Medical Assistants

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly.

Medical assistants perform many administrative duties, including answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients medical records and filling out insurance forms.

Medical assistants may also collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments.

Some medical assistants instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.

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