Certified Medical Assistant Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a certified medical assistant job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a certified medical assistant. Feel free to use our certified medical assistant job description template to produce your own certified medical assistant job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a certified medical assistant.
Who Is a Certified Medical Assistant?
Due to the broadness of the healthcare industry, division of labor is seen as a necessity. A certified medical assistant assists medical professionals in rendering due help to patients. A certified medical assistant(CMA), meets the certification requirements of the American association of medical assistants(AAMA). They are certified after completing their accredited medical assisting program that the council for higher accredited programs or department of education carries out. The duties of the certified medical assistant vary due to the need of the healthcare facility and the specialty of the healthcare professional they work with. Medical assistants normally perform both clinical and administrative duties in the healthcare facility they work in. They assist in minor tasks like blood transfusion, scheduling appointments, and carrying out minor office tasks.
The certified medical assistant performs administrative duties such as answering phone calls, messages, bookkeeping, and email notifications. Greeting patients, filling out medical reports, Filling out medical insurance forms, and updating patients’ medical reports together with the aiding of nurses and medical professionals which we know are the clinical duties are done by the certified medical assistant. Diagnosing and treating patients with illnesses, diseases, injuries, and infections, as well as prescribing treatment strategies to aid in their recovery we can say sums up the clinical duties of a certified medical assistant, even though most times they are supervised by the medical professionals supervising them. A certified medical assistant possesses both hard and soft skills. They are compassionate, dependable, and usually possess emotional maturity. They should be able to communicate effectively, offer support and answer even challenging questions the patients may find difficult. Certified medical assistants are in high demand now due to the demand placed on healthcare services and the industry at large. These medical professionals work in nursing homes, private places, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Medical assistants are not required to be certified or licensed but employers prefer medical assistants that have obtained credentials as this shows their level of commitment and the professionalism required in the healthcare profession. Most employers prefer their certified medical assistants to have undergone official training programs, either from an accredited vocational school, community college, online program, or university.
Certified Medical Assistant Job Description
What is a certified medical assistant job description? A certified medical assistant job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a certified medical assistant in an organization. Below are the certified medical assistant job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a certified medical assistant job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a certified medical assistant include the following:
- Sterilizing of medical instruments.
- Carrying out minor office tasks as instructed by their supervising medical professional.
- Scheduling of appointments for medical professionals.
- Recalling detailed and sophisticated information about the medical procedures a patient undergoes due to the physician’s instructions.
- Staying strong-willed even in the face of this demanding job.
- Communicating and answering challenging questions diplomatically.
- Supporting patients as they undergo a medical examination.
- Understanding that adequate clinical treatment, quality assurance, and ethical standard services are to be offered to the patients in the healthcare center they work in and that their ethical standard of service should be in alignment with that stipulated by the national healthcare facility in which they are part of.
- Having strong organizational and time management skills for multi-tasking.
- Knowing how to deal with dissatisfied patients.
- Spending lots of time on one’s feet attending to patients and carrying out clinical duties.
- Learning life-saving hacks in case of an emergency.
- Collecting of personal information from patients.
- Participating in the creation and execution of policies and procedures that affect risk management and patient safety in the health care facility or according to the instructions of the physician.
- Answering and making phone calls on the patient and the medical professional appointments.
- Ensuring the patient comfort during an appointment.
- Diagnosing and treating patients with illnesses, diseases, injuries, and infections, as well as prescribing treatment strategies to aid in their recovery.
- Paying attention to the teachings, and instructions of the supervising medical professional or practitioner.
- Undergoing study-specific training that is compliant with AAMAand national or federal regulations.
- Examining medical record documentation and conferring with healthcare providers if it is insufficient or ambiguous based on themedical requirements seen as a necessity in the healthcare unit or industry.
- Assisting physicians with their duties.
- Making a quick judgment about patients’ emergency trauma to ensure their wellbeing.
- Observing the physician even during laboratory procedures or medical diagnosis and treatment.
- Educating themselves in the area of their medical profession.
- Articulating information to patients and effectively communicating with patients.
- Treating patients with sensitivity, respect, and humility.
- Creating and managing patient records.
- Understanding of personal and patient welfare.
- Checking vital signs records.
- Disposing of waste and contaminated materials.
- Educating patients on medical procedures and protocols.
- Ensuring to be emotionally mature to provide support to the patient and medical professional when required.
- Ensuring to be educated on computer literacy and proficiency.
- Understanding coding and insurance and all it entails.
- Utilizing electronic health records software to manage patients’ history records.
- Understanding and practicing safety precautions and protocols.
- Helping patients feel relieved and at ease.
- Taking stock of medicines and medical supplies.
- Educating and advising patients on medical issues in their area of specialization.
- Instructing and aiding patients concerning their diagnostic tests, procedures, and treatment.
- Obtaining the patient’s medical history, to appropriately render the service or treatment required by the patient.
- Verifying the medical reports of patients before any medical examination.
- Performing miscellaneous job-related tasks assigned by medical professionals.
- Managing electronic health records used in storing patients’ medical history.
- Administering medications as instructed by the medical professional.
- Checking the assertiveness of patients and seeing them fit before their appointments.
- Validating the medical procedures of patients and their medical coverage.
- Sterilizing of medical and laboratory instruments.
- Preparing blood samples for laboratory specimens and examination.
- Keeping track of patients’ medical records.
- Aiding and escorting patients to examination rooms.
- Managing patient records with spreadsheets a word processors.
- Using medical billing and coding software for insurance claims.
