CHAPTER
1
The Profession of
Medical Assisting
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1-2
Learning Outcomes
1.1 Describe the job responsibilities of a
medical assistant.
1.2 Discuss the professional training of a
medical assistant.
1.3 Identify the personal characteristics a
medical assistant needs.
1.4 Define multiskilled health professional.
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Learning Outcomes (cont.)
1.5 Explain the importance of continuing
education for a medical assistant.
1.6 Describe the process and benefits of
certification and registration.
1.7 List the benefits of becoming a member
of a professional association.
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Introduction
• Fast-growing
occupation
• Generalist
• Medical assistant
– Graduate of accredited
institution
– Multitasking skills
– Someone trained in
all departments of the
facility
A multitasking professional is someone who is able to work in the
administrative area, the clinical areas, and the financial areas.
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A Successful Student – Key Factors
• Organizational skills – prepare in advance
• Study habits
– Quiet area
– Study “buddy”
• Set goals
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Growth of the MA Profession
• According to U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau
of Statistics, medical assistants will hold 565,000
jobs by 2016; an increase of 35% from 2006
– 60% in physicians’ offices
– 14 % in hospitals
– Almost 10% in nursing homes and offices of other
health-care practitioners
– Remainder in outpatient care centers, laboratories,
and other health-care-related services
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Knowledge Base Needed
• Administrative and clinical skills
• Patient insurance product knowledge
• Compliance: Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA), Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (HIPAA)
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Knowledge Base Needed (cont.)
• Provide exceptional customer service
• Practice management
• Current patient treatments and education
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Apply Your Knowledge
What are the key factors to your success as a
student?
ANSWER: Developing good organizational skills and
good study habits, and setting goals.
Good
Job
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American Association of Medical
Assistants (AAMA)
• Established: 1956
• Purpose of the organization is to raise the
standard of medical assisting to a more
professional level
• The Code of Ethics of AAMA
– Sets forth principles of ethical and moral conduct as
they relate to the medical profession and the
particular practice of Medical Assisting
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Importance of Medical Assistant
Credentialing
• Malpractice
– Having credentialed personnel or staff will
lessen the likelihood of legal challenges of the
quality of care
• Managed Care Organizations (MCO)
– Place great importance on professional
credentials for employees
• Meet components of state and federal
regulations
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Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• CMA(AAMA)
credential is awarded
by the Certifying
Board of the AAMA
• Certification
examination
evaluates mastery of
medical assisting
competencies
• Recertify every
5 years
– 60 contact hours
• 10 each in clinical,
administration, general
areas
• 30 additional hours in
any area
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American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Organization
• Credentials medical assistants
as Registered Medical
Assistants (RMA)
• Education and experience requirements
– High school diploma or equivalent
– Graduation from an accredited program
– Pass the AMT examination
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American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Organization (cont.)
• Educational and practical requirements
– High school graduate or acceptable
equivalent
– Graduate from accredited program
– Pass the AMT exam
• If certified after 2006, 30 contact hours of
continuing education is required every
three years to recertify
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RMA(AMT)/CMA(AAMA) Examinations
• General medical knowledge
• Administrative
knowledge
• Clinical knowledge
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Medical Assistant Associations
• Set standards for quality and performance
• Define tasks and functions for an
occupation
• Provide opportunities for networking
• Further the profession
• Assist members to achieve career goals
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CMA(AAMA) Member Benefits
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Professional publications
Educational opportunities
Group insurance
Legal information
Networking
Legislative monitoring
Website: http://www.aama-ntl.org
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RMA(AMT) Member Benefits
•
•
•
•
•
Professional publications
AMT Institute for Education
Group insurance programs
Legislature legal representation
Annual meetings and educational
seminars
• Student membership
• Website: http://www.amt1.com
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Apply Your Knowledge
• What are two reasons why credentialing
is important?
ANSWER: The likelihood of a legal challenge to quality of
care decreases when employees are certified, and Managed
Care Organizations place importance on credentials for
employees.
BRAVO!
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Apply Your Knowledge
Correct
• List three things professional
medical assistant associations do or
provide.
ANSWER: Medical Assistant Associations
• Set standards for quality and performance for the
profession
• Define tasks and functions for an occupation
• Provide opportunities for member networking
• Assist members to achieve career goals
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Formal Training and Educational
Programs
• Vocational-technical high schools
• Postsecondary vocational schools
• Community and junior colleges
• Four-year colleges and universities
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Accreditation
• The process by which programs are
officially authorized
• Two recognized entities for accrediting MA
programs
– The Commission for Accreditation of Allied
Health Education Programs (CAAHEP )
– Accrediting Bureau of Health Education
Schools (ABHES)
• Must meet minimum standards
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Graduating from an Accredited Program
• Greater career
options
– Completion of a
program that
meets national
standards
– Provides recognition of
your education
by professional peers
– Makes you eligible for
registration
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Externships
• Obtain practical work experience
• Required by accredited
programs
• Duties will be planned
to meet your program’s
requirements
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National Healthcare Association (NHA)
• Established in 1989 as an information
resource and network
• Offers certification exams and continuing
education
• Services:
– Continuing education
– Program development
– Education, career advancement, and
networking
– Registry of certified professionals
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National Center for Competency Testing
(NCCT)
• Certifies the validity of competency and
knowledge of the medical profession
through examination
• Designations:
– National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
– National Certified Medical Office Assistant
(NCMOA)
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Volunteer Programs
• Experience in a variety of settings
– Practical experience
– Help you make career
decisions
– Include on résumé
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Multiskill Training
• Reduces health care costs
– Personnel are cross-trained for
more than one position
• Expands your career
opportunities
– Office manager
– Certified Office Laboratory
Technician
– Medical lab technician
– ECG technician
– Medical biller
– Hospital admission coordinator
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Apply Your Knowledge
What is the purpose of accreditation for
medical assistant programs?
