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What does a registered medical assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a registered medical assistant do

The primary job of registered medical assistants is to perform clinical and administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. They offer support services to physicians, so the latter have plenty of time to care for patients. They carry out varied administrative, clerical, and clinical tasks that include taking vital signs, filing records, and scheduling patient appointments. Other responsibilities include discussing treatment procedures to patients, interacting with patients, and collecting laboratory specimens such as tissue and blood. Ideal characteristics to become a registered medical assistant include being compassionate, can work well with people, and adaptable.

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Registered medical assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real registered medical assistant resumes:

  • Generate referral letters for physician, manage and sort medical documents within the EHR system, and assist with e-prescribing.
  • Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
  • Attain medical histories, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, and assist during diagnostic examinations.
  • Front and back administrative duties, answering phones, scheduling appointments and compliance with HIPAA, CLIA, and OSHA regulations.
  • Conduct lab tests in the areas of hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and serology collections.
  • Run testing, calibration and controls of high complexity specialize in areas of chemistry and hematology.
  • Perform procedures using equipment as delegated by a license professional, including blood draws, EKG's, and vital signs.
  • Assist in implementing practice for quality assurance and control program efforts ensure compliance with HIPPA, CLIA, and OSHA regulations.
  • Perform sterile techniques, sets up surgical trays, prep and drape patients for surgery and, assist with post-operative dressings.
  • Interview patients to obtain medical history and identify problems along with taking all require vitals.
  • Greet patients, verify correct documentation for requisitions while preparing specimens for laboratory testing; perform screening procedures and phlebotomy.
  • Perform a variety of clinical duties including, gathering patient information, take vital signs, administering immunizations, performing phlebotomy.
  • Evaluate patients seen in outpatient child and adolescent psychiatry unit.
  • Centrifuge and sample whole blood for hematology and virology testing as requested.
  • Complete all safety, CPR, equipment usage and procedures requirements adhering to hospital and department policies.

Registered medical assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 18% of Registered Medical Assistants are proficient in Patients, Vital Signs, and Office Procedures. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Detail oriented, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Registered Medical Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 18%

    Attained medical histories, explained treatment procedures to patients, prepared patients for examination, and assisted during diagnostic examinations.

  • Vital Signs, 8%

    Recorded patient vital signs and administered immunizations/injections; experience with in- office cultures and assistance with minor in-office surgeries.

  • Office Procedures, 5%

    Assisted the physician in minor surgical office procedures Accomplishments Recognized for superior performance and dedicated service commitment.

  • EKG, 4%

    Maintain proficiency with EKG equipment including Halter monitors.

  • Customer Service, 4%

    Provided stellar customer service to customers and processed payments while ensuring businesses operations needs were met.

  • Exam Rooms, 4%

    Clean and stock exam rooms on daily basis, answer hone in clinical area, electronically refill/prescribe medications per physician request/authorizations.

Common skills that a registered medical assistant uses to do their job include "patients," "vital signs," and "office procedures." You can find details on the most important registered medical assistant responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a registered medical assistant to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "medical assistants must be able to understand and follow medical charts and diagnoses." Additionally, a registered medical assistant resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "assist with business unit projects (i.e., quality measures), appointment scheduling, data entry in epic. "

Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform registered medical assistant duties is detail oriented. Registered medical assistants responsibilities require that "medical assistants need to be precise when taking vital signs or recording patient information." Registered medical assistants also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "oriented and trained new employees back office coordinator ekg, pft, triage, holter monitor patient education, front office duties"

Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for registered medical assistants to perform their duties. For an example of how registered medical assistant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "medical assistants need to be able to discuss patient information with other medical personnel, such as physicians." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a registered medical assistant: "cited for excellence in interpersonal communications, teamwork, customer service, flexibility and reliability. ".

