Medical Assistants

What the job really is

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Support
• O*NET-SOC code: 31-9092
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
• Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
• Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
• Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
• Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
• Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
• Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
• Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
• Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
• Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
• Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
• Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.

Tools and technology

Epic Systems, Intuit QuickBooks, MEDITECH software, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Word, eClinicalWorks EHR software, Appointment scheduling software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Surgical Assistants
• Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
• Registered Nurses
• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Physical Therapist Aides
• Nursing Assistants
• Dental Assistants

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Medical Assistants — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.