Medical assistants represent some of the most vital workers on the frontlines of healthcare. They are the ones that many people see as soon as they come into a clinic or doctor’s office. In today’s blog from Bryan University, we talk about what medical assistants are doing in the fight against COVID-19.
Related Post: Why Medical Assistants Are the Most Important People in Allied Health
Regular Duties
Medical assistants perform many regular clinical and administrative duties at healthcare facilities.
Every day, medical assistants may do the following:
- Welcome patients
- Answer the phone
- Set appointments
- Supervise patients’ insurance information
- Organize necessary information
- Answer emails and letters
- Prepare patients for examinations
- Assist doctors during exams
- Advise patients about special diets
- Notate medical histories
- Remove sutures and change dressings
Organizational Multitaskers
Medical assistants need to be organizational multitaskers during the pandemic. They’ll need to organize medical records for patients coming into the office. MAs must manage appointment schedules, help patients fill out medical history information online, and then assess patients when they come in. Medical assistants must organize relevant information for each patient quickly and accurately. Then the next patient comes in, and the process begins anew.
Expanded Duties
During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical assistants find themselves handling expanded duties. In general, medical assistants know a little about everything, so they can support doctors, nurses, and other clinicians.
Because of extra precautions during the pandemic, medical assistants may perform other duties on a regular basis.
Many states require everyone who enters a medical facility to have their temperatures taken or rapid testing performed. Medical assistants often take swabs of patients, measure their temperature, and make sure they are masked and that they sanitize their hands.
At the University of Wisconsin, demand is so high for clinicians that daycare services are swamped. Medical assistants support the teachers at the daycare by helping them with daily duties.
Emergency staffing protocols are being put into place. The University of Maryland Medical System has been hiring medical assistants to work in food services, guest services, and clerical areas.
Crisis situations with overloaded staffing require medically trained workers to assist with patient care, including bathing, transporting, feeding, shampooing, and performing minor housekeeping at home. The idea is to help patients with daily living activities when clinical staff must be called to other locations.
Medical assistants might find themselves monitoring medication, providing administrative assistance, and documenting assessments. These expanded duties are up to the individual clinics and doctor’s offices, as well as state law in the locale where you work.
Related Post: Tools You Need for Daily Duties as a Medical Assistant
Become a Medical Assistant Via Bryan University
Bryan University offers 100% online classes for medical assisting. If you want to enter a vibrant field, a medical assistant diploma or associate of applied science degree provides a way to jumpstart your career in allied health. Call Bryan University toll-free at 1-855-862-0755 or enroll now to find out more!