What Do Medical Assistants Do?
By: Jenn Hall | June 2025
Curious about the day-to-day activities you may encounter as a medical assistant? Will you primarily handle clinical tasks or will you focus more on administrative duties?
As a medical assistant, you can expect to have a blend of both clinical and administrative responsibilities. The exact blend will depend on a variety of factors, including the type and size of medical facility, your experience level, and any certifications or special training you’ve completed. For example, if a medical assistant is working in a small, specialized office like a family practice, their day-to-day job will look different from someone who works in a larger setting. Although their specific tasks may vary, their purpose as someone who helps the medical office run smoothly and ensures positive patient experiences remains the same. Let’s explore some of these responsibilities further so you have a good idea of what this career entails.
Medical assistant clinical tasks
A medical assistant is at the forefront of patient care. One of their key responsibilities is to provide clinical support for patients.
- Preparing patients for exams
- Measuring vital signs
- Assisting a physician during an exam or procedure
- Preparing and administering medications under the supervision of a physician
- Explaining and instructing patients on care plans
- Collecting specimens and performing basic lab tests
Medical assistant administrative tasks
Often, a medical assistant will be both the first and the last person a patient sees during their office or clinic visit. It is critical for them to be prepared for all aspects of patient care. Becoming a medical assistant means becoming familiar with many topics and being comfortable with having a lot of responsibility. From an administrative standpoint, some of the tasks you may be asked to handle include:
- Taking medical histories
- Scheduling appointments
- Greeting patients and checking them in for appointments
- Updating and filing medical records
- Assisting with medical billing and insurance claims
- Helping patients with paperwork, as needed
These tasks not only support better patient flow, more accurate documentation, and positive patient experiences, but they also contribute to the financial health of the medical facility by ensuring proper billing and reimbursement activities.
More medical assistant career insights
If you’d like to learn more about what you can expect with a career as a medical assistant, check out some of our additional resources: