How To Write A Medical Assistant Job Description (With Examples)

Taking care of patients at a medical facility requires a combined effort from many different healthcare professionals. One of the crucial positions that work to support physicians and nurses in healthcare settings is a medical assistant. Medical assistants are in high demand because they are trained to perform both administrative tasks and clinical requirements.

The position acts as the glue that holds together both the office and medical sectors of a healthcare clinic or hospital. Since a medical assistant’s responsibilities allow these facilities to function smoothly, it’s important to scan for required qualifications and skills in applicants during the hiring phase, which starts by writing an accurate job description.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Being a medical assistant is a multi-faceted role that handles varying administrative and clinical tasks at hospitals for doctor’s offices and other healthcare clinics. It’s often the most direct career path that a candidate can take to enter the medical field.

Since the role is so diverse in its responsibilities, the tasks that a medical assistant does throughout the day can be dramatically different from one another.

Some examples of a medical assistant’s typical duties include:

• Greeting patients as they arrive

• Adding updates to patient records

• Scheduling appointments

• Filing paperwork for insurance purposes

• Preparing patients for an examination

• Assisting the physician during check-ups

• Conducting basic medical tests

• Drawing blood

• Working with medical equipment such as x-rays

These responsibilities are a crucial part of providing adequate medical care.

4 Steps for a Medical Assistant Job Description

When a medical assistant position opens up within a healthcare facility, there’s a process that goes into finding the best candidate to fill the role. This process begins by creating a direct and informative medical assistant job description. Below are four steps for constructing a comprehensive job description for a medical assistant position.

1. Introducing the company. Candidates want to get to know a company early on in the hiring process.

   It helps applicants envision the type of environment the company has and decide whether this is the right place for them before applying. This reduces the number of unfitting applicants that will apply for the job.

   When introducing a hiring company, describe the organization in a positive light. Don’t stretch the truth about the facility’s characteristics, but include details that entice qualified applicants into applying. The best way to format this information is by including quantifiable information about the facility, such as awards won or statistics.

2. Addressing the role’s responsibilities. Once the facility that’s hiring has been properly introduced, the next piece to tackle in a medical assistant job description is the role’s responsibilities.

   This means divulging the details of common tasks that being a medical assistant in this particular clinic entails. This information is usually provided in list format to make it more digestible.

   Common responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

   • Answering incoming phone calls and answering questions when needed

   • Creating a schedule for appointments

   • Conversing with patients

   • Managing billing information

   • Bookkeeping

   • Sterilizing medical equipment

   • Assisting with medication administration

   • Authorizing prescription refills

3. Mentioning the required qualifications. Becoming a medical assistant requires a few qualifications that applicants must fulfill. This position usually includes some level of education, certifications, and experience in the field.

   It’s important to list these clearly on a medical assistant job description because it clues applicants into whether they are qualified to submit their applications. This saves the facility a lot of time going through application materials for candidates who won’t be experienced enough to handle the position.

   A job description’s requirements can also include abilities that an ideal candidate should demonstrate, such as communication or interpersonal skills.

   Some commonly required qualifications for medical assistants include:

   • A high school diploma or GED equivalent

   • Graduation from a certified medical assistant program

   • 1+ year of experience (or more)

   • An emergency medical technician (EMT) and CPR certification

   • Decision-making skills

   • Collaboration abilities

4. Including other important details. The last piece of a medical assistant job description is writing the important closing details. These are any relevant aspects of the job that aren’t responsibilities or qualifications.

   Common topics to include in the other information section of a medical assistant job description include:

   • Details about the position’s salary

   • What’s included in the benefits package

   • Equal opportunity employer status

   • Work environment description

   • Required schedule or shifts

   Be brief when outlining this information because it can always be restarted during an interview.

An Example of a Medical Assistant Job Description

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.