What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Whether you’re considering this career path or just curious, you might wonder, What does a medical assistant do in a day? This role is a great way to gain experience in a medical setting without pursuing additional education, but it can look very different depending on the setting, specialty, and other factors.

A medical assistant is an unlicensed healthcare team member who helps physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners with both administrative and clinical tasks. They can work in multiple areas, including clinics, hospitals, surgical centers, research settings, and more. Most employers prefer that medical assistants be certified to work, which is why they’re also called certified medical assistants, or CMAs.

The outlook for this role is great, with 12% projected growth in jobs within the next several years. On average, medical assistants across the U.S. earn about $44,720 per year, but keep in mind that pay varies widely by location, setting, and experience.

Overview of Medical Assistant Responsibilities

What does a certified medical assistant do? While the specifics of this role depend on each individual CMA job description, there are two main categories of responsibilities you’re likely to encounter:

Clinical Medical Assistant Duties

• Collecting and recording vital signs
• Gathering patient history
• Drawing blood for labs
• Administering tests, including pulmonary function tests, electrocardiograms (ECG), and visual acuity tests
• Preparing patients for exams
• Assisting with medical procedures
• Performing minor procedures under supervision, such as suture removal and wound care
• Administering vaccinations and some medications
• Collecting urine, fecal, saliva, and other specimens
• Lifting patients and mobility assistance

Administrative Medical Assistant Duties

• Scheduling appointments
• Completing Insurance verification and forms
• Coding, billing, and bookkeeping
• Documenting medical information and patient encounters
• Arranging hospital admissions and clinic check-ins
• Answering phones and sending emails
• Restocking office and medical room supplies
• Communicating with other medical offices and providers
• Following up with patients after surgery or procedures
• Sending medication refill requests to providers
• Cleaning rooms post-procedure

What Does a Medical Assistant Do on a Daily Basis? A Day in the Life of Two CMAs

The daily routine of this role differs by work setting, and CMAs can work in hospitals, clinics, surgical centers, home health, and other areas. We’ve broken down a daily schedule for an MA working in a hospital and in a clinic below.

What does a medical assistant do in a hospital?

CMAs in acute care roles are more likely to work 10- or 12-hour shifts. Here’s a deep dive on daily tasks you might see in an acute care role:

0700: Clock in, look over scheduled tasks, and plan the day accordingly.

0800-1000: Begin tasks, such as room preparation, patient testing, and procedure assistance. In some clinical areas, CMAs can see dozens of patients a day, so the work may be steady and varied.

1000-1200: Admin duties such as answering emails, charting in the electronic health record (EHR), and answering or returning phone calls. As patients depart, the CMA may be responsible for scheduling follow-up appointments or printing discharge paperwork.

1200-1230: Lunch.

1230-1600: Continue with clinical tasks, including blood draws, glucose checks, patient history reviews, vaccinations, wound care, and more.

1600-1830: As the day winds down, clean rooms and empty trash, ensuring supplies are stocked for the next day.

1830: Prepare to leave for the day and clock out

What does a medical assistant do in a doctor’s office?

A medical assistant in a doctor’s office is more likely to work an eight-hour schedule. Check out daily responsibilities you’re likely to encounter in outpatient settings:

0830: Clock in, look over the daily schedule, and stock exam rooms with any extra supplies based on scheduled procedures.

0900: First patients arrive. The CMA shows them to their room, gathers vital signs and initial history, and documents findings in the EHR. May assist in obtaining informed consent and helping with procedures if they occur.

0950-1230: Continue bringing patients into the clinic rooms from the waiting room, cleaning the room after each patient visit and preparing it for the next patient.

1230-1300: Lunch.

1300-1530: Sit at the front desk to check patients in and take calls. Also responsible for checking patients out at the end of each visit, faxing information to other offices, and scheduling next appointments if applicable.

1530-1630: Complete final patient appointments. Clean rooms, and restock supplies for the next day.

1630-1700: Finish final tasks, and clock out for the evening.

Medical Assistant Duties FAQ

What skills do medical assistants need?

At a minimum, you’ll need these skills for a medical assistant role:

• Computer literacy: Documentation, scheduling, insurance filing, faxing, and other administrative tasks all require a basic understanding of computer programs and navigation.
• Interpersonal communication: CMAs interact with patients and the medical team, so they need excellent communication and social skills.
• Basic medical knowledge: While nursing staff and physicians should do most patient education, you must be prepared to answer basic questions and explain common procedures.
• Organization and time management: Some CMA roles can be very busy, requiring multitasking and fast task completion.
• Clinical skills: CMAs must be confident in taking vital signs, EKG readings, wound care, vaccinations, and potentially other procedures specific to their area.

Does every CMA do both clinical and administrative tasks?

Not necessarily. It’s common for some roles to be more desk-focused or patient-focused than others, and the balance you prefer may tip one way or the other.

Is CMA higher than CNA?

The two roles have some overlap, but generally, a CMA can be trained to perform a wider variety of tasks than certified nursing assistants (CNAs) can. These may include giving injections, phlebotomy, wound care, and other minor procedures.

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