TOP MEDICAL ASSISTANT SKILLS

Medical Assistant Skills

Different employers may emphasize different skills when hiring staff, so be sure to read all job descriptions carefully. Be ready to provide examples of how you embody each skill because most likely your interviewer will ask you to provide explanations.

Here’s a look at the top medical assistant skills you’ll need:

Basic Office Skills

These office skills are similar to those done by an administrative assistant in any field. You’ll need telephone courtesy, strong written and verbal communication, and strong customer service skills.

In some cases, you will have to handle billing and bookkeeping, and you’ll have to troubleshoot computer problems. If you have experience with a particular computer system or software, mention that in your resume. Microsoft Excel and Word skills are commonly needed. You will need writing skills to handle correspondence.

Medical Administrative Skills

Medical administrative skills include monitoring inventories of medical supplies and re-ordering as needed, selecting the best suppliers by price and quality. You’ll schedule patient appointments, arrange for hospital admissions, work with laboratory services, update patient records after exams and test results, and record medical histories.

You could also have to handle billing, which involves processing insurance forms, reconciling co-pays, resolving insurance billing problems, and advocating for patients with their insurance companies.

You’ll likely need to learn medical practice software and screen sales reps, as well.

Medical Skills

Medical assistants are not doctors or nurses but must provide simple medical and nursing care under the direction of doctors. You’ll be asked to administer medications, give injections, apply dressings, draw blood, secure blood and urine samples, remove sutures, perform EKGs, and convey information and relay questions from doctors to patients and vice-versa. You’ll prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations.

You’ll arrange prescription refills, perform accurate assessments of vital signs, and possess basic life support (BLS) skills, such as CPR. You’ll have to follow infection control and safety guidelines as well as quality control standards when sterilizing and setting up instruments, maintaining medical equipment, and preparing treatment rooms for patient examinations.

Patient Interaction

Medical assistants often work directly with patients. Because of this, you need a whole set of skills related to customer service and what is loosely called “bedside manner.” You will need to explain medical instructions, information, and procedures in a clear, non-technical way and be able to receive, interview (and sometimes triage) patients.

You’ll receive patients and prepare them for exams. You’ll also need to remain calm and supportive with distressed or difficult patients. Fluency in a second or third language is helpful. And of course, you’ll have to maintain confidentiality.

When interviewing, be prepared to discuss specific experiences with patients and how you handled them, while maintaining patient confidentiality.

Personal Qualities

Emphasize the personal qualities you possess that make you the best person for the job you’re applying for. To be a medical assistant, you have to be detail-oriented, committed to accuracy,  empathic, and adaptable.

Good interpersonal skills are a must. You must also be able to multitask. You should be well-organized, capable of prioritizing and problem-solving,

and able to collaborate with teammates. You must be an active listener. Possessing manual dexterity and speaking a foreign language are helping things to mention.

 

Sumner College’s Medical Assisting Program has classes starting every 10 weeks. Enroll in our Portland or Arizona classes today.

 

Learn more about Medical Assisting:

• TOP MEDICAL ASSISTANT SKILLS
  • What is a Medical Assistant
  • Medical Assistant Jobs
  • Medical Assisting School Is Worth It!
  • Nursing Assistant Occupational Overview
  • TOP MEDICAL ASSISTANT SKILLS

Medical Assisting Job Growth and Opportunity

The field of medical assisting is on an upswing. Job postings per medical assistant (MA) completion more than doubled and the faster-than-average employment growth is likely to continue over the next decade. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 23% from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations, which are expected to grow around seven percent.

Healthcare system redesign strategies, which encourage providers to work at the top of their licenses, are opening up opportunities for medical assistants to engage in higher-level responsibilities, driving greater job satisfaction amongst medical assistants working in these roles.

And some healthcare employers are now offering signing bonuses and career laddering opportunities to attract and keep medical assistants in their organizations. 

Trends requiring greater access to medical care include:

• Innovations and new treatments
• An aging population
• An increase in the numbers of patients with chronic diseases associated with obesity
• The Affordable Care Act

Advances in treatments and technology are allowing patients to live longer and healthier lives. Survival rates for diseases like cancer and heart attacks have greatly improved.

A New YOU in 2022! Medical Assisting Program | Sumner College Portland and Arizona

Pursue opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, medical clinics and more…

Dream It. Do It. Sumner College’s 7.5 month medical assisting program provides you with the training and expertise to start a new career working in the healthcare industry.

Searching for a new YOU in 2022? Sumner College is the place. Enroll in the Medical Assisting program this week and you could finish before fall.

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You dreamed that someday you’d work in the medical field – It’s time to take the next step!

Sumner College is enrolling for classes in Registered Nursing, Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting and RN to BSN. Visit our program pages to learn about each program and apply today!