- Knowing how to remain flexible and willing to learn even in the phase of new technological systems.
- Scheduling appointments with electronic software.
- Understanding how to create and schedule virtual appointments.
- Updating the medical reports of patients with the database of the health facilities.
- Assisting doctors and nurses in providing care to their assistants.
- Preparing and collecting laboratory specimens.
- Taking and recording vital signs.
- Preparing the equipment and examination room.
- Assisting with administrative duties in the health facility.
- Ensuring all health care procedures are carried out.
- Coordinating hospital admissions, management, and laboratory services.
- Understanding of patient care and medical terminology and practice.
Qualifications
- To be a certified medical assistant you ought to either graduate from an accredited program for medical assistance or earn an associate degree in medical assisting.
- Earning an associate degree from a two-year certified medical assistant associate degree.
- Obtain a high school diploma or GED in (x) years.
- Undergo a post-secondary program required for your certification.
- Complete a medical assisting program in (x) years.
- Undergo (x) years of medical assisting program.
- Volunteering in a local clinic or physician’s office to gain experience.
- Being exposed to the rigors of working in a healthcare environment.
Essential Skills
- Communications skills. As they frequently relate with patients and medical professionals they ought to know how to listen, pay attention to details and communicate their opinions and pass down information to the patients as instructed by the physician. For relaying clear and concise medical information, good communication skill is a necessity.
- One needs to understand the physiological and mental needs of the patients to know how best to administer medicines. The understanding of your patient can aid in a better diagnosis of them. Every healthcare worker works with care, kindness, respect, and sensitivity always showing empathy to others.
- Time management. Emergencies could cause a shift in your schedule, so your ability to still effectively deliver will be tested. Make time to complete your appointments and schedule what you couldn’t do because of emergencies. This is because they frequently have several jobs to perform in a day, even emergencies that may disrupt their day-to-day schedule, and because of how life-threatening some can be, they ought to be done in the bare minimum time and yet still efficiently. They must be able to effectively manage their time to fulfill all of their tasks on time.
- Detail-oriented skills. In dealing with patients’ record history, accuracy is needed for the best possible diagnosis and treatment by the physician.
- Knowing basic medical procedures to deliver quality care. Basic medical procedures like blood transfusion, checking of vital signs, changing wound dressings, assisting physicians with examinations, etc.
- Administrative skills. This is a necessity for every certified medical assistant. Practical skills that help the patients and medical team run their appointments, tasks, and day-to-day care and wellness of their patients.
- Organizational skills. From office duties to answering calls, booking appointments, keeping records of patients’ reports, and taking stock of medical supplies, the ability to multi-task and still deliver efficient service is a necessity. This is because they frequently have several jobs to perform in a day and must prioritize their work. They may be required to evaluate patient records, make patient assessments, diagnosis and perform administrative duties and clinical duties too. They must be able to effectively deliver excellent service despite the multiply tasks.
- Computer skills. Since the evolution of healthcare facilities and the use of electronic health records, computer literacy and competency is seen as a necessity for carrying out administrative tasks as a certified medical assistant.
How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant
Certified medical assistants go through formal educational training, completing the training program that meets their accreditation requirements, unlike the medical assistants. Opportunities for career advancements are opened to the certified medical assistant, unlike medical assistants.
- A bachelor’s degree and knowledge in biology, chemistry, maths, and basic medical science or a similar discipline are frequently required for becoming a certified medical assistant. Because you’ll be testing medical samples or laboratory specimens, diagnosing or assisting medical professionals, and this profession needs one to be precise and detailed. Although most states do not require further licensing, your employer may require you to complete on-the-job training in the local clinics and national health care facilities to guarantee that you can accurately execute each task required of you. The following are a few steps to becoming a certified medical assistant :
- Undergoing a medical assistant program. This medical assistant accredited training program gives you an edge by enabling you to gain academic and clinical training in medical law, ethics, clinical procedures, laboratory techniques, administrating of medications, etc.
- Gaining work experience from local clinics, medical professionals, or health care facilities.
- Being able to comprehend medical languages and terminologies is seen as an added advantage because now the needs of the patients can be identified and the appropriate treatment can be delivered.
N.B For one to be a certified medical assistant, one ought to undergo medical assisting programs for some years. To develop your medical assisting career path even in this competition and advanced phase that the health sector is said to be evolving, you may need extra schooling, an advanced degree such as a Master’s Degree in a related field, or unique certifications.
Where to Work as a Certified Medical Assistant
- Offices of physicians.
- Local clinics.
- Healthcare services and hospitals.
- Outpatient care centers.
- Chiropractors offices.
- Medical Research centers.
- Medical teaching institute.
- Retirement and nursing homes.
- Medical billing and coding department.
- Colleges and Universities.
- Medical office management department.
- Pediatric clinic.
- Diagnostic laboratory.
- Psychiatric care and behavioral health centers.
- Palliative healthcare centers.
- Insurance companies.
- Prisons
- Home Healthcare facilities.
- Private and government healthcare centers.
- Military
- Brokerage houses.
Certified Medical Assistant Salary Scale
The salary scale of a certified medical assistant varies due to important factors such as education, certification, additional skills, and the number of years of experience in your area of specialization. In the USA, the average certified medical assistant salary is $38,100 but the range falls between $35,100 and $41,100. According to insights concerning the salary scale in the United States, the salary range of the certified medical assistant,r varies so you can just say this is the estimated value. It can be higher or lower, but it all depends on the factors mentioned earlier.