In any business, being professional is important, but it’s especially important as a medical office assistant because they are often the first and last people clients come in contact with when they walk into a healthcare facility. Because the medical profession has such a respected position in society, people have come to hold very high standards in their expectations of healthcare professionals, and that includes medical office assistants. What does it mean to be professional? In the health care profession it has come to mean showing compassion, respect and integrity towards clients.
There is rarely a “typical” day at work for a medical office assistant, so it is often difficult to predict what will happen next. That means medical office assistants must be prepared for anything and with that expectation they must always strive to excel in their profession.
Emergencies are the most stressful situations for people in general, and medical office assistants will encounter emergencies more frequently than other administrative positions. It is important that emergencies are handled calmly so that clients feel comfortable, but they must also be handled efficiently so that clients receive the care they need as quickly as possible. Depending on the type of office a medical assistant works in, clients may have to wait longer than they anticipate and this situation should be handled with kid gloves. That means patience and a tender heart are required.
When people know they can expect the highest standards of professionalism from the medical assistants who speak to them first, they feel safer and more at ease being asked to wait or given instructions on what to do while they wait. If patients know that you have their best interests in mind, they are more likely to feel comfortable following your instructions.
One of the best ways to learn skills and learn about professionalism as a medical office assistant is to receive the proper training at an accredited business school that has a good reputation. Look for a business college that is willing to spend time answering questions and give students the opportunity to apply what they learn in real-life situations.