subject: Certified Clinical / Medical Assistants Are In Demand [print this page] The increasing numbers of hospitals and health care units today have made the health care industry a booming field. Due to this demand, the need for certified clinical medical assistants and laboratory assistants has also increased. A Clinical Medical Assistant is a multi-skilled healthcare practitioner who has the skills, talent and capability to handle both clinical and administrative procedures.
The duties and responsibilities of clinical assistant vary based on the needs of their workplace. In small scale practices like doctors offices, the assistants have to look after both clinical as well as clerical services, whereas in large scale operations like hospitals, a medical assistant is often specialized in a particular department.
A certified medical assistant needs to know about laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles and administration. A certified clinical/medical assistant needs the following skills:
Interviewing patients to take their medical history and vital signs
Receiving phone calls and scheduling appointments
Maintaining and updating patients records
Preparing the examination room
Checking the operating status of medical equipment and making sure all the equipment is in its proper location
Maintaining, cleaning and sterilization of medical equipment
Basic billing and bookkeeping
Transcription of prescriptions and medical reports
Taking blood test and x-rays
Giving injections
Telling patients about their medicine dosages
Receiving and sending e-mails, faxes and other documents
In order to become a certified clinical assistant you need to join a certified medical assistant course in a medical assistant school. Clinical assistant classes develop the skills and talent needed in a clinical assistant by teaching you how to perform the duties and responsibilities of a medical assistant. In medical assistant classes you learn medical law, medical terminology, basic medical terms and abbreviations used by doctors and in the health care industry. Along with the academics, the practical training will make you familiar with medical equipment and how to use it. The program will also help you develop good communication skills, which helps you in establishing yourself on the job.
A certified medical assistant program prepares you to assist a physician or work in a health care unit by making you familiar with a real medical practice. And most importantly, clinical assistant classes will help you to pass the certification examination to become a Certified Clinical/Medical Assistant.
