Medical Assistant Skills List and Examples

Medical Assistant Skills List and Examples



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BY ALISON DOYLE

 

Updated June 23, 2018

Medical assistants work alongside doctors performing a wide variety of tasks including helping patients, performing minor procedures, and various administrative work.

Medical assistants work mainly in facilities that handle outpatient procedures (or ambulatory care) as opposed to hospitals with larger, more specialized, staff. While there is some overlap between medical assistants and other medical support staff (such as nursing assistants) medical assistants have a distinct role and skill set.

Preparing for a job as a Medical Assistant 

To become a medical assistant, you must complete a training program, but you don't need a license. While your training will prepare you to do your job, understanding the skills you'll need will help you prepare your resume and ​cover letter. Different employers may emphasize different skills when hiring staff, so be sure to read all job descriptions carefully. Be ready to provide examples of how you embody each skill because most likely your interviewer will ask you to provide explanations.

Top 5 Medical Assistant Skills

Medical assistants use several different skills when completing tasks otherwise performed by doctors, nurses, receptionists, and administrative assistants.  

Here's a look at the top five medical assistant skills:

Basic Office Skills

These office skills are similar to those done by an administrative assistant in any field. You’ll need telephone courtesy, strong written and verbal communication, and strong customer service skills. You will have to handle correspondence, billing, bookkeeping, and you’ll have to troubleshoot computer problems. If you have experience with a particular computer system or software, mention that in your resume.

Medical Administrative Skills

Medical administrative skills include monitoring inventories of medical supplies and re-ordering as needed; scheduling appointments; arranging for hospital admissions; working with laboratory services; updating patient records, and recording medical histories. You'll also have to handle billing which involves processing insurance forms, reconciling co-pays, resolving insurance billing problems, and advocating for patients with their insurance companies.

Medical Skills

Medical assistants are not doctors or nurses but must provide simple medical and nursing care under the direction of doctors. You'll be asked to administer medications including injections, apply dressings, draw blood, remove sutures, and convey information from doctors to patients and vice-versa. You’ll have to follow infection control and safety guidelines as well as quality control standards when sterilizing and setting up instruments, maintaining medical equipment, and preparing treatment rooms for patient examinations.

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 When you apply for a job be sure to specify relevant certifications in these areas.

Patient Interaction

Medical assistants often work directly with patients. Because of this, you need a whole set of skills related to customer service and what is loosely called “bedside manner.” You will need to explain medical instructions and information in a clear, non-technical way and be able to receive, interview (and sometimes triage) patients. You’ll also need to remain calm and supportive with distressed or difficult patients. Fluency in a second or third language is helpful. And of course, you’ll have to maintain confidentiality

Personal Qualities

Emphasize the personal qualities you possess that make you the best person for the job you're applying for. To be a medical assistant, you have to be detail-oriented, committed to accuracy, empathic, and adaptable. You must also be able to multitask. You must know your own limitations in order to take care of yourself and remain healthy for your patients and colleagues. You should be well-organized, capable of prioritizing and problem-solving, and able to collaborate with team-mates.

List of Skills Needed in Each of the 5 Areas

Administrative Skills in the Medical Field

The skills below show your aptitude regarding medical-related administrative practices typically found in medical offices. They also demonstrate your understanding of the medical field, current regulations, and insurance practices.

Advocating for patients with insurance companies

Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services





Completing patient records after exams and test results





Entering data for medical test results





Facility with medical practice software





Identifying best suppliers by price and quality





Maintaining confidentiality





Monitoring inventory of supplies





Ordering medical supplies





Processing insurance forms





Reconciling co-payments





Recording medical histories





Resolving insurance billing problems





Scheduling appointments

Screening sales reps

Basic Office Skills

These office skills show that you can handle standard office procedure. Experience with specific phone systems, PC or Mac computers, and medical records management software is required.

Answering telephones

Customer service





Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping





Microsoft Excel





Microsoft Word





Troubleshooting computer problems





Writing

Medical Skills

These skills show your depth of experience in performing medical tasks and procedures. Be sure to include any certifications you have.

Administering medications according to physician specifications

Administering Injections





Applying dressings





Arranging prescription refills





Conveying information supplied by doctors to patients





Drawing blood





Following infection control and safety guidelines





Maintaining medical equipment





Maintaining quality control standards





Performing accurate assessment of vital signs





Performing basic life support (BLS) skills





Performing CPR





Performing EKGs





Preparing treatment rooms for examinations of patients





Relaying patient questions to health professionals

Removing sutures

Securing blood and urine samples





Sterilizing and setting up instruments

Patient Interaction

If you’re applying for a job that mostly involves working with patients, these skills will demonstrate which situations you can handle with competency. When interviewing, be prepared to discuss specific experiences with patients and how you handled them, while maintaining patient confidentiality.

Educating patients regarding medication instructions

Explaining medical information in an understandable language





Explaining procedures to patients





Handling difficult personalities





Interviewing patients





Preparing patients for exams





Receiving patients





Remaining calm with distressed patients





Triaging patients

Personal Qualities

Emphasize the personal qualities you possess that make you the best person for the job you're applying for.

Accurate

An active listener





Adaptable





Collaborator





Detail orientated





Empathic





Speak a foreign language





Good interpersonal skills





Possess manual dexterity





A multitasker





Organized





Can prioritize





Problem Solver





Recognize limitations





Teamworker



 https://www.thebalancecareers.com/list-of-medical-assistant-skills-2062435