Certified medical staff possesses a wide range of essential skills, making them one of the most versatile and important members of any healthcare team. Unlike other paramedics, Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) are trained to perform administrative and medical duties, allowing them to help whenever they need it most.
Before a patient sees a doctor, the first person they usually come into contact with is a medical assistant. Doctors credit their CMA’s warmth and hospitality, which helps set a positive tone for the entire practice. Physician assistants not only register patients, but they record vital signs and patient information that doctors need to make an accurate diagnosis.
Certified medical staffs are the face of practice and have valuable customer service skills and confidence in their abilities that can put anxiety patients at ease. Medical facilities can be a stressful environment for some patients, however, a good certified medical staff ensures that their visit is as calm and comfortable as possible.
Duties of Certified Medical Staff
(i) Administrative duties
Medical assistants may perform administrative tasks such as:
- Answer the phone and make an appointment
- Arrange for a hospital visit or lab test
- Categorise and update medical records
- Coding and filling out insurance forms
- Payment processing, accounting and general office mail
- Receiving patients and their families
(ii) Clinical duties
They may also perform clinical work such as:
- Refer patients to the clinic
- Record symptoms and update medical history
- Help the patient prepare to see the doctor
- Collect and prepare laboratory samples or perform basic laboratory tests
- Support the doctor during the medical examination
- Discuss prescriptions and dietary changes with patients
- Dispensing medications
- Processing requests for refilling of prescriptions
- Remove stitches or change dressings
- Take blood for laboratory testing
- Do an electrocardiogram (cardiac test) and other medical tests
Importance of Certified Medial Staff
All healthcare workers help people and have a huge impact on their patients. Physician assistants are special because they work in several aspects of healthcare and interact with patients and staff at all levels. This makes them essential health workers. Here are some reasons why certified medical staff are important to healthcare.
- Certified medical staff influence healthcare perception
Did you know that the medical professionals you see when you go to the doctor are usually not nurses? The people who take your blood pressure and history are usually medical assistants. These critical healthcare workers are the patient’s first point of contact. They must be warm, welcoming, and contribute to the patient’s comfort. This means that they are the first line of defence: if patients have a good initial experience, they are more likely to continue to prioritize their health.
- Certified medical staffs are the multitasking expert
Certified medical staffs have many day-to-day responsibilities. They register patients, collect samples, organize and document documents, and assist physicians. They can even get a certificate in CPR or phlebotomy, which gives them even more opportunities. All of these duties are important and contribute to the proper functioning of a facility or practice facility, thus freeing up physicians and ensuring the best care for patients.
- Supporting doctors to keep healthcare running
Certified medical staffs work with patients, doctors, insurance companies – everyone involved in the healthcare process. Because they understand all aspects, physician assistants can help explain to patients why certain tests/procedures are needed, they can advocate for patients with physicians, and they understand the complex aspects of insurance. Knowing the systems as well as they do, certified medical staffs keep the whole process running for everyone involved.
Doctors in the healthcare system know and comprehend the significance of certified medical staff and the true value they bring to the healthcare industry. It will be tough, if not impossible, to complete all of the tasks and responsibilities of the day without them. When it comes to patient relations, certified medical staffs are the centre or heart of it all.
Final Thoughts
Part of what makes certified medical staff so unique and essential is its ability to multitask and work on multiple tasks at once. This is a skill most certified medical staffs are more proficient at than most, as physician assistants are trained to perform a variety of skills, from administrative to clinical duties.