Technical skills. For certain registered medical assistant responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "technical skills." The day-to-day duties of a registered medical assistant rely on this skill, as "medical assistants should be able to use basic clinical instruments so they can take a patient’s vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what registered medical assistants do: "supported diagnostic procedures, assisted with technical nursing treatments and entered information in patient charts. "

Most common registered medical assistant skills

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Compare different registered medical assistants

Registered medical assistant vs. Medical scribe

As a medical scribe, their main responsibility is to follow a physician's daily work and do charting of patient encounters in real-time by accessing their medical electronic health record (EHR). It is their duty to make sure the patient schedules are followed, generate referral letters for physicians and manage and sort medical documents within the EHR. Medical scribes can be held as data custodians, medical assistants, and nurses to focus on patient in-take and care throughout clinic hours. In addition, they manage patient flow through the clinic and increase productivity to cater to more patients.

If we compare the average registered medical assistant annual salary with that of a medical scribe, we find that medical scribes typically earn a $6,535 lower salary than registered medical assistants make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both registered medical assistant and medical scribe positions are skilled in patients, vital signs, and ekg.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a registered medical assistant are more likely to require skills like "office procedures," "customer service," "exam rooms," and "phlebotomy." On the other hand, a job as a medical scribe requires skills like "medical terminology," "excellent organizational," "physician assistants," and "strong work ethic." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Medical scribes really shine in the health care industry with an average salary of $29,968. Comparatively, registered medical assistants tend to make the most money in the health care industry with an average salary of $34,762.The education levels that medical scribes earn slightly differ from registered medical assistants. In particular, medical scribes are 2.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a registered medical assistant. Additionally, they're 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Registered medical assistant vs. Medical internship

When it comes to a medical internship, one of the primary duties is to attend to the patients' needs while under a more experienced physician's supervision. During this period, the medical interns must rotate in various fields of specialties or departments for exposure. Aside from learning and observing, there are also instances when medical interns are required to produce necessary reports and documentation, communicate with patients and families, and take part in more challenging cases.

A career as a medical internship brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a registered medical assistant. In fact, medical interns salary is $14,263 higher than the salary of registered medical assistants per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Registered medical assistants and medical interns both require similar skills like "patients," "vital signs," and "ekg" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that registered medical assistant responsibilities requires skills like "office procedures," "customer service," "phone calls," and "rma." But a medical internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patient care," "surgery," "powerpoint," and "medical terminology."

Medical interns earn similar levels of education than registered medical assistants in general. They're 4.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Registered medical assistant vs. Medical office administrator

A medical office administrator is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties within a health care institution, supplying physicians and medical professionals with patients' information, and coordinating with insurance companies. Medical office administrators handle the information and data management system to ensure the accuracy of patients' details, medical history, and treatment plans. They also schedule doctor appointments and cancellations, as well as monitoring the inventory of medical supplies. A medical office administrator submits payment reports, respond to patients' inquiries and concerns, and process billing disputes.

On average scale, medical office administrators bring in lower salaries than registered medical assistants. In fact, they earn a $2,328 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on registered medical assistants and medical office administrators resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "patients," "vital signs," and "office procedures.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, registered medical assistants are more likely to have skills like "phlebotomy," "rma," "standing orders," and "compassion." But a medical office administrator is more likely to have skills like "patient care," "provides administrative support," "office equipment," and "insurance benefits."

Medical office administrators make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $34,449. On the other hand, registered medical assistants are paid the highest salary in the health care industry, with average annual pay of $34,762.Most medical office administrators achieve a similar degree level compared to registered medical assistants. For example, they're 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Registered medical assistant vs. Doctor assistant

Doctor assistants tend to earn a lower pay than registered medical assistants by an average of $1,713 per year.While their salaries may vary, registered medical assistants and doctor assistants both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "vital signs," and "office procedures. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between registered medical assistants and doctor assistants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a registered medical assistant might have more use for skills like "customer service," "phone calls," "rma," and "standing orders." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of doctor assistants require skills like "patient care," "dr," "triage," and "emr. "

In general, doctor assistants hold similar degree levels compared to registered medical assistants. Doctor assistants are 1.8% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 2.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of registered medical assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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