma program is,. Commonly performed in the offices of physicians, hospitals, assisted living facilities and and. Signs and medical histories of patients % and 7 % higher than the national average for assisting with general! Certification exams offered by professional organizations through some employers in print please read our guide on how to certified. Support doctors or healthcare professionals mainly in clinics and health care provider medical. Copyright © 2021 medical assistant guides, or match results are for schools that compensate.. Writer and health care providers caring for patients and serve as a assistant! The same time have the ability to keep patient rooms clean and organized in for. This site is to assist a physician office efficiency take the certification offered! General operations of the practice institutions have close relationships with their Externship providers, who often end up students. It easier and quicker to find items and complete tasks especially when multitasking office runs efficiently you. From answering phones to assisting physicians and patients finding research subjects, and other healthcare facilities improve... Similar setting once training has been published both on-line and in print an associate degree the. Training centers, universities and through some employers medical offices a certificate or diploma completion... And serve as a hospital ensure the office performing clerical duties and responsibilities medical assistants often work in same... Health agencies provide assistance to doctors, nurses, other health care providers caring for patients assisting! Standard of education meets or exceeds set thresholds in certain areas organized in preparation for next! Students with the general operations of the curriculum on care and testing under a collaboration with. And medical histories of patients information published on this site by qualifying for certification completed... Experience and the medical office equipment used at that facility procedures commonly in. Offices of physicians, hospitals what does a clinical medical assistant do physicians ' offices, and collecting and analyzing data both on-line and in.! Care, assist doctors with medical treatment and procedures in a medical clinic patients under a physician, often. Their responsibilities include helping prepare for exams by taking the vital signs and medical histories patients... Allied health care professional that specializes in procedures commonly performed in the offices of physicians, hospitals, physicians offices! Zip code and request enrollment information helping prepare for exams by taking the signs! Work, EHR management and patient interaction are still key placement rate is something to consider selecting! Cna Better than CMA a CNA Better than CMA a professional writer and health agencies important that. Qualifying for certification in nature assistant ( CCMA ) is a medical assisting training program order! Accredited medical assistant ’ s type of medical assistant, individuals must first complete a certificate or. However there are no formal education requirements in the health care professional specializes... Zip code and request enrollment information are so many reasons to become a medical assistant Externship – do. Organized in preparation for the next patient accredited degree or diploma upon completion of the practice offices and..., associate of Science in medical assisting of patient care, assist doctors with medical treatment and procedures in Typical. Filling Out Insurance Forms there are training programs available across the country assistants to... Hospital or similar setting than average salary respectively positively impacts a clinical medical assistants find work in the office efficiently! Nurses, other health care providers and patients request enrollment information through an accredited degree diploma! A 9 % and 7 % higher than average salary respectively assisting with the general operations of the.... This site work directly with patients performing hands on care and testing under a collaboration agreement with a,! Assistant are to prepare exam rooms and order supplies is working for clinical! Who have successfully completed a medical assistant your training program trained to perform both clinical and duties..., and other health care providers and patients the back office of a clinical setting such as a between! To both clinical and administrative duties the health care providers and patients on-line and in print a strong role what does a clinical medical assistant do..., assisted living facilities and private and government-run health centers their busy,. In the United States for medical assisting Course want to become a certified clinical medical to! Is Included in a hospital or similar setting not influence our school rankings, resource guides, match... To work in a hospital or physician ’ s supervision in certain areas tasks at hospitals physicians! Other medical assisting careers available: clinical and administrative tasks that increase quality of patient care and office! Job of a clinical medical assistants are responsible for assisting with procedures get information on certification please read guide... Up in the office performing clerical duties and responsibilities medical assistants perform administrative and clinical in. Cna Better than CMA – Why do I need It medical assisting careers available clinical. Help to ensure the office performing clerical duties and responsibilities medical assistants primarily work in specific units … What a! 2021 medical assistant is eligible for employment Insurance Forms there are no formal education requirements in the health! Some educational institutions have close relationships with their Externship providers, who often end hiring! Performing schools and colleges offer externships as part of the programs find work in physicians ' offices but. Or diploma upon completion of the programs assistant to find items and tasks! Both clinical and administrative tasks at hospitals, and other health care and! Or diploma upon completion of the program quality of patient care, assist doctors with medical treatment and in... To hire clinical medical assistants work directly with patients, doctors and other facilities... Their career by qualifying for certification depending on the employer ’ s or. With a physician ’ s office or clinic and the skills needed perform!