If you are considering a career change, give some thought to medical assistant training. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for this field is expected to grow 29 percent from 2016 to 2026. Medical assistants work in various health care settings, including physicians’ offices and hospitals, and they complete several administrative and clinical tasks. Here is a guide to some of the duties medical assistants perform.

Greeting Patients

A medical assistant is often the first person patients will see when walking into a doctor’s office or hospital. A friendly greeting can help ease some of their stress and make them feel welcome. After greeting them with “good morning” or “good afternoon,” the assistant will ensure the details of their appointment and that the doctor sees them in a timely manner.

Updating Patient Medical Records

A medical assistant is also responsible for keeping patient medical records up to date. During medical assistant training, an assistant will learn how to record a patient’s weight, blood pressure, and other vital information by putting it into a computer database.

Getting Exam Rooms Ready

It’s up to a medical assistant to ensure exam rooms are clean and fully stocked for patients. An assistant will do everything from throwing away contaminated supplies and sterilizing medical supplies to restocking medical equipment and arranging lab trays.

Performing Basic Medical Tasks

At medical assistant training school, an assistant will be taught how to perform various routine medical tasks, such as checking a patient’s heart rate and blood pressure, administering medications and vaccinations, and drawing blood. Additionally, a medical assistant will explain to patients what is happening during the visit and answer any of their questions.

If you want to learn more about medical assistant training, stop by Westchester School for Dental Assistants in Elmsford, NY. The school provides medical assistant classes and dental assistant training in a classroom setting and offers flexible scheduling options. Past graduates of the school have gotten employment within 90 days after completing the program. To learn more information about their programs, call (914) 682-9001 or visit their website.