ANSWER: Accreditation ensures that the program
meets nationally accepted standards.
List two advantages of multiskill training.
ANSWER: Multiskill training reduces health care
costs and expands your career opportunities.
Great!
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Daily Duties of a Medical Assistant
• Duties will vary based on
– Type and size of practice setting
– Whether you are at entry level or advanced
practice
• Governed by state law
– Advanced duties generally require additional
training and certification.
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Daily Duties – Administrative Examples
• Entry level
– Greet patients
– Handle correspondence and answer telephone
– Schedule appointments
– Create and maintain patient medical records
• Advanced
– Develop and conduct public outreach programs
– Participate in practice analysis
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Daily Duties – Clinical Examples
• Entry level
– Assist the doctor during examination
– Asepsis and infection control
– Give medications and explain treatments to
patients
• Advanced
– Initiate IVs and administer IV medications
– Report diagnostic study results
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Daily Duties – Laboratory Examples
• Entry level
– Perform Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments (CLIA) – waived tests
– Collect, prepare, and transmit laboratory
specimens
– Teach patients to collect specimens
• Advanced
– Perform as Occupational Health and Safety
(OSHA) compliance officer
– Perform moderately complex laboratory tests
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Apply Your Knowledge
True or False:
F
Your duties will never vary.
Duties vary based on practice
setting, state law, level of
practice.
F Advanced duties never require additional
training.
Advanced duties require advanced training and
certification.
T
State laws regulate medical assistant
practice.
T
You must have the appropriate training
to perform a procedure.
Kudos!
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Personal Qualifications
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Critical thinking skills
Attention to detail
Empathy
Willingness to learn
Flexibility
Self-motivation
Professionalism
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Personal Qualifications (cont.)
• Neat appearance
– Uniform clean
– Shoes
– Hairstyle
– Nails
• Avoid acrylic nails
– Jewelry
– Tattoos
– Piercings
– Hygiene
– Health
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Personal Qualifications (cont.)
• Attitude
– Positive and caring
– Respond to criticism
as a learning
experience
– Take direction from
authority without
question
– Function as a vital
member of a medical
team
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Improve Your Attitude
• If you can answer “yes” to any
of these questions
– Do I have repeated conflicts with people?
– Have I had a conflict at work that has resulted
in termination?
– Do I have conflicts with authority figures?
– Do people make comments about my
attitude?
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Personal Qualifications (cont.)
• Integrity and honesty
– Everything you do and every task you
complete should be performed with a goal of
excellence
– These characteristics are key to providing
superior customer service
– You must be dependable and reliable
– Your office staff and physician must be able to
trust you and the decisions you make
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Other Attributes
•
•
•
•
Diplomacy
Proper judgment
Communication skills
Remaining calm in a
crisis
• Willingness to work as a
team member
• Ethical behavior
Team
Dynamics
Continue
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Team Dynamics
• Assist each other with required duties
• Avoid interpersonal conflict with team
members
• Perform extra responsibilities without
questioning or complaining
• Be considerate of other team members’
duties and responsibilities
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AAMA Occupational Analysis
• Areas of competence
for entry-level medical
assistants
• Provides the basis for
medical assisting
education and
evaluation
• Three areas of
competence
– Administrative
– Clinical
– General
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Scope of Practice
• No single definition of the Scope of
Practice for medical assistants
• Varies by state of employment
• Resources
– AAMA
– AMT
– AMAA Occupational Analysis
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Apply Your Knowledge
• List any four personal qualifications you
should have to be an effective medical
assistant.
ANSWER: List any four of these personal qualifications that
medical assistants should display:
Critical thinking skills
Attention to detail
Empathy
Willingness to learn
Flexibility
Self-motivation
Professionalism
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Apply Your Knowledge
• When should you take action to change
your attitude?
ANSWER: When you can answer “yes” to any of the
following questions:
 Do I have repeated conflicts with people?
 Have I had a conflict at work that has resulted in
termination?
 Do I have conflicts with authority figures?
 Do people make comments about my attitude?
Correct!
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In Summary
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Responsibilities will vary from administrative
to laboratory duties
Professional training includes formal training
in a variety of educational settings
Personal characteristics include flexibility
and good communication skills
Cross-training/being multiskilled is important
for marketability
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In Summary (cont.)
1.5
1.6
1.7
Continuing education keeps you abreast of
changes in health-care and governmental
regulations.
Certification and registration provide peer
recognition and career advancement.
Professional membership affiliations provide
networking opportunities.
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End of Chapter 1
Participating in any
aspect of healing is an
awe-inspiring
experience.
— Carol Jackson, The Healer’s Art
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