Interpersonal Skills Needed for a Medical Assistant Career

It’s no secret that a career in the medical field is one of the most challenging an individual can pursue. With the extensive schooling, long hours, and hands-on work, it takes a special kind of person to choose and succeed at this vocation. 

For medical assistants, the challenge is amplified by not only needing to communicate effectively with patients, but also with their corresponding physician and nurses in the clinic or office. While many concepts in the medical field can be taught, there are certain interpersonal skills needed for a medical assistant that a successful candidate will come by naturally. 

Bryan University explains in today’s blog.

Related Post: Why Medical Assistants Are the Most Important People in Allied Health

Why do I need communication skills for medical assisting?

First and foremost, communication is a vital skill to possess for anyone pursuing a career as a medical assistant. Because communication is the foundation to any cohesive work environment, it’s important to understand all of the factors in forming the most effective strategy. There is standard verbal and non-verbal communication, active listening, electronic communication, and appropriate patient care where medical vocations are concerned. 

Why is teamwork important for medical assisting?

As a medical assistant and thus, member of a team, it’s crucial to have the ability to work in a group setting. This not only involves communication, but teamwork, cooperation, and flexibility. An effective team member knows how to balance contributing and listening, as well as take a leadership or supporting role depending on the needs of the situation. 

Why do I need information management skills as a medical assistant?

Equally as important for a medical assistant is their ability to effectively manage the flow of information. Between patients and physicians, information can easily get lost in translation before it serves its purpose. A medical assistant is relied upon not only for the hands-on aspect of patient care, but to ease the flow of information and ensure the appropriate course of action is taken for each case. Without emphasis on information management, the treatment plan for patients will never be as informed or as effective as they could be. 

Why is adaptation important for medical assisting?

Last but certainly not least is the ability to understand and adapt systems as needed. This can range from an unofficial method of basic office tasks, or the ability to learn and improve a written process within the work environment. The allied health field is constantly adapting, and malleability is crucial for an effective medical assistant. Not only will system management improve the workplace, but it will result in growth and marketability of the employee in their career as a whole. 

Related Post: The Future Is Bright for Medical Assistants

Where can I earn a diploma in medical assisting?

In conclusion, a medical assistant is an incredibly multi-faceted employee. A successful medical assistant will possess a diverse and valuable set of interpersonal skills that helped propel them forward. By hiring medical assistants with effective communication, information management, and system adaptation, the workplace will be positively impacted for both the provider and the patient. 

Enroll now at Bryan University to jumpstart your career!