If you’re starting a career in healthcare, becoming a medical assistant is a career that’s in demand. Medical assistants help physicians and other medical team members in doctor’s offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, long term healthcare facilities, ambulatory services, and medical research facilities. There are numerous opportunities for medical assistants, and many types of specialties. Some of these healthcare offices you can work in right away, some may require additional specialized training and certification due to the nature of the work.

Primary Care / Family Practice

If you’re just starting as a medical assistant, primary care is a good place to begin your career. In this type of physician’s office, you’ll work with patients of all ages, for general checkups, mild illnesses, minor injuries, and routine healthcare. Family practice medical assistants help physicians give patients regularly scheduled checkups and walk-in appointments. Here are some of the things you might do as a primary care medical assistant:

Updating patient medical records
Taking vital signs
Administering vaccines
Collecting patient samples for diagnostic testing
Removing stitches or changing wound dressings
Conducting a pediatric well-check
Giving pre-measured doses of medication, as reviewed by physician
Drawing blood for testing, under physician’s supervision or with CPT I license

Primary care offices are a general practice environment, but there are plenty of specialized practices where medical assistants can flourish.

Pediatrics

If you enjoy working with children, becoming a pediatric medical assistant may be a good choice for you. Pediatric medical assistants help physicians with medical appointments for infants, children, and adolescent kids. Often, a pediatrician will see the same children throughout their early life, so you will be familiar with your patients and see their growth. Some tasks that pediatric medical assistants do regularly are:

Take vital signs
Record measurements and track growth records
Give immunizations
Help pediatrician with regular assessments
Soothe child patients
Schedule follow-up appointments
Communicate with parents
Explain care plans to parents and children
Check vaccine schedules
Relay physician’s instructions to parents and kids
Document prenatal history and infant medical records
Record doctor’s notes for new parents with newborns
Point of Care Testing for pediatric patients

Medical assistants in pediatric offices should be friendly, communicative, empathetic, and help their patients feel better about seeing the doctor.

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)

OB-GYN, short for obstetrics and gynecology, is all about women’s healthcare. Obstretrics deals with medical care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. An OB-GYN medical assistant will be found working in a women’s health clinic, fertility clinic, or private practice. If you’re passionate about working with other women and helping them with pregnancy and women’s health issues, this an excellent specialized field in which to work.

Mostly, OB-GYN medical assistants will help physicians with procedures like pap smears, ultrasounds, and blood draws. On very rare occasions, you may be asked to help with biopsies or other procedures. The upside to working in OB-GYN is being able to form bonds your patients and make a difference in their personal lives.

Duties of an OB-GYN medical assistant include:

Recording weight, vital signs, other information
Assisting with pap smears and ultrasounds
Helping to administer mammograms
Assisting with pelvic and uterine health exams
Preparing examination rooms and equipment
Blood draws for diagnostic testing

Being an OB-GYN medical assistant is rewarding, you get to know patients from before the time they are pregnant all the way past delivery and more. Having a friendly face in the gynecologist office makes a difference, many women dread going to get preventative health tests. You can help make them feel more seen, heard, and cared for.

Geriatrics

Geriatrics is a specialized field of medical care for the elderly. When people advance in years, they are more likely to have certain conditions. A geriatric medical assistant helps physicians in geriatric care with their patients. There are several things that you might be tasked with as a medical assistant in this field.

Geriatric medical assistant responsibilities include:

Checking blood sugar
Taking vital signs
Helping physicians with physical assessments
Checking for melanoma or other abnormal signs on the skin
Administer booster shots and vaccinations
Help patients with mobility aids
Work with insurance companies and help advocate for patients
Routine tests for illnesses and preventative care
End of life planning

You should have a good understanding of Medicare and private insurance to work in geriatric care. Other skills that are helpful are patience, communication, empathy, and problem solving.

Podiatry

Medical assistants in a podiatrist’s office help the physician with treatments and procedures related to injuries and disorders with the feet. Podiatrists are medical doctors specializing in treatment of foot conditions. A podiatric medical assistant will assist the medical team in several ways, including:

Helping physician with exams
Updating and managing patient records
Making casts of the patient’s foot
Doing toenail clippings
Helping with treatments for fungal toenails and ingrown toenails
Assisting with foot treatments related to diabetes
Taking and exposing x-rays of feet
Administrative tasks like medical billing
Scheduling follow up appointments

Medical assistants for podiatrists may work in a private practice office or outpatient clinic. This position may require additional training and certification. About 30% of your patients will be elderly, so skills like communication, interpersonal skills, and empathy will be important.

