Medical Assisting: Home

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Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics.

In Demand | Medical assisting is one of the nation's fastest growing careers, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributing job growth to the following:

• Predicted surge in the number of physicians' offices and outpatient care facilities
• Technological advancements
• Growing number of elderly Americans who need medical treatment

Job Responsibilities | Medical assistants are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties.

Here is a quick overview (duties vary from office to office depending on location, size, specialty, and state law):

Administrative Duties (may include, but not limited to):

• Using computer applications
• Answering telephones
• Greeting patients
• Updating and filing patient medical records
• Coding and filling out insurance forms
• Scheduling appointments
• Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
• Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping

Clinical Duties (may include, but not limited to):

• Taking medical histories
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients
• Preparing patients for examination
• Assisting the physician during exams
• Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
• Performing basic laboratory tests
• Instructing patients about medication and special diets
• Preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
• Authorizing prescription refills as directed
• Drawing blood
• Taking electrocardiograms
• Removing sutures and changing dressings

Patient Liaison | Medical assistants are instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office and often explain the physician's instructions.

PCMH Team Member | Medical assistants are essential members of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team. According to a survey by the Healthcare Intelligence Network, medical assistants ranked as one of the top five professionals necessary to the PCMH team.

CMA (AAMA) Certification | Many employers of allied health personnel prefer, or even insist, that their medical assistants are CMA (AAMA) certified.

- from AAMA Website

Fall River Campus
774-357-2105

Monday - Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 
Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Saturday 
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Sunday
Closed

New Bedford Campus
774-357-4009

Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

Attleboro Campus
774-357-3745

Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

Taunton Center
774-357-4001

Monday
10:00am - 4:00PM
Wednesday
9:00am - 2:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED