5.3 Medical Assistant
Karen Piette, MHS, CMA and Kristen Hosey
Anyone who has visited a primary care provider in the United States has likely interacted with a medical assistant (MA). MAs perform tasks ranging from managing medical offices and assisting with exams to scheduling appointments, handling billing and coding, and verifying patient insurance. The scope of practice for MAs is broad, and most states allow them to perform a wide variety of duties in medical offices.
Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices. Clinical duties include recording patient history, measuring vital signs (such as blood pressure, temperature, respiratory and heart rates, and oxygen saturation), administering injections, performing phlebotomy, assisting with patient exams and minor surgical procedures, preparing blood samples for laboratory tests, and entering patient information into medical records.
In addition to clinical duties, MAs also perform administrative tasks, such as billing and coding, front desk check-in, managing referrals, and scheduling patient appointments. The versatility of MAs in medical offices is one of the reasons they are in high demand.
Medical assistants may also manage medical offices. MAs in management roles typically have at least an associate degree in addition to their required certification. Successful MA office managers often possess leadership, planning, and organizational skills, as well as strong human resource abilities and efficiency.
Employment Opportunities for Medical Assistants
Medical assisting is a high-demand career. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) projects that employment for MAs will grow 16% from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
MAs are commonly found in ambulatory care clinics, doctors’ or other providers’ offices, and outpatient clinics. They can work in a variety of medical specialties, including pediatrics, orthopedics, primary care, and dermatology, among others. In some rural areas, MAs may even float between multiple facilities with their provider. While MAs are typically found in outpatient settings, post-COVID-19 staffing shortages have led some to work in long-term care facilities as well, although this has not been common practice.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant
A typical day for a medical assistant can vary significantly, requiring adaptability and teamwork to handle the diverse tasks that arise. MAs mainly work in healthcare facilities that operate during traditional business hours, although some work in medical facilities, such as urgent care centers, that offer evening and weekend hours.
Upon arrival at the facility, the MA checks their patient schedule and prepares for the day. This includes checking supplies in exam rooms, stocking items as necessary, prepping supplies, and sterilizing instruments. When patients arrive, the MA brings them to the exam room, takes their medical histories and vital signs, a