There is a large difference between the responsibilities of an administrative medical assistant and the responsibilities of clinical medical assistant, although both oversee operational elements of a health care practice. The distinction is based primarily on State law, which governs the level of authority a medical assistant has when working directly with patients in any specific location. The level of education and national certification achieved by a medical assistant may also determine whether they work in administrative or clinical capacities.

There is some flexibility within the medical assisting field. It is possible to begin your career as an administrative medical assistant and progress into clinical assisting, as you gain more experience and education. In general, administrative medical assisting is the best choice for individuals who want to gain employment the rapidly expanding health care field without working directly with patients, while clinical medical assisting is a good fit for those who want to work alongside physicians in treating patients.

Administrative Medical Assisting Duties

Administrative medical assistants oversee all clerical tasks in a physicians’ office, hospital, vocational college, or other health care institution. Their duties will vary based on their place of employment. A medical assistant working for a local out-patient center may be charged with performing all administrative duties, while an assistant employed by a hospital department might only be responsible for one or two specific tasks.

Generally, an administrative medical assistant keeps an office running smoothly by handling all clerical duties. These duties may include updating medical records, basic filing, scheduling appointments, answering phones, admitting patients, and general bookkeeping. Other tasks associated with administrative medical assistants include filling out insurance forms, greeting patients, handling billing and other correspondence.

It is possible to become an administrative medical assistant with a high school diploma, although some experience is higher education is preferred by employers. Taking courses in bookkeeping, filing, transcription, and medical terminology are good primers for working as an administrative medical assistant. You may also consider becoming certified as an administrative medical assistant, which demonstrates a mastery of the field and is appealing to prospective employers.

Clinical Medical Assisting Duties

Clinical medical assistants work more closely with physicians and patients than administrative medical assistants. Although they may be responsible for fulfilling clerical duties (especially in a small physicians office), clinical medical assistants are authorized by State law to perform tasks directly related to patient care. These tasks include preparing patients for examination, administering medicine, removing sutures, recording vital signs, and updating medical histories. Many clinical medical assistants also perform basic lab work, sterilization, and specimen collection. Under the supervision of a physician, a clinical medical assistant can draw blood, authorize prescription refills, prepare x-rays, purchase equipment, and instruct patients about medication and dietary needs.

In line with their increased responsibilities, clinical medical assistants must achieve higher levels of education and training, usually 1 to 2 years of formal study. To work with patients, clinical medical assistants must have a solid understanding of anatomy, physiology, surgical instrument, lab safety, and phlebotomy, along with other specific subjects. Certification as a clinical medical assistant by an association such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is also advisable, as it demonstrates a high standard of training and increases earning potential in the long run.