About Medical
Assistants
Medical
assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep
the offices of physicians and other health practitioners
running smoothly.
Medical
assistants perform many administrative duties, including
answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing
patients medical records and filling out insurance
forms.
Medical
assistants may also collect and prepare laboratory specimens or
perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of
contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical
instruments.
Some
medical assistants instruct patients about medications 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.
Health
Related Websites
The National Cancer
Institute
The National Eye
Institute
The National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute
National Institute on
Aging
National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Drug
Abuse
National Institute of Mental
Health
National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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