Job Duties in a Medical Assisting Internship

If you are looking for a stable career opportunity where you get to make a difference, you might want to consider becoming a medical assistant. To become a medical assistant, you’ll need to go through specialized training, including an internship that will allow you to refine your skills with practical experience.  Read on to learn more about the role of medical assistants and the process of becoming one.  

The Role of Medical Assistants 

Medical assistants are indispensable for ensuring healthcare facilities operate smoothly. They balance administrative and clinical duties, meaning there’s a great deal of variety in a typical workday. Here are some typical tasks medical assistants perform in these two key areas. 

Administrative Responsibilities 

Medical assistants handle various administrative tasks that keep a healthcare facility running efficiently. These duties include: 

Scheduling appointments: The assistant coordinates patient appointments to confirm that the clinic’s schedule aligns with physicians’ availability. 

Managing patient records: The provider updates patient medical histories to comply with HIPAA regulations. 

Handling communication: A medical assistant relays messages between staff and patients, manages phone calls, and addresses inquiries professionally. 

Insurance and billing: As a medical assistant, you check patients’ insurance coverage and help process claims and billing. 

Manage supplies: Ensuring the clinic is well-stocked by ordering necessary medical and office supplies. 

Administrative duties help medical assistants support patients and staff, creating a seamless healthcare experience. These tasks are often emphasized in medical assistant programs, preparing students for real-world challenges. 

Clinical Responsibilities 

In addition to administrative responsibilities, medical assistants play a hands-on role in patient care under the supervision of medical professionals. Common clinical duties include: 

Preparing patients: Guide patients to exam rooms, record vital signs, and explain procedures to ease their concerns. 

Assisting physicians: Support doctors during exams by handing over instruments to ensure the procedure goes smoothly. 

Laboratory work: You will collect specimens, perform basic lab tests, and manage supplies for accuracy and efficiency. 

Administering care: Helping with wound care, giving injections, or performing EKG tests under strict guidelines. 

Patient education: A medical assistant guides patients on medications, lifestyle changes, and aftercare instructions for better health outcomes. 

These clinical tasks show the need for the hands-on training provided in medical assistant internships which ensure that graduates are well-prepared for diverse healthcare environments. 

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant? 

Medical assistant is a rewarding career path, but one that requires specialized training. To get started, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED, ideally with courses in biology or anatomy. You should then enroll in a reputable training program like the Medical Assisting Technician program at IMBC. This program, offered at our Erie and Pittsburgh campuses with an optional online component, can have you prepared to enter the workforce as a medical assistant in about a year and a half. Toward the completion of the program, all students participate in an internship. 

The Purpose of a Medical Assisting Internship 

A medical assisting internship provides a student with hands-on experience in medical office operations, patient care and healthcare procedures. An internship provides the capstone to medical assistant training by allowing students to practice the skills they’ve