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Shelly James Urinalysis and Microbiology Pre-assignment October 28, 2011

In the medical field, the Certified Medical Assistant is held to high expectations by their employer, peers, and patients. Medical assistants, according to our book, should strive to cultivate certain characteristics that identify them as true professionals. Being sincere in every aspect of our profession enables the patient to trust you as their caregiver. (Lindh, W. 2010) Certified Medical assistants should have many attributes, one being empathy. Empathy means being able to understand how your patient feels by putting yourself in the patients position. Most patients do not understand medical terminology and are often scared or put off by having to seek medical attention. Certified medical assistants need to be able to recognize a patient who is scared or uncomfortable and be empathetic to their feelings. They are there to educate, so they need to know how to communicate with individuals of different age groups, race, religious or economic status, sexual orientation, or ethnic background. Medical assistants should always have a warm, friendly and caring disposition. They must be neat in appearance, dependable, show initiative, be flexible, model ethical behavior, and have a strong desire to learn. The attributes will have a major impact on being able to connect and build a relationship with patients. By building this type of relationship with your patients, they will be less apprehensive and feel less vulnerable. (Lindh, W. 2010)

2 According to our book, Certified Medical Assistants must also have a desire to learn. Medical assistants should be educated in an accredited medical assisting program and require such courses as administrative, which include; EMRs, word processing, appointment and scheduling, insurance, and billing. They should also be educated in general courses such as; anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, diseases, and law and ethics. Clinical courses such as phlebotomy, urinalysis, pharmacology, and CPR are also extremely important. CMAs must understand the overall criteria of disorders and diseases of the human body in order to help the provider accommodate the patient. (Lindh, W. 2010) Being certified is not mandatory, it is voluntary. However, the American Association of Medical Assistants strongly encourages continuing education for all medical assistants. The AAMA is an organization made up of medical assistants, educators, and students who certify medical assistant and model state law outlining the medical assistants scope of practice. (Lindh, W. 2010) Being a member of the AAMA also gives the CMA an upper edge to finding employment over someone who is not AAMA certified. The AAMA has a code of ethics for the certified medical assistant. These are; to render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity; respect confidential information obtained through employment unless legally authorized or required by responsible performance of duty to divulge such information; to uphold the honor and high principles of the profession and accept its disciplines; to seek to continually improve the knowledge and skills of medical assistants for the benefit of patients and professional colleagues; and to participate in additional service activities aimed toward improving the health and well-being of the community. http://www.aama-ntl.org/about/code_creed.aspx

References:

Retrieved from: http://www.aama-ntl.org/about/code_creed.aspx (October 28, 2011) Lindh, W., Pooler, M., Tamparo C., Dahl, B. (2010). Delmars Comprehensive Medical Assisting, Administrative and Clinical Competencies, (4th ed.). Clifton Park, NY. Cengage Learning