Medical Assisting:
The profession
LESSON 1:
THE HISTORY AND
TRAINING OF
MEDICAL
ASSISTANTS
Lesson Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students should be
able to …
 Define and spell the terms to learn for this
chapter.
 Discuss the history of medical assisting as a
profession.
 Discuss educational opportunities available for
medical assistants.
 Identify accrediting agencies for medical
assisting programs.
THINK and DISCUSS
1. How long has the medical
assisting field been in
existence?
2. What has caused the field to
grow?
Steps in the History of Trained Medical Assistants
1.
MAs were originally trained on the job.
2. Responsibility and liability issues increased, leading to
more formal training.
3.Nurses were in higher demand due to physicians
familiarity with this profession.
4. Demand for well trained MAs increased as
nursing shortages grew, as the MA
profession expanded, and as physicians
began to see the value in hiring MAs.
The AAMA
 Acronym for the American Association
of Medical Assistants
 Founded by Maxine Williams
 Organized in 1956
 Williams was the first president of the
AAMA
AAMA Definition of a Medical Assistant
“A multi-skilled allied health
profession whose practitioners
work primarily in ambulatory
settings such as medical offices
and clinics. Medical assistants
function as members of the health
care delivery team and perform
administrative and clinical
procedures.”
THINK and DISCUSS
 Why is it important for medical assistants to
be formally trained?
 Does the existence of organizations such as
the AAMA help the profession? If so, how?
Curriculum Typically Found in MA Programs
 Anatomy and physiology
 Medical terminology
 Medical law and ethics
 Psychology
 Communication (oral and written)
 Medical assistant administrative procedures
 Medical assistant clinical procedures
 Professional components
 Externship
The Medical Assistant Externship
 Component of our MA program
 Volunteer position
 Settings include physician’s office, clinic, or
hospital setting
 Total hours of externship vary
Criteria for Externship
 Must be able to work 40hours/week x
4 weeks (160hours)
 Must have a passing grade
 Improved Progress Reports
 Must have good attendance
 Must follow uniform/appearance rules
 Based on teacher recommendation
Lesson 2:
Role and Responsibilities of the Medical Assistant
Lesson Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students should be
able to …
 List ten administrative duties of the medical
assistant.
 List ten clinical skills medical assistants need to
know.
 List qualities usually found in a good medical
assistant.
Role of the Medical Assistant
 To assist the physician in providing patient
care
Places of Employment for MAs
 Physician offices
 Ambulatory care clinics
 Government agencies
 Urgent care facilities
 Free-standing facilities
THINK and DISCUSS
 Why would an MA choose to work in one type of
employment setting versus another?
(Think about your moral and ethical beliefs)
Duties of the Medical Assistant
 Vary from office to
office
 Vary according to
size and type of
setting
 Vary due to federal
and state
regulations and
guidelines
Administrative Duties
 Scheduling
 Greeting patients
 Screening non-patients and visitors
 Making arrangements for patient admissions to
hospitals, patient tests, and procedures
 Providing patient instruction
 Updating and filing patient medical records
 Coding diagnoses and procedures for insurance
purposes
Administrative Duties (cont.)
 Handling financial arrangements with patients
 Transcribing medical dictation
 Handling the telephone
 Writing reports
 Handling mail
 Performing tasks related to accounts payable and
accounts receivable
 Operating office equipment
Administrative Duties (cont.)
 Preparing and maintaining employee records
 Handling petty cash
 Reconciling bank statements
 Maintaining records for license renewals,
membership fees, and insurance premiums
 Handling the office in the physician’s absence
 Assisting the physician with articles, lectures, and
manuscripts
HIPAA guidelines
 Read “About HIPAA” HO and discuss
 Activity cards w/scenarios
Clinical Responsibilities
 Assisting patients
in preparation for
physical exams and
procedures
 Perform routine
clinical and lab
procedures
 Obtain a medical
history
Clinical Responsibilities (cont.)
 Collecting, preparing, and transporting laboratory








specimens
Venipuncture
Assisting the physician with procedures
Instructing and educating patients
Cleaning and sterilizing equipment
Obtaining patient’s height, weight, and vital signs
Preparing and maintaining exam and treatment rooms
Inventory control – ordering and storing of supplies
Disposing of hazardous waste and other materials
Clinical Responsibilities (cont.)
 Administering medications
 Changing bandages and dressings
 Suture removal
 Handling drug refills
 Performing ECGs
 Ensuring compliance with OSHA
Clinical Responsibilities
 Performing skills
relevant to various
specialties
 Disposing of
contaminated supplies
 Sterilizing medical
instruments
 Preparing patients for
x-rays
THINK and DISCUSS
 Are MAs always expected to have both
administrative and clinical skills?
Post-it
What are the characteristics
of a good Medical Assistant??
General Characteristics of a Good MA
 General medical
knowledge
 Ability to perform
administrative and
clinical skills
 Genuinely care about
others
 Ability to
communicate and get
along with others
Qualities Found in a Good MA
 Integrity
 Punctuality
 Discretion
 Congeniality
 Empathy
 Proactive
 Ability to
 Competence
safeguard
patient’s right to
confidentiality
 Thoroughness
How to Present a Professional Image
 Using a calm, pleasant speaking voice
 Not eating, drinking, or chewing gum while working




in public areas
Developing a basic understanding of human
behavior
Using good communication skills
Exhibiting good daily personal hygiene and
grooming habits
Providing quality care
Activity
 Dress/Groom for success
 Two groups

Right or wrong
Lesson 3:
Certification and Career Opportunities for the MA
Lesson Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students should be
able to …
 Discuss the professional organizations that certify
medical assistants.
 Identify career opportunities available to medical
assistants and give examples of areas in which you
may choose to work.
MA Certifying Organizations
 Medical Assistant Organizations at-a-glance HO
 Small group (5) activity
Read about your organization/Share
Qualifications needed
 Cost
 Benefits of certification
 Initials
 Renewal CEU’s/cost

General Medical Assisting Knowledge
 Anatomy and
physiology
 Medical
terminology
 Medical law
 Medical ethics
 Human rights
 Patient education
THINK and DISCUSS
1.
What do you think the job outlook in the future for
MAs might be?
2.
What factors might impact the growth of the field
of medical assisting?
Statistics on Jobs in Medical Assisting
FYI:
 According to the U.S. Department of Labor
MAs held about 417,000 jobs in 2006
 62% were employed by physician offices
 12% held positions in public and private hospitals
 About 11% worked in the offices of other health care
practitioners
 15% were employed in other health care industries

 Projections are that the field of medical assisting
from 2002-2012 will be a fast-growing occupation
Job Title Opportunities for MAs
 Clinic aid
 Data processing clerk
 Billing or collection
assistant
 Insurance claims
coder
 Medical records clerk
 Multifunctional
technician
 With additional training
other jobs include:



Medical laboratory
assistant
ECG technician
Phlebotomist