What Do Medical Assistants Do?

What do medical assistants do and how do you become one? Read on for answers to these questions and more, plus learn how to get a rewarding career in a year with NMC's renowned medical assistant program.

A (Work) Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are an important part of the team at an outpatient medical office or clinic as well as physicians' offices, and they perform clinical duties, administrative duties, and other tasks.

One aspect is administrative duties and support: Medical assistants often check patients in, carefully pulling up the correct medical records and verifying insurance information. They can also schedule appointments and work with billing and insurance medical coding. That kind of work is great for people who are detail-oriented, and because of the proximity to patients, it’s also suited to people who love patient care and making personal connections.  

Medical assistants are often the first to greet or care for a patient.  If you’re in that role, you can really set the tone for the entire office visit.

It’s always important to remember that what seems routine to someone who works in a medical setting daily can be a scary situation for the people who walk in the door.  Whether the patient is there for a routine checkup or because of a serious illness, they’re probably more than a little nervous. A medical assistant’s mood and communication skills put a person at ease for whatever procedure they’re in for.

From Check-In To Healing

After the patient has been checked in, the work doesn’t necessarily stop for a medical assistant.  Depending on the office, a medical assistant might:

• Record a patient’s medical history
• Take vitals, like blood pressure, before the doctor begins the exam
• Transcribe notes for the doctor
• Administer a diagnostic test like an electrocardiogram
• Take cultures
• Assist with minor surgery and laboratory procedures
• Remove stitches
• Give injections and administer medication
• Draw blood samples

In a medical assistant career, you’ll be able to make a real impact and see the positive changes you can make to a patient’s wellbeing.

Start Your Medical Assistant Career in a Year

The medical assistant program at Nebraska Methodist College has an excellent reputation in the Omaha area and comes at about one third the cost of for-profit programs.  It’s a popular choice for several reasons, but one of the biggest is the short timeline. The program takes just one year to complete, so you can get in, get prepared with formal training, and get your healthcare career started.

The first three 10-week courses run Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 to 2:30, a timeframe that we’ve found makes it easier to balance school with a job or family commitments. In the last 10-week course, you’ll work from 8 to 5 in a real outpatient medical office, putting the skills you’ve learned to use in a practical setting. With the classroom time, fully equipped lab and real-world experience, you’ll leave the program ready to join the workforce.

There’s a huge demand for medical assistants both locally and nationally. Recently, we’ve had a 100% employment rate for graduates, which is great news for anyone looking to get right into their healthcare career. There’s a lot of job security and opportunity for growth in this dynamic role. Plus, most medical assistants work in offices with regular hours, holidays and benefits, which is another huge plus.

A New Role; A New You

Becoming a medical assistant is a great first step in a medical career and one that can even pave the way for further education. We see a lot of students who find they love the healthcare environment so much that they decide to pursue a nursing or allied health degree. At Nebraska Methodist College, we help students take that first step, providing the training and support they need to be successful in any healthcare setting and earn accreditation.

Ready to start your healthcare career?  Whether you want to become a medical assistant, earn your medical assistant certificate or anything else, you might find our Healthcare Career Guide helpful.  Download today for free!