Medical Assistant

 The Medical Assistant Program at Texas State Technical College is  fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

www.caahep.org

The duties of Medical Assistants vary from office to office, depending on the office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants usually are “generalists,“ handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Medical Assistants perform many administrative duties. They answer telephones, greet patients, update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handle billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical duties vary according to state law and include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about medication and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings. If you have good communications skills and a have an empathetic caring personality then Medical Assisting may be just what you are looking for.