Certified Medical Assistants play critical role in doctors’ visits

Today, thousands of doctors and members of the medical community nationwide rely on the certified medical assistant (CMA) to enhance the patient’s office visit. If you’ve recently been to the doctor’s office, you certainly encountered a CMA taking your vital signs and patient history, drawing blood and administering medications, listening to your concerns or scheduling your next appointment.

"Medical practices today benefit from the role certified medical assitants play in managing and fulfilling patient care needs and requests," said Donald J. Palmisano, MD, president of the American Medical Association. As more physicians’ offices and outpatient care facilities open to serve America’s growing elderly population, the healthcare industry––and patients––will rely on CMAs for years to come."

The American Association of Medical Assistants has compiled the following tips from CMAs across the nation to help patients have a positive experience during their next doctor’s visit:

1. Before your appointment, write down a list of questions or concerns you want to share with the physician. Put the most important ones first to make sure they get addressed up front.

2. Always remember to bring with you any medications you are currently taking (or a list of medicines with dosages and strengths), including dietary supplements, vitamins or herbal treatments. Speak up if you’re having any complications.

3. Bring your personal calendar with you to make it easy when scheduling your follow-up appointment.

4. Provide the most up-to-date copy of your insurance card to the office so you minimize billing questions or issues.

5. When the CMA records your recent medical history and vital signs, make sure to speak up if you’ve had any changes in symptoms or health history that the doctor should know about.

6. If you’re having blood drawn, ask the CMA or health professional when you can expect a call with your lab results.

7. If you have questions about a doctor’s orders, a CMA can assist by explaining them to you.

8. Call your physician’s office back if your symptoms get worse or if you have problems with any prescribed medication.

All certified medical assistants have passed a national certification exam and share a common commitment of providing a caring patient experience. They often work side by side with physicians and other skilled practitioners, making a difference in the lives of patients they serve. In fact, medical assisting is one of the nation’s fastest-growing careers through 2012, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to the growing number of physicians’ offices and outpatient care facilities. For more information on certified medical assistants or the medical assisting profession, contact the American Association of Medical Assistants at www.aama-ntl.org.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.