Who are Certified Medical Assistants and what do they do?
Certified Medical Assistants are multiskilled practitioners who assume a wide range of roles in physicians’ offices and other health care settings, and are viewed by physicians as vital partners in increasing medical office productivity. In small practices, CMAs are usually “generalists,” handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators. The following are typical duties that CMAs perform (clinical duties may vary according to state law): Administrative • Answer telephones • Greet patients • Update and file patient medical records • Fill out insurance forms • Handle correspondence • Schedule appointments • Arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services • Handle billing and bookkeeping Clinical • Take medical histories and record vital signs • Explain treatment procedures to patien