Surgical

Medical assistants for surgeons may do a mix of administrative and clinical duties. Some of the duties you may be responsible for are:

Insurance verification
Sending authorization to insurance payer
Getting referrals from other physicians
Scheduling dates for surgery
Helping with pre-op appointments
Make sure medical clearances are given
Set up surgical room, sterilizing and preparing equipment
Rooming patients
Providing post-operative care

Oncology

Oncology is the medical study and treatment of cancer. An oncology medical assistant may work in a hospital or private practice helping physicians and nurse practitioners with a variety of tasks, such as:

Patient check-ins
Scheduling appointments
Measuring vital signs
Taking blood for diagnostic testing
Setting up patient rooms
Helping with claims and contacting insurance payers

Cardiology

A cardiologist is a physician who specializes in treating heart conditions and diseases. For medical assistants in a cardiology office, they will work with patients with chronic and acute heart conditions. Abnormal heart rhythms, palpitations, heart murmurs, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, pacemakers, and valve replacements are all conditions your patients may be dealing with. Note: This might require additional training and/or certification to work in cardiology.

Medical assistants in cardiology clinics will help with tasks such as:

Taking vitals like blood pressure, respiration rate, and pulse
Draw blood for diagnostic lab testing
Perform EKGs and record the results
Interview patients about their symptoms and record their responses
Orthostatics testing
Schedule follow-up appointments
Help with medical billing and insurance
Learn about symptoms and management of chronic cardiac diseases
Screening software downloads for pacemakers and doing device checks
Relay medication instructions from cardiologist to patients
Calculating ankle brachial indexes
Learn about heart medications and cardiac dietary plans
Get certified in CPR
Learn to identify cardiac arrest symptoms and when to call the physician

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmologists treat patients with eye disorders and loss of vision. In an ophthalmology office, you will help give patients eye exams, do vision tests, and help relay information from the doctor to the patients about treatments, glasses and contact lenses.

Some of the responsibilities of an ophthalmology medical assistant are:

Record patient symptoms
Prepare equipment for exams
Administer basic eye test
Test for cataracts or glaucoma
Teach patients how to insert and remove contacts
Give patients information about exams, vision aids, and procedures
Assist ophthalmologist with ultrasound imaging
Update patient records and schedule follow up appointments
Provide patients with post-operative care, in some cases

Note: You may have to earn additional certifications for working as a certified ophthalmology medical assistant in this field.

Urgent Care

Medical assistants working in urgent care help provide immediate care for non-critical injuries and illnesses. They may work in hospitals or clinics under the supervision of the attending physicians. There may be long hours at times, but you may be able to enjoy extra days off after the long shifts.

Some of the duties an urgent care medical assistant may have include:

Helping triage incoming patients
Checking in patients and recording their symptoms
Assisting nurses with splinting fractures
Take vitals and conduct basic diagnostic tests
Prepare patients to be seen by a doctor or nurse practitioner

Orthopedics

Orthopedics is a medical and surgical field that deals with the diagnosis, correction, and prevention of diseases, deformities, and injuries to the muscles and skeletal system. Medical assistants in an orthopedic office may help physicians with the following tasks:

Assist orthopedic specialist with exams and diagnostic procedures
Interview patients for symptoms and events leading up to visit
Update patient records and contact insurance provider
Prepare examination room

Dermatology

A dermatologist is a physician who focuses on skin disorder, conditions, and diseases. Medical assistants are often found in dermatologist’s offices, helping the physician with numerous tasks, including the following:

Collecting samples from patients
Removing sutures
Assisting physician with biopsies and Mohs surgery
Submitting labs on behalf of the physician
Communicating with cancer pathology departments for physician
Helping with wound dressings
Applying special ointments or creams to affected areas
Recording any changes in patient condition
Doing melanin tests

Medical assistants in dermatology not only work in private practice offices, but also in long-term healthcare centers, hospitals, cosmetic offices, and medical spas.

Endocrinology

Endocrinology is the study of disorders and conditions of the endocrine system. Physicians who help patients in endocrinology deal with conditions like diabetes, hormone treatments like estrogen and testosterone, thyroid issues, and other issues like weight gain and mood disorders. Your endocrine system is important, and medical assistants often work with physicians in this field.

Endocrinology medical assistants have responsibilities that include:
Blood draws for diagnostic testing
Subcutaneous injections (as regulated by state laws)
Giving pre-measured doses of medication, reviewed by the physician
Blood sugar checks
Preparing patients for tests and exams
Collecting urine samples for testing
Managing and updating health records

Phlebotomy

A phlebotomist is someone who draws blood for the purpose of diagnostic testing, analysis, or medical procedures. In some states, medical assistants can draw blood from venipuncture if they have been properly trained, and are under a physician’s supervision. In a few states, phlebotomy certification is required, after completing a training program with the required clock hours and number of types of blood draws.

