How Medical Technology Advances are Changing the Medical Assistant Role

What Medical Technology Evolutions Should I Know About?

Now more than ever, the healthcare industry is rapidly evolving, with technology being the main driver of this transformation. From electronic health records (EHRs) to telemedicine and portable medical devices, medical technology advances are reshaping how medical assistants deliver care.

Medical Assistants are constantly adopting and integrating these changes into their daily routines. These progressions have not only made everyday workflows more efficient but have also improved patient experiences and outcomes. In this blog, we’ll explore how these medical technology advances are revamping the medical assistant role and why staying ahead of these technology trends is essential for career growth.

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

Medical Assistants play a vital role in the healthcare industry, as they help bring patients, nurses, and doctors together. They have responsibilities that cover both administrative and clinical tasks. On the administrative side, these professionals manage appointments, maintain accurate medical records, and handle billing and insurance claims.

In addition, medical assistants also support direct patient care through clinical tasks, including taking and recording vital signs, preparing patients for procedures, and performing basic lab tests. Their ability to juggle these diverse responsibilities is crucial to the healthcare team, helping create a positive experience for patients and providers.

What Medical Technology Advances are Impacting MAs?

Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

The days of handwritten patient documentation are long gone, thanks to the introduction of electronic health records. These pieces of medical technology have become a standard across the medical industry, allowing healthcare teams to share information, track medical histories, and coordinate patient care. Medical assistants are key in managing these records daily as they enter patient information, update files, and ensure accuracy across all fields. Learning how to navigate these systems as a medical assistant is essential for smoother office operations.

Chatbots and AI

At this peak of the AI sergeancy, more and more businesses and industries are adapting this into daily practices. The medical sector has incorporated the medical technology of chatbots into online presences, such as scheduling appointments and answering generic patient questions. While this may streamline some points of the process, they lack the personal touch and the ability to answer complex issues. Because of this, medical assistants work alongside these systems to create a positive user experience.

Telemedicine Tools

Telemedicine has revolutionized the healthcare industry, allowing patients and doctors to connect via virtual visits from anywhere. Medical assistants are often the first point of contact for patients, as they set up appointments, guide them through using video platforms, and double-check that all points of the visit run smoothly. Moreover, they may be instructed to take notes; additionally, they will share EHRs with doctors in real-time.As the use of these tools continues to grow, medical assistants must become comfortable with this technology.

Portable Medical Devices

With the ease of patients obtaining portable medical devices, such as fitness trackers, heart monitors, and glucose sensors, healthcare is becoming more personalized and data-centric. These medical technologies allow patients to track their health and share key information with their providers. Medical assistants help collect, organize, and understand these data points, aiding doctors in making informed decisions and monitoring patient progress.

Benefits and Challenges of Medical Technology

As with any new medical technology advances, these offer benefits and challenges for medical assistants.

Benefits:

• Make daily office tasks less time-consuming, allowing medical assistants to focus on building better patient relationships
• Enable greater patient data accuracy
• Builds medical technology skills, which can open the door to more career prospects

Challenges:

• Adaption of these advancements brings new learning curves
• Medical assistants may struggle to find the balance between technology and the empathic side of patient care
• Cybersecurity is an issue consistently plaguing all technology, and medical assistants are tasked to keep all data secure

Learn About Medical Technology Advances and more at Ayers Career College

Throughout Ayers Career College’s Medical Assistant training program, students will not only learn about the various medical technology advances, but also gain insights into all facets of the medical assistant career. Our method of combined classroom and hands-on experiences fully prepare students for their future in the medical industry. Our small class sizes allow for personalized attention and focus with our experienced instructors and staff.

We understand that pursuing your education is an important investment. This is why we offer financial aid programs to fit your needs and help make your goals more accessible. Our job placement assistance supports you every step of the way, from training to landing a position. With connections to employers in the healthcare industry, we’ll help you take the next step toward your career.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by – contact us today to get scheduled for our next class!