Patient care in any setting is a team effort. Healthcare professionals work collectively to provide patients with the highest quality care. Their efforts are intended to address specific medical conditions and improve the well-being of patients.
Emergency rooms are unique medical environments that require highly qualified healthcare professionals. Medical assisting is a key aspect of an emergency room team. Individuals in this role must possess specific skills and traits.
Prism Career Institute offers healthcare-related training programs, including a Medical Assistant program, at our campuses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Here, we discuss the position of emergency medical assistant and what it takes to excel in that role.
What Is an Emergency Medical Assistant?
When you think of an emergency room, you often don’t think about medical assistants. However, emergency room medical assistants are tasked with a wide range of duties and are vital in keeping patients stable as they wait to be seen by the doctor.
The responsibilities of an emergency medical assistant will depend on the specific needs of the patient, but they generally involve the following duties:
- Measuring patients’ vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration rate, as well as monitoring them at regular intervals to confirm patients’ health
- Documenting important patient information regarding their visit including symptoms, family medical history, and treatment plans so the information is available to other members of the healthcare team
- Collecting samples for lab testing
- Administering medications as directed by the physician
- Preparing patients for X-rays or other diagnostic tests
- Informing patients of their condition and explaining the procedures of any medical services they may receive
- Assisting other members of the healthcare team with patient care during examinations and procedures
The Skills Needed for Emergency Medical Assisting
Medical assisting in any healthcare environment requires the necessary qualities to perform the job successfully. Medical assisting in an emergency room is no exception. To perform their duties, emergency medical assistants must possess the following traits:
- Detailed oriented: Emergency medical assistants must be precise when taking vital signs or recording patient information to ensure they receive the appropriate care.
- Ability to work under pressure: Emergency room settings can often be hectic. Therefore, emergency room medical assistants must be able to remain calm under pressure.
- Interpersonal skills: Working with a health care team, emergency medical assistants must be able to accurately discuss patient information with other medical personnel.
- Multi-task: To provide patients with the care they need, medical assistants must be able to perform multiple tasks at once.
- Technical skills: Individuals in this role must know how to perform basic patient care from the direction of the physician.
- Analytical skills: Emergency medical assistants must comprehend and follow medical charts and diagnoses.
Career Advantages for Emergency Medical Assistants
Individuals who choose to pursue the role of emergency medical assistant are rewarded with several advantages, making it a desirable profession. The benefits of being an emergency medical assistant include:
Occupational Security
Medical assistants are in high demand in every healthcare setting. Experts estimate the role is projected to grow 14% through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Job Mobility
Because medical assistants are in such high demand, they have the luxury of choosing where they wish to work. Emergency room medical assistants can find work anywhere in the United States, and often have their choice of hospitals.
Begin Your Pursuit at Prism Career Institute
Emergency medical assisting offers a rewarding career in a fast-paced environment. Those wishing to pursue this position must first receive proper education. At Prism Career Institute, we offer a Medical Assistant program at our locations in Philadelphia, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and West Atlantic City, NJ. Our program can help aspiring workers break into this specialty, although additional licensure is required to begin employment after graduation.
We are pleased to offer our Medical Assistant program during the day and at night to better accommodate the lives of our students. The convenience allows people who already have jobs or family obligations to further their education on their own time. Eligible students seeking assistance with school finances can take advantage of our financial aid opportunities.
To learn more about what it means to be an emergency medical assistant and how we can assist you in your pursuit, contact us or apply online today.