Medical Assistant
Medical Assistant
A Medical Assistant (pronounced: med-i-kal uh-sis-tuhnt) is a Healthcare professional who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. Medical assistants can become certified through an accredited program usually offered at a Community college.
Etymology
The term "Medical Assistant" originates from the combination of the words "medical", derived from the Latin medicus meaning "physician", and "assistant", from the Old French assister meaning "to stand by or help".
Duties
Medical Assistants perform routine tasks and procedures such as measuring patients' vital signs, administering medications and injections, recording information in medical records-keeping systems, preparing and handling medical instruments and supplies, and collecting and preparing specimens of bodily fluids and tissues for laboratory testing.
Related Terms
- Clinical Medical Assistant: A medical assistant who performs clinical duties such as taking patient histories, drawing blood, and administering medications.
- Administrative Medical Assistant: A medical assistant who performs administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and billing.
- Certified Medical Assistant: A medical assistant who has been certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants or another recognized certifying body.
Education and Certification
Medical Assistants typically graduate from postsecondary education programs. Although there are no formal educational requirements for becoming a medical assistant in most states, employers may prefer to hire assistants who have completed these programs. Programs for medical assisting are available from community colleges, vocational schools, technical schools, and universities and take about 1 year to complete. These programs usually lead to a certificate or diploma.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Medical Assistant
- Wikipedia's article - Medical Assistant
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