A medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant may have similar job titles, but their duties and responsibilities can look very different. Medical assistants help doctors and nurses with direct patient care, while medical administrative assistants help keep clinics and offices organized. In this article, we’ll break down the major differences between a medical assistant versus a medical administrative assistant to help you decide which path may be right for you.
What Is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who does clinical and administrative tasks. They support doctors, nurses, and other team members to help provide quality patient care.
The role of a medical assistant can be different depending on where they work. Some may split their time equally between clinical duties, like helping with exams, and clerical work, such as checking in patients. Others may spend most of their time with patients and doctors.
Medical assistants commonly work in physicians’ offices, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, they can also work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other practitioners’ offices.
What Is a Medical Administrative Assistant?
A medical administrative assistant is a professional who handles administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. They keep medical offices running smoothly by answering phones, scheduling appointments, and handling paperwork.
This role can also be known as medical receptionist, clinic office assistant, and medical office assistant. Despite the different titles, they all have the same duties.
Medical administrative assistants often work in clinics and doctors’ offices, but they can also work in hospitals and outpatient care centers. Some may work in dentists’ offices or other practitioners’ offices.
What’s the Difference Between a Medical Administrative Assistant vs. a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants and medical administrative assistants may share some similarities, there are also key differences to know. Here’s a comparison of the role of a medical office assistant versus a medical assistant.
Duties and Clinical Work
One of the biggest differences between the two comes down to clinical duties. Medical assistants typically interact more with patients. They may take vital signs, document medical histories, collect specimens for labs, and give medications or injections. These tasks may take up a big part of their workdays.
Along with clinical duties, medical assistants may have clerical tasks to complete. These can include scheduling appointments, updating medical records, and processing insurance forms. At times, medical assistants may be behind the front desk, welcoming patients as they come in.
In comparison, medical administrative assistants do not complete any clinical tasks in their roles. They focus on office work, which may include:
- Answering phones, emails, and messages
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Completing insurance paperwork and forms
- Handling bookkeeping duties
- Greeting and checking in patients for appointments
- Communicating information, such as messages or lab results, to other staff
Throughout their shifts, medical administrative assistants usually stay in offices and work behind computers. They don’t spend time in exam rooms or help physicians with patient appointments, like medical assistants do.
Education and Certification
Medical assistants generally need to earn a postsecondary certificate, diploma, or associate degree. In these programs, they take classes in anatomy, medical terminology, clinical procedures, and administrative practices. Medical assistant programs usually include an externship, where students can get supervised experience in real-world medical settings.
In most states, medical assistants do not need to be certified. However, medical assistants can choose to get certified if they want to prove their skills and knowledge. Several certifications exist for medical assistants, such as the Certified Medical Assistant credential through the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Medical administrative assistants may not need a postsecondary certificate or diploma, though some employers may prefer to hire those who have completed a training program. These programs usually include coursework in medical terminology, medical office procedures, and billing and coding processes.
Like medical assistants, certification can be optional for medical administrative assistants. The National Healthcareer Association offers the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant designation for professionals in this field.
Skills
Medical assistants handle a mix of responsibilities, so they need skills to help them stay organized and multitask efficiently. They also need clinical knowledge to follow doctors’ directions and provide quality care when working with patients.
For medical administrative assistants, customer service is an essential skill. These professionals are often the first ones to interact with patients, so they need to be friendly and courteous. They also use organization and attention to detail to complete their clerical duties efficiently and accurately.
Medical Assistant vs. Medical Administrative Assistant: Which One Is Right for You?
Choosing the right healthcare career path involves thinking about the type of work you want to do. Are you someone who needs versatility in your workday? You may prefer working as a medical assistant and dividing your attention between clinical and administrative duties.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who prefers focusing on similar tasks and keeping information organized, a role as a medical administrative assistant may be a good fit. This career allows you to work in healthcare without drawing blood, collecting specimens, or helping with patient exams.
The choice you make will come down to your personal preferences and career goals. Before you decide, take some time to consider what you value and what you want your career to look like in the future.
Begin Your Medical Assistant Journey at ACC
Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks, while medical administrative assistants focus on clerical duties. While there’s some overlap between the roles, it’s worth knowing the differences to help you decide which career path may be right for you.
If you’re interested in direct patient care, ACC offers a 9-month Medical Assistant program blending online coursework with in-person instruction and hands-on experience. We offer weekend classes at our campuses in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Anaheim. In the program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn essential medical assisting skills and complete a 200-hour externship in real healthcare settings.
Want to learn more about the Medical Assistant program? Reach out today!
