Telehealth For Medical Assistants
Medical Assistants are the invisible hands that hold the digital bridge of telehealth, ensuring a seamless journey from patient care to recovery.
Types of Medical Assistants
A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who supports the health care team by performing a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in medical offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties include interviewing patients and documenting medical history, organizing and scheduling appointments, updating and filing medical records, and providing administrative support. They also assist during medical examinations, arrange hospital admissions and laboratory services, and handle tasks such as drawing blood for lab tests, dispensing medications, and removing stitches or changing wound dressings. Medical assistants must be trained in the field, and their responsibilities may vary depending on the specific medical practice, including its size, specialty, and state law.
Clinical Medical Assistants
Clinical medical assistants directly care for patients, conduct tests, assist exams, and educate on home care. They manage vital signs, administer treatments, perform EKGs, phlebotomy, and maintain EHRs. Specializations include cardiology, endocrinology, and obstetrics/gynecology.
Administrative Medical Assistants
Administrative Medical Assistants maintain healthcare facilities, managing records, appointments, and office tasks with computer systems. They greet patients, update records, use office software, and coordinate practice reports.
Specialized Medical Assistants
Specialized Medical Assistants undergo advanced training in specific medical fields, enabling them to carry out specialized clinical tasks and collaborate closely with physicians in direct patient care. Typically, they acquire their specialization through hands-on experience.
Medical Assistants Responsibilities
Medical assistants are multi-skilled professionals who perform a wide range of roles in healthcare settings, ensuring the smooth operation of medical practices and the delivery of quality patient care. Their responsibilities are diverse, encompassing clinical, administrative, and direct patient support duties.
Clinical Responsibilities
Patient Care: They record vital signs and medical histories, assist in exams and procedures, administer medications, prepare patients for tests, and provide wound care.
Equipment and Supplies: They sterilize instruments, maintain treatment rooms, and ensure sufficient supplies for patient safety and operational efficiency.
Administrative Responsibilities:
Office Management: Includes record keeping, scheduling, and insurance/billing tasks for efficient operations.
Communication and Coordination: Involves patient liaison, front desk operations, and handling correspondence.
Documentation and Technology: Entails data entry, typing, and proficiency in office software.
Direct Patient Support: Focuses on compassionate care, providing assistance and support to patients and families.
Compliance and Regulations: Ensures adherence to healthcare regulations like HIPAA and OSHA.
Specialized Tasks: Some medical assistants perform specialized clinical tasks like EKGs and phlebotomy.
Restrictions and Limitations: Understanding limitations, including prohibited procedures like starting IVs or using lasers for cosmetic purposes.
Telehealth: Transforming Medical Assistant Roles
The advent of telehealth has revolutionized the healthcare industry, significantly impacting the roles and responsibilities of medical assistants (MAs). With the integration of telehealth services, MAs are now able to extend their traditional scope of practice beyond the confines of physical clinic settings to serve patients remotely, enhancing healthcare accessibility, especially for undeserved communities.
Expanded Scope and Flexibility
Telemedicine has opened up new opportunities for MAs to work remotely or in distributed teams, providing unparalleled flexibility in their work schedules . This shift not only contributes to breaking down barriers to healthcare access but also allows MAs to engage in a more diverse range of activities, from administrative tasks to direct patient care.
Enhanced Communication and Technical Skills
In telehealth, MAs need strong communication skills to engage patients and team members remotely. Proficiency in teleconferencing tools and EHRs is vital. Protecting patient data is crucial for confidentiality and integrity in this digital era.
Clinical and Administrative Duties
The role of medical assistants in telehealth remains largely unchanged. They perform clinical tasks such as taking medical history, measuring vital signs, and preparing blood samples. They also handle administrative duties like medical coding, billing, and patient information management
Telehealth Training and Certification
To effectively practice telehealth, MAs can benefit from specific clinical and telemedicine training programs, such as those offered by OpenTelemed LLC. These programs are designed to expand the skill set of MAs, building confidence and enabling them to perform like a telehealth primary care clinic . The TelePrimary Care Certificate Program, for instance, engages primary care professionals in a focused curriculum to provide excellent patient care via remote services
Collaboration and Support
Collaboration with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals is crucial in telehealth. MAs can assist in provider collaboration, which has been shown to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes . For example, tele-ICUs enable monitoring of a large number of patients simultaneously, and platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom facilitate secure communication and collaboration
Impact on Patient Care
The involvement of MAs in telehealth has been shown to make virtual appointments more successful. They help bridge the technology gap by orienting patients to video call technology and providing a human connection, which is particularly important for those who may be unfamiliar with such technology . Studies have found that video visits have better connection rates when MAs initiate the calls, reducing disparities in access to care
Future Prospects
The demand for MAs is projected to increase, with an aging population and the growth of telehealth services . As telehealth becomes a standard of care, MAs will continue to play a critical role in the transformative shift of healthcare through technology.
In conclusion, telehealth has significantly changed the landscape for medical assistants, offering them new opportunities for professional growth and enabling them to contribute more effectively to patient care. With the right training and collaboration, MAs can practice medicine through telehealth services independently, under the guidance of healthcare providers, and help shape the future of healthcare delivery.