Medical assistants who have a phlebotomy certificate are allowed to draw blood from a patient’s vein. More advanced certification is required to draw blood from an artery (this is not common). Phlebotomy is a useful skill to have as a medical assistant as this can allow you to work in different places, such as hospitals, blood or plasma donation centers, medical offices, long term care facilities, and medical research labs.

Here are some of the things you may be responsible for as a medical assistant in a phlebotomy role:

Drawing blood from patients for testing
Reassuring patients
Labelling blood samples accurately for testing and medical use
Schedule follow visits for patients or donors

Gastroenterology

Gastroenology is a medical field that diagnosing and treating patients with intestinal, stomach, and digestive problems. Medical assistants often must use empathy, communication, and organization in their work – gastro patients are often clueless as to what maladies are causing their symptoms.

Some of the duties a gastroenterological medical assistant will have, include:

Interviewing patients and recording their symptoms
Scheduling colonoscopies
Taking blood for diagnostic tests
Checking patients for signs of gastrointestinal bleeding
Recording weight gain or loss
Taking stool samples for testing
Administering barium swallows under the supervision of a physician
Helping doctor with endoscopies
Scheduling follow up appointments

Ear Nose and Throat

Medical assistants working in ENT see patients of all ages. Here are a few examples of tasks you might do in this type of office:

Patient intake and registration
Scheduling surgeries
Helping surgeon prepare for surgery (ear tubes, cyst removal, tongue tie clippings)
Assist with exams of ears with excessive ear wax
Help physician with examinations of throat

Chiropractic

Chiropractors do back adjustments, use massage, and electrical nerve stimulation to help the back muscles relax and relieve chronic pain. Medical assistants do mostly administrative work in chiropractic offices, including:

Scheduling follow-up appointments for patients
Preparing exam rooms and equipment
Insurance billing and payment
Updating patient records
Convey information on rehabilitative exercises to patients on behalf of doctor
Keeping front office organized and clean

Medical assistants in chiropractic offices should have excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

Urology

Urology is the medical field in which physicians diagnose and treat urinary tract disorders and male reproductive organs. Medical assistants working with urologists may help with the following:

Patient intake and interviews
Collecting urine samples for urinalysis
Blood draws for diagnostic testing
Helping with ultrasound scans
Preparing surgical equipment for vasectomies
Assist physician with cystoscopy
Do pyelograms for pelvic imaging
Update patient records
Schedule follow-up appointments

Medical Imaging

Medical assistants working in imaging will often help with tasks such as:

Putting patients in correct position for imaging
Help take X-rays
Assist patients with MRIs or CT scans
Help doctors with ultrasound scans
Explain procedures to patients
Ensure patients are following all safety precautions

Plastic Surgery

Physicians in plastic surgery also employ medical assistants for various tasks. A plastic surgeon does surgery to correct, reconstruction, beautify, or repair facial features or other body features.

The medical assistant in a plastic surgeon's office may help with:

Cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment
Maintaining surgeon workstations
Scheduling appointments
Billing and insurance processing

Neurology

A neurologist is a specialist in the nervous system, the spinal cord, and the brain. Medical assistants who work in this field will require additional training because of the complexity of the work. Some of the duties a neurological medical assistant may encounter are:

Interviewing patients to record their symptoms
Preparing patients for exams
Helping physician with reflex tests, electrical tests, etc.
Assisting physicians with radiological tests
Helping doctor with assessment tests
Updating patient records
Scheduling next appointments

Medical Office Assistant /Administrative Medical Assistant

Medical assistants may sometimes work strictly or mostly in an administrative role, almost as a de facto office manager. In this capacity, a medical assistant may have the following responsibilities:

Checking patients in and registering new patients
Managing patient medical records
Scheduling patient appointments
Some medical billing and coding
Ordering medical and office supplies

Become a Certified Medical Assistant at Our Sacramento Training Facility

If you’ve been thinking about entering the medical field, Campus Sacramento has a Medical Assisting certification program that will give you the education you need to start your healthcare career. In about 36 weeks, you’ll learn the medical, clinical, and administrative skills that physicians are looking for. This includes an unpaid 4-week externship to give you hands-on training, and the hours you’ll need to sit for the certification exam. Our Day Schedule classes are even quicker and you can finish in about 30 weeks (including the externship). For more details, contact our friendly Admissions team, or call 888-675-2460.

Working in Family Practice as a Medical Assistant

11 of the Best Paying Jobs for Cosmetologists

9 Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant

Specializations of Medical Assistants

What’s the Hardest Part of Cosmetology School?

Using The LOC Method to Hydrate Naturally Textured Hair

How to Get Hired as a Medical Assistant

How Much Do Medical Assistants in Sacramento Typically Earn?

How to Become a Hair Colorist