Medical assistants are unlicensed healthcare professionals who work in clinics, medical offices, and hospitals to assist doctors and other healthcare providers. Their duties vary depending on the healthcare setting, but typically include both administrative and clinical tasks. Some of the tasks that medical assistants may perform include:

Administrative duties:

• Answering phones and scheduling appointments
• Greeting patients and their families
• Filing and updating medical records
• Discussing prescription and dietary changes with patients
• Dispensing medications
• Handling prescription refill requests
• Removing stitches or changing wound dressings

Clinical duties:

• Taking medical histories from patients and recording their vital signs
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients
• Preparing patients for examinations
• Assisting the physician during examinations
• Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
• Performing basic laboratory tests
• Administering medications under the direction of a physician

Its important to note that the specific duties of medical assistants may vary based on state laws and regulations. In New York State, for example, there are certain tasks that are not allowed to be performed by unlicensed persons such as medical assistants, including administering medications through any route, taking x-rays, and inserting or removing IVs or catheters of any kind.

Medical assistants typically work under the direct supervision of a physician or other healthcare provider, and their work helps to ensure that healthcare facilities run efficiently. They may work in a variety of healthcare settings, including clinics, medical offices, and hospitals.