Medical assistants, or MAs, perform a variety of essential duties in healthcare settings. They provide patient care and support, collect lab samples, prepare medical records, manage inventory, and maintain office supplies. Learn more here on how medical assistance help doctors and other staff members in the delivery of quality health care.
Choosing a Career in the Healthcare Industry
MAs are highly-skilled professionals who enjoy a rewarding career in an environment that offers challenging work and opportunities for growth. A typical MA job requires a high level of self-motivation, passion, and good communication skills.
Certification and Accreditation
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential to individuals who pass a rigorous exam administered by the AMA. This certification is recognized by employers worldwide, and many require it of their employees.
To be eligible to sit for the CMA exam, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program that is recognized by either USDE or CHEA. These programs are typically located at community colleges or online.
New York State No Education Requirements
Most NY employers don't require a formal educational certificate, but they may prefer one when hiring for management positions. The certificate shows them that you have the proper skills and experience to do the job.
A medical assistant program in New York is a great option to learn the essential skills required for this position. The course material is often interactive and hands-on, ensuring you get the most out of your education.
Choose an accredited program from a respected institution in your area to be sure you receive the best training and gain the most relevant knowledge. Look for a program that offers both online and on-campus classes, so you can study at the pace you're comfortable with.
Develop a Safety Culture
Create a psychological safety culture within your practice by creating a positive and supportive environment for MAs to ask questions about job tasks or clinical duties, and feel comfortable speaking up about patient safety concerns without fear of reprisal. This is important because the interaction between MAs and patients can be a source of frustration for both parties.
Assess Skills and Core Knowledge
Assess the skills and core knowledge of all MAs on a regular basis to ensure they have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively carry out their job duties. This includes assessing knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, a working knowledge of medical terminology, an understanding of basic anatomy, and a grasp of the importance of safe work practices. Click here to read more about medical assistants services.
Provide ongoing skill verification and additional training on areas of deficiency, if needed. This can include checklists, hands-on demonstrations, and written tests.
Train MAs on completing quality patient records, as adherence to this process significantly affects patient satisfaction in your practice.
Make sure all MAs in your practice understand their roles, responsibilities, and the expectations for performance. This will help to minimize liability risks and maximize productivity in the workplace.
Instruct all MAs in their legal and ethical responsibilities to patients and other team members. Be sure to discuss the need for privacy and confidentiality with every MA in your practice. Check out this post that has expounded on the topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physician_assistant.