Medical Assistants

• Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
• Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
• Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
• Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
• Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
• Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
• Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
• Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
• Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
• Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
• Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
• Schedule appointments for patients.
• Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
• Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.
• Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment.
• Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
• Change dressings on wounds.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Medical Assistants.

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Medical Assistants.