Medical assistants do greet you and take your vitals, but they do so much more! They clean the room in between patients, they perform ear lavages when the wax has built up in your ear, they check your urine for pregnancy and infections, they swab your throat for strep, they enter in all of your information including medications, vitals, recent hospital visits, they update your immunizations and make sure you had your mammo or pap completed, they often pick up on things and alert us (me) before I go in so I can address the issue. Just yesterday a patient came in with vague complaints of abdominal pain, bloating, and back pain. Grace asked the patient about urination and the patient admitted he did have some pain recently. She had him leave urine right away and let me know what the patient said and what she did. Sure enough, the patient did have a urine infection (among other things). It was her knowledge and attention to detail and subtle cues that helped the patient (and me!).
Grace (my MA) remember patients much better than I remember. She reminds me of abnormal labs or to send a medication if I forget. She keeps track of the paperwork patients bring in and need completed. She is my second brain and is invaluable to me. Grace deserves a raise (and an assistant!). She is not only part of the team, she is an integral part of the team. Medical assistants often get treated poorly by patients, but please remember, she is another set of eyes and ears and may pick up on other needs you have that you aren't even aware of!
When the MA asks why you're here today, please tell them! She can get everything ready to go; she can get the urine dipped and the results to me before I even see you! She ensures you (and I) have everything we need to get the most out of our appointment. Her role is crucial and I cannot imagine not having her around.
No comments:
Post a Comment