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5 must-have qualities of every good medical assistant

5 must-have qualities of every good medical assistant

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are in high demand, and will be for many years to come. If you’re considering entering the industry, that’s terrific news. Of course, you’ll need the appropriate training and education first. Those are the tangibles — the things you pay for when you enroll in a quality program.

But what about the intangibles, those qualities that only you can bring with you when you sit down to begin your first course — either online or in the classroom? We’re talking about things like goodwill and empathy for others, work ethic and a determination to succeed. Qualities you can’t necessarily glean from a textbook but which you’ll need to succeed.

We’ve narrowed them down to five:

Willing to help

If you didn’t know, a medical assistant is there to, well, as the title says, assist — in other words, help! Day in and day out, you will be surrounded by people who need you. Doctors, nurses, patients. The list goes on. Some of the things you will be asked to do will be routine — tasks you’re expected to perform on a regular basis. Other requests will come as the situation demands. As a medical assistant, you can’t really choose which requests to fulfill and which to ignore. Your job is to lend a hand whenever, wherever it’s needed.

Able to communicate clearly

As a medical assistant, you will meet new people almost every day. Hopefully, you enjoy introducing yourself and learning about others! Being able to win people’s trust and friendship quickly will certainly make your job more rewarding. In addition, you will be called upon often to relay messages — from doctors to patients, for example, or nurses to other nurses. You must be able to relay these messages with complete accuracy, of course, as well as empathy.

Flexible (good in a crunch!)

Expect surprises. Your workday will be somewhat unpredictable. Medical assistants should be ready — and willing — to alter their list of to-do items to fit the needs of doctors and patients. A medical clinic is very often a busy place — at times, even hectic. Medical assistants find themselves right in the middle of this environment. Be prepared to roll with the punches. No two days will be exactly alike.

Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Good at figuring things out

`> As a medical assistant, people will be coming to you with their problems, or at least questions. Some of these questions you will undoubtedly pass on to the doctor or another supervisor. But a good medical assistant will recognize the opportunities he or she has to resolve other people’s concerns.

It may be as simple as helping a patient obtain directions to his or next appointment or as complex as soothing a nervous child. Perhaps there will be an insurance question that you can shed light on. Whatever it is, the quicker you can identify and respond to another person’s concerns, the more comfortable and relaxed your work atmosphere will be.

Obedient and supportive

You can be as free-thinking and rebellious as you want at home. But to keep your job as a medical assistant, you’ve got to be capable of executing a doctor’s or nurse’s instructions to the “t,” as the saying goes. From time to time the professionals you work with may prescribe a treatment or course of action that you have questions about. That’s okay. You’ve still got to be willing to support those professionals and follow their lead. Know your role. Develop and fine-tune it — but don’t overstep it. Understand that doing so can damage the morale and even endanger the health of the people you’re trying to help.

Your future is bright

And there you have it: the five must-have qualities every medical assistant needs to succeed. Feeling a little psyched out?

You shouldn’t be. Like anything, these qualities can be practiced and developed over time. The trick is to stick with it and not give up — to be persistent in your pursuit of personal development and growth. Which leads us to the sixth must-have quality every medical assistant needs — oh wait, we’ve capped the list at five!

If you’re not yet enrolled in a medical assisting program and would like to get started, contact Eagle Gate College today. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be able to help you identify the program that is right for you in order to help you start your career quickly.

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