What are medical assistant soft skills?

• Communication: This skill is an absolute must for a medical assistant. Medical assistants must communicate well with patients who often feel sick, nervous, or embarrassed. They must also deal with colleagues on a patient's care team.

  A proper medical assistant knows the terminology used in healthcare and knows how to talk to patients to get information and help them understand treatments. They must also be able to speak to family members who are worried about their loved ones.

• Empathy: A medical assistant needs to be able to walk in their patient's shoes and understand how they feel. They must empathize with their patients and personally connect with them and their family members.

• Teamwork: Being a medical assistant means being part of an essential team of healthcare providers. You must be able to work with others in the patient's best interest. The medical assistant must collaborate with others; the better you do it, the better you will be at your job.

• Work Ethic: A medical assistant must have a strong work ethic. They must exhibit professionalism and respect the patient's right to privacy. They must understand that what they do and say affects the people around them and have the drive to succeed and help others.

• Problem-Solving: Problem-solving is a soft skill most people need in their jobs. However, a medical assistant needs finely-tuned problem-solving abilities to handle situations as they arise. They must identify obstacles and find solutions that best serve the patient and the care team.

• Active Listening: Active listening refers to hearing with all your senses. It is a skill that keeps you engaged in a conversation by giving your attention to the person you are listening to. You look at them, nod, listen, and don't interrupt.

  Being an excellent active listener allows you to fully comprehend what the patient is saying and the ability to ask appropriate questions. It is a necessary skill to make the patient feel heard and provide the proper information to other care team members.

Additional soft skills worth developing are critical thinking, delegation, and self-awareness. There are many ways to develop your soft skills. You can take classes or workshops, read books or articles, and practice them in your everyday life.

The most important thing is to find something that works for you! If you like structure, then classes might be a good option. If not, there are plenty of other ways to learn these skills without taking courses or workshops.