Medical Assistant Review!
Introduction
New Medical Assistant
Introduction Advance To Next Lesson 
Health and Illness
Health and IllnessNOTE: Continue only after having read this and the previous lessons!
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Introduction
Our Goal: The goal of this series of online medical assistant skills reviews is to provide basic concepts and theories concerning health and illnes, patient care, and medical office technology and procedures. It is a basic introduction to daily medical office routines, and the art of medical assisting.
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Modern Medical Assistant
With the recent rapid changes in the healthcare business the number of medical assistants needed has also grown tremendously. As new graduates seek employment, medical offices, clinics, and hospitals recruit them to join their staff. Twentieth century advances in medicine and technology have made a significant impact on the methods of how healthcare services are delivered and marketed. The modern healthcare system is changing faster than ever. Unlike in the past, where it was more of a service to humanity and often based on charity and compassion, it has now evolved into a business offering rewarding careers for those interested in medicine and helping people. Accordingly, doctors are running their offices as a business where many can benefit.
Traditionally, medical assisting has been a profession dominated by women, but more and more male medical assistants are joining the ranks. Employers recognize the unique talents and skills male and female medical assistants possess. Medical assisting offers many opportunities. They enjoy working side by side with physicians and other health care professionals where the common goal is the care and treatment of patients. It is a dynamic field that is always changing and always growing.
Medical assistants are being asked to undertake increasingly complex tasks in either the front or back office. Front office tasks mostly consist of administrative duties, such as answering the phones, scheduling appointments, and assisting patients to fill out their information forms, and filing claims to bill the insurance company; whereas back office duties consist of clinical tasks, revolving around patient care, such as taking vital signs, performing simple diagnostic tests, and sterilizing and cleaning equipment and examination rooms.
If you work in a medical office, especially if you are a medical assistant, you will often be responsible for calling other specialists for making patient appointments or requesting their diagnostic test results. Therefore it is important that you understand the purpose of each subspecialty in medicine and know the purpose of each medical specialist.
It is of vital importance that the modern medical assistant knows applicable state laws, local scope of practice regulations, and also acquire a good grasp on skills and knowledge beyond basic patient procedures and philosophies. These skills may also include assisting with emergency procedures, small surgeries, patient education, health insurance regulations, and concerns of the terminally ill patient! Knowing the law and mastering the various skills provides a solid base from which to grow as a medical assistant in a modern healthcare system.
Suggested Activities!
Links: Visit: 1. Medical Assistant
Medical Assistant Forum: Discuss: Introduction
Lesson Assignment:The Complete Healthcare Team
Due: Not Given
You may find it helpful to go over the given list below before you begin your work. If you run into a medical specialty you don't know mark it and then move on to the next! Use the One Look Medical Dictionary to look up the terms you didn't know, and then return to this page to finish your notes. You can also copy the medical specialty into Google Search, which will provide you plenty of feedback, enough for you to complete the following assignment! Also: Specialty Glossary Medical and Para-Medical Specialties.
Here is Your List of Medical Specialties (and Subspecialties):
Instructions: Please briefly state in layman's terms, what type of conditions or body systems the following specialists are treating. Be specific, try to avoid medical lingo, and keep it brief!
Allergists: __________________________________________Anesthetists: ________________________________________Cardiologists: ________________________________________Dermatologists: _______________________________________Doctors of Osteopathy: __________________________________Endocrinologists: ______________________________________Gastroenterologists: ____________________________________Gerontologists: ________________________________________Gynecologists: ________________________________________Hematologists: ________________________________________Internists: ____________________________________________Nephrologists: ________________________________________Neurologists: _________________________________________Obstetricians: ________________________________________Oncologists: _________________________________________Ophthalmologists: _____________________________________Orthopedists: ________________________________________Otorhinolarygologists: __________________________________Pathologists: ________________________________________Pediatricians: ________________________________________Physiatrists: ________________________________________Plastic surgeons: ____________________________________Podiatrists: ________________________________________Radiologists: _______________________________________Radiation Therapists: _________________________________Surgeons: __________________________________________Urologists: ________________________________________Electroencephalographic Technologists: __________________Electrocardiograph Technicians: ________________________Medical Technologists: _______________________________Nuclear Medicine Technologists: ________________________Respiratory Therapists: _______________________________Phlebotomists: ______________________________________Radiographers: _____________________________________Pharmacists: _______________________________________It can be surprisingly difficult to express procedures or processes from the medical field in the simplest way to our patients:
1. Allergists-study and treatment of allergies
2. Anesthetists-administer substance or gas to relieve pain or for surgery.
3. Cardiologists-doctor specializing in the heart
4. Dermatologists-skin specialist, who also treat and diagnose a number of diseases transmitted through sexual activity.
5. Doctors of Osteopathy-specialist in treating of bones and joints
6. Endocrinologists-treatment of hormone problems
7. Gastroenterologists-stomach and gullet related treatment
8. Gerontologists-specialist in the aging process
9. Gynecologists-treatment of the female genital organs
10. Hematologists-treatment of blood
11. Internists-non-surgical treatment of disease
12. Nephrologists-Treatment of kidney disease
13. Neurologists-nervous system
14. Obstetricians-care of mother before, during and immediately after pregnancy
15. Oncologists-diagnose and treatment of cancerous tumors
16. Ophthalmologists-eye treatment and corrections
17. Orthopedists-correcting deformities of bones and joints
18. Otorhinolarygologists-ear, nose and throat specialist
19. Pathologists-disease specialist
20. Pediatricians-care and treatment of children under the age of 18
21. Physiatrists-physical rehabilitation medicine
22. Plastic Surgeon-reconstructive surgery
23. Podiatrists-foot, ankle and lower leg treatment specialist
24. Radiologists-diagnosis of such tests as ultrasounds, MRIs and cat-scans
25. Radiation Therapists-administers radiation treatment
26. Surgeons-perform surgery as treatment or part of treatment
27. Urologists-treatment of female and male urinary tract and male reproductive system
28. Electroencephalographic Technologists-monitors activity of brain and nervous system
29. Electrocardiograph Technicians-operate equipment which monitors heart
30. Medical Technologists-perform laboratory tests
31. Nuclear Medicine Technologists-administer special drug to be able to see specific areas inside of the body on film
32. Respiratory Therapists-respiratory care treatment
33. Phlebotomists-collection of blood and fluids for lab tests
34. Radiographers-operate imaging equipment and caring for patients during the tests
35. Pharmacists-dispense drugs prescribed by health practitioners
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Advance To Next Lesson Health and Illness
Health and IllnessNOTE: Continue only after reading this and the previous lessons!
This is a non-accredited, non-credit online review primarily intended for personal and professional self-evaluation. It is provided to the general public, free of charge, through private efforts and the generosity of Web Developer Danni R., who owns and manages this and other related websites on the Interned dedicated to Medical Assistants.