Besides getting a diploma in the field, many other traits and qualities exist and are required for the job. Show A day in the life of a Medical Office Assistant unfortunately is not described as relaxing or easy-going. Like many jobs, work comes with responsibilities. There are many duties and tasks that a Medical Office Assistant must take care of. No two days in this position will be the same. If you are not aware already, to be a Medical Office Assistant is to be a jack-of-all-trades. Medical, clinical, office and even physical components can be required in the job. Being in the medical administrative field requires a few other qualities, too. Employers know you have the academic credentials, but they also want to see that you possess these extra qualities that will differentiate you from the rest. 1. PatienceAs mentioned, a lot of days on the job are not the same. Some days are slow, and others are more fast-paced. When working at clinics or hospitals, you interact with many different people. Patients, families, friends, and others want answers in regards to their healthcare. A lot can be expected from a Medical Office Assistant, both from healthcare providers and patients alike. The more calm and patient you are, the more efficiently you can work, which creates a well-functioning work environment. 2. CommunicationThe ability to effectively communicate is important in every job. In the life of a Medical Office Assistant, delivering messages between healthcare practitioners, patients, and coworkers is crucial. Communication is key across all spectrums. It is important to understand messages being told to you as well as communicate messages to others. 3. OrganizationDays can be hectic and all of a sudden, the task you were originally assigned begins to get pushed back because of another incoming task. Staying organized is a key aspect of being a Medical Office Assistant. This means knowing when and how to prioritize your tasks and taking the initiative to create a productive work environment for yourself and everyone around you. 4. Positive and EnergeticIt is refreshing to see a positive attitude and a smile in any workplace. It can make a huge difference in the medical field when certain days aren’t so bright for some patients or families. There are good and bad days, but being able to stay positive and energetic through it with a smile makes the world of a difference. 5. ProactiveIt is important to be able to do something without having to be told to do it. Quickly learn what is expected of you in your role of Medical Office Assistant and then go ahead and do it. If you are unsure of how to do something or have any questions, asking someone about it shows initiative and is great when working with other people. 6. EmpatheticBeing empathetic means being able to understand and share the feelings of others. Often, the medical field is recognized as a career where you must put your emotions aside and focus on the work ahead. When working closely with patients, being empathetic is a great trait to have. Contact Gates College to learn about our Medical Office Assistant courses. Have you ever wondered why sometimes you feel good about the healthcare worker who is caring for you and other times you simply do not? We all want to be cared for by the “feel good” healthcare workers, but what makes the difference? Professional qualities! Simply said, but not so simply taught or learned, professional qualities are the backbone to a successful career for any healthcare worker. By acquiring these qualities, the healthcare worker becomes the healthcare professional. But what makes a professional, and what are these qualities? Professionalism is the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person. A career in healthcare requires hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the specific technical and operational proficiencies of the career. For a medical assistant these include job tasks, such as measuring blood pressure or working within an electronic health record program like EHRclinic. On the other hand, soft skills are the personal qualifications or behaviors that enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance, and career prospects. These are sometimes called people skills. Soft skills are less concrete and more difficult to observe and evaluate. Since much of the medical assistant’s role involves dealing with other people, whether a patient, a patient’s family member, a coworker, an insurance agent, a pharmaceutical sales representative, a laboratory staff member, or anyone else there are certain professional qualities and soft skills necessary to be successful. These qualities are what make medical assistants career ready. The professional qualities that medical assistant students must learn and develop as part of a medical assistant educational program include:
Understanding and developing the above qualities as part of a medical assistant educational program is necessary for student and professional success. From the first day to the last day, it is the challenge of the educator to infuse the learning of hard skills together with learning these qualities and the soft skills. This can be done through many techniques, including the use of digital tools. In a recent survey conducted by McGraw-Hill of medical assisting programs, 59% of instructors said the digital tools they currently use help develop career readiness skills, such as professionalism, critical thinking/problem solving, communication, and teamwork. The more a student is able to practice real-world situations that require the use of these medical assistant qualities the better prepared for they will be for their career. The key to the development of professional qualities is repetition, repetition, repetition. Contact your McGraw-Hill sale representative to obtain a poster for your classroom regarding the Qualities of a Medical Assistant. Try the activities provided at [https://mheducation.link/HealthProfessions] to begin the infusion of developing professional qualities in your medical assistant students. By understanding and practicing the Qualities of a Medical Assistant, we are transitioning our students from healthcare workers to healthcare professionals and working toward creating the type of healthcare professional that makes patients “feel good.” What are characteristic traits of a medical assistant?Medical assistants work with physically and emotionally vulnerable people, so emotional intelligence, the ability to sense what people are feeling through observation is essential for good communication. Practical skills are important, too. The ability to read, write and speak confidently is a must.
What trait is important for medical office staff?The ability to communicate properly and effectively is important in every job. In the life of a Medical Office Assistant, delivering key messages to the proper people whether it is a health practitioner, patient, or coworker is crucial. Communication is key across all spectrums.
|