Medical assistants work alongside physicians and other healthcare professionals in clinics, medical offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. They are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, which may vary depending on the healthcare setting, location, size, specialty, and state law. Some of the common administrative duties of medical assistants include answering phones, scheduling appointments, greeting patients, updating medical records, and handling prescription refill requests. On the other hand, clinical duties may include taking medical histories, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, assisting physicians during examinations, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, and administering medications under the direct supervision of a physician or other healthcare professional. Medical assistants also serve as patient liaisons, helping patients feel at ease in the physicians office and often explaining the physicians instructions. They may also be part of the patient-centered medical home team, which is a team-based model of care that emphasizes coordinated and comprehensive care. Medical assistants typically need postsecondary education, such as a certificate, and some may learn through on-the-job training. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $38,270 in May 2022, and employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.