Medical assistants who work in diverse disciplines of medicine are in charge of a variety of responsibilities. As a result, the medical assistant profession has been divided into two distinct specializations: clinical and administrative medical assistants. Furthermore, these two professions can be further classified based on the sort of institution in which they work.
Anyone pursuing a career in this field should be aware of what to expect, including day-to-day work, prospective compensation, and other aspects.
This article discusses the most prevalent medical assistant specialities, as well as their responsibilities and job requirements.
ASSISTANT IN CLINICAL MEDICINE
Clinical medical assistants are one of the two major subsets of this profession. Clinical medical assistants, in general, are individuals who operate in a clinical setting and give direct assistance to physicians and other healthcare professionals in order to treat and care for patients in the institution. Finally, the precise duties of a clinical medical assistant will be determined by the location of work, an individual’s credentials and talents, and a variety of other criteria.
ASSISTANT IN PODIATRIC MEDICINE
A podiatric clinical medical assistant works in the office of a podiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of foot diseases. A podiatric medical assistant should have a basic grasp of podiatric medicine and will be expected to conduct a variety of specialist podiatric responsibilities, such as:
- Making customised foot casts
- X-ray exposure and development
- Assisting the podiatrist in any other way that may be necessary, possibly in a surgical setting
OPHTHALMOLOGIC MEDICAL ASSISTANT
Ophthalmologic medical assistants work in the offices of ophthalmologists, or eye physicians. Ophthalmologic medical assistants must be well-versed in ophthalmology and may anticipate to conduct a variety of responsibilities, including:
- Assist ophthalmologists in surgery by demonstrating to patients how to insert, remove, and care for contact lenses recommended by their doctor.
- Manage any other responsibilities assigned by the ophthalmologist on staff.
It is also worth noting that an ophthalmologic medical assistant may work in an optometrist’s practice.
Because optometrists are not certified to conduct eye surgery, a medical assistant in this office may assist with pre- or post-operative care but does not give clinical support during actual surgical operations.
ASSISTANT OBSTETRIC MEDICAL
Those who want to work in a gynecologist’s clinic may want to consider becoming an obstetric medical assistant. This is a specialist subject that necessitates a thorough understanding of the treatment of women of all ages. An obstetric medical assistant should be prepared to help an obstetrician/gynecologist in a number of ways, including the following:
- Assist women with testing procedures such as yearly and breast examinations.
- Help with simple gynecological treatments.
- Assist with the care of pregnant women during their pregnancy.
