A medical assistant is a skilled individual with various roles and responsibilities within the healthcare industry. They can be described as the doctor's right-hand professional, who takes responsibility for the patient's check-in/check-out, vitals checkups, documentation, and medical history. Without them, doctors' office work processes can be significantly affected, and clinics and hospitals won't function properly. This is why healthcare practitioners must be equipped with many different skill sets. Most of them could be picked up at a medical assistant school.

By enrolling in medical assistant courses in NYC in a reputed institute, you can acquire professional skills in the clinical, administrative, and soft skills necessary to succeed in one of the most crucial fields of healthcare. More significantly, they will help you prepare for the national certification exams! This post will cover the essential skills you will learn at a healthcare institute and what you can expect to gain from medical assistant courses in NYC.

Who are Medical Assistants, and What Do They Do?

In short, medical assistants are trained professionals who help doctors and nurses in carrying out the clinical and administrative duties of the clinic or hospitals. The Medical Board of New York has sufficient information that addresses most of the frequently asked questions regarding the work of a healthcare assistant and the future scope of practice in this field. 

Medical assistants can secure employment in hospitals, clinics, or private doctors' offices. It is their fundamental duty to keep these workplaces organized. Some of the tasks that they are responsible for doing include:

  • Taking the patient's vitals
  • Patient's registration and discharge
  • Ordering medical supplies
  • Sterilizing medical tools & equipment
  • Scheduling visits
  • Cleaning and preparing exam rooms
  • Answering phone calls
  • Updating medical charts
  • Helping surgeons in minor surgical procedures
  • Other clinical tasks under doctor's or nurse's supervision

Medical assistants are a crucial part of the healthcare system and are rewarded with numerous career advancement opportunities. After you select a medical assistant course in NYC, you will earn a professional certificate as proof that you possess both the clinical and administrative skills required for starting your career in the healthcare sector.

Top Essential Skills You Will Learn in a Medical Assistant School in NYC

It is impossible to become a medical assistant without having specific training or knowledge in healthcare; if your goal is to work in this field, you must complete a medical assistant course in NYC. In this training program, the instructors will teach you how to perform clinical duties that will make you a valuable asset to any healthcare team, plus the administrative tasks that ensure the smooth functioning of doctors' offices and hospitals. 

During the course, you will start appreciating that you already have some soft skills like empathy and communication, which are equally important in this profession as much as technical skills. Here are the top essential skills you will acquire:

  • Clinical Skills Breakdown

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of medical assistant duties? Probably some aspects of patient care, isn't it? Clinical skills are a significant focus in this field. This will enable you to perform several tasks in the patient's care. Most healthcare programs are oriented towards back-office clinical activities with some administrative training. Some of the clinical skills that you will acquire during your time in a healthcare institute are listed below:

  • Preparing Patient Rooms: Medical assistants are always proactive. Before a patient enters an exam room, they have to get everything prepared. You will see how to stock and sanitize medical supplies, set up equipment, and even prepare the office for the patient's arrival. This setup enables doctors and nurses to give their patients undivided attention.
  • Taking Medical Histories: In healthcare, medical assistants are frequently the first people to interact with patients. Recording a patient's past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and allergies is part of this training, as accurate information is critical for effective diagnosis and treatment.
  • Taking Vitals: It's essential that every healthcare practitioner is able to measure a patient's vitals, which consist of blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, and respiration rate. In this course, you'll find out how to measure and record these vital signs, which can reveal so much about a patient's health status.
  • Administering Medications & Giving Injections: Medical assistants help physicians administer medication through oral and injectable means. You will be taught to do intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injections in a manner where the patient's dosages are accurate, and pain is minimal.
  • Perform EKG: An electrocardiogram (EKG) helps monitor the heart's functions and identifies any potential issues manually. These tests are performed by medical assistants most of the time to monitor heart health and check irregularities like arrhythmias or any potential disease symptoms. You will learn how to apply electrodes properly, use EKG machines, and interpret abnormal readings.

  • Administrative Skills Breakdown

Although clinical operations attract more interest in the healthcare field, having proficiency in administrative roles is equally important. The smooth functioning of the front office is paramount for the success of any healthcare business. These tasks require you to be organized, efficient, and well-versed in technology. Here are a few skills you will learn:

  • Scheduling Appointments: It is equally essential for healthcare workers to ensure that appointments are managed well. You will be trained in appointment scheduling components that ensure that patients are booked on time and the doctor's workflow is streamlined. Also, you will be responsible for sending appointment reminders and rescheduling appointments.
  • Maintaining Medical Records: As a healthcare entity moves towards adopting EHR systems, medical assistants must be adept at patient file management. Here, you will discover how to modify patient charts and log a patient's medical history, test results, and other essential documents.
  • Processing Insurance Claims: Medical assistants help with bills and insurance claims. As a result, you will learn medical coding (CPT, ICD-10), secure pre-authorizations for procedures, verify insurance benefits, and resolve denied claims disputes to ensure that healthcare providers receive the right payments for their services.

  • Soft Skills Breakdown

Being a professional medical assistant involves much more than just clinical or administrative skills. Being able to relate to patients and work well with your colleagues makes a big difference. These are some of the crucial abilities acquired during the medical program because they are essential in the healthcare setting:

  • Good Communication: Every day, medical assistants work with patients, physicians, nurses, and even insurance providers. You are expected to learn how to communicate verbally and in writing in a professional manner by conveying healthcare information effectively.
  • Empathy and Compassion: Patients most likely seek out healthcare providers when they feel ill or anxious. Your training in a healthcare institute enables you to show empathy and compassion, making sure the patient feels understood, valued, and at ease during their visit.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: From the start of your program, you will become accustomed to the operations of a medical clinic, including working with physicians, surgeons, nurses, and even the clerical staff. Collaboration, adaptability, and teamwork foster not only the smooth running of the clinic but also contribute positively to patient care.
  • Time Management: Hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities operate on very tight schedules, and multitasking is often necessary. You will learn how to set priorities among tasks, control the patient flow, and perform the back office functions effectively while providing patient care.

Conclusion

If you have a zeal to become a healthcare practitioner, consider the above mentioned skills. After you have decided to move ahead with this career path, you can enroll in the best medical assistant courses in NYC.