Medical Assisting
Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of dentist, physicians, podiatrists, insurance companies, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly. They should not be confused with physician assistants who examine, diagnose, and treat patients under the direct supervision of a physician.
The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on 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. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.
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 medical coding, medical billing and bookkeeping. In larger companies may assign individuals to specific departments that focus on billing or coding services.
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