Professional Expectations of
The Medical Assistant
Did you know? Appearance can
positively, or negatively influence the opinion one has of the medical assistant, and the overall reputation of the
facility. It is important to act professionally and appropriately around patients, doctors, and other health care
professionals. Both, professional appearance and attitude are VERY important. Employers want their medical
assistants to maintain a neat and professional appearance, adhere to office standards and rules, live by the
medical code of ethics, embrace the doctor's philosophy and mission, and become a well integrated member of the
medical office team as a whole. Therefore, the medical assistant wears clean scrubs, and clean (often white) shoes,
a name tag, and professional pin. They keep their hair nicely styled, preferably up and away from the collar, their
fingernails clean and trimmed, very little jewelry, and no heavy perfumes.
Expectations
Medical assistants are primarily expected to greet and screen arriving patients of the doctor. People arriving
in a medical office are often sick, or have health concerns. This demands good communication and a caring attitude
by the staff to provide optimal patient care.
Duties
Medical assistants take a set of vital signs, write down a short statement of their chief complaints, and list
current medications, and escort them to an examination room, and are expected to handle some light in-office
medical billing and transcriptions. They also mus understand basic principles about the diseases, surgical
techniques, medical procedures, terminology, and medications used in the particular office they work.
Dependability
A big part of professionalism is being punctual and well organized and prepared; also education, appearance, as
well as having tolerance, respect, and compassion for others.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and to identify with and understand another
person's feelings. Patients who are ill, frustrated, or frightened appreciate empathetic medical assistants. They
expect health care personnel to understand, be aware of and sensitive to their feelings and thoughts without having
to explicitly articulating these feelings.
Attire
Footwear
Shoes should be sturdy, clean, and comfortable to stand and walk in. White nursing shoes work best, as well
as white sneakers, although other colors are okay, too. Important is that the shoe has closed toes and a heel
strap, if open in the back, and velcro closures are thought of as more sanitary than shoe laces.
Jewelry
Jewelry should be subtle and tasteful. Rings should be limited to just one engagement or wedding band for
both appearance and safety. Wristbands and bracelets should not dangle loosely and get in the way of
procedures.
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