When you pursue training as a medical assistant, there are several different skills you’ll need to learn. You’ll provide services in the office and the exam room, and each requires a separate set of skills. Here are a few areas you’ll focus on when training to be a medical assistant.

What Skills Do Medical Assistants Need?

1. Office & Admin

Some of your major duties will involve making appointments, checking and filing paperwork, processing billing and payments, and performing data entry. A basic knowledge of computers and office software is essential, as are organizational skills.

2. Patient Interaction

You will guide patients through their appointments, so it’s important to develop clear communication and a positive bedside manner. You’ll also need to learn your employer’s procedures and policies.

3. Checking Vitals

During every appointment, you’ll check the patient’s blood pressure and weight. This provides the doctor with baseline information about the patient’s health and helps track changes over time. You’ll need to learn to correctly size and operate a blood pressure cuff.

4. Drawing Blood

While not every office draws blood on site, many do require their medical assistants to know how to draw blood and prepare samples for testing. This includes knowing how to prepare a syringe, how to place a needle correctly, and how to avoid patient injuries and sample contamination.

5. Using Medical Equipment

You will need to know how to independently operate common medical devices or assist a doctor in operating them. Some examples include ECG machines, autoclaves, stethoscopes, and a wide range of simple tools, such as penlights and tongue depressors.

If you’re considering a career in health care, contact Big Apple Training in Westchester County, NY. Their medical assistant training program will allow you to master the above skills and to earn more. For over 20 years, they have provided their students with thorough training options at two different training centers. To open up your career path, enroll by calling (914) 437-7373 or by visiting them online.