What Experts Say About the Safety of Medical Assisting

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While Medical Assisting is a rewarding career with longevity, it's important to keep in mind that most healthcare professions come with a set of risks. These job-related risks can affect both Medical Assistants and their patients (if not both at the same time). Your Medical Assistant training might not be enough to prepare you for certain real-world scenarios.

To gain a better understanding of what you might encounter in the field, read the below list about staying safe while working in healthcare.

Infectious Agents:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare workers have a high risk of contact with infectious diseases. This is largely due to their job duties, interactions with patients, and greater opportunities for contamination. To limit your risk, follow proper protocols and frequently wash your hands.

Chemical Hazards:

The CDC also lists hazardous chemicals as a risk for healthcare professionals. Many are present in various healthcare settings, as they can be used to treat patients. Some examples of this include antineoplastic drugs, aerosolized medications, and anesthetic gases. Other hazardous chemicals are used to sterilize work areas, medical supplies, and instruments. As with most items on this list, it's important to follow the procedures that are in place.

Physical Hazards:

Because you may assist or help move patients, it's important to remember that musculoskeletal disorders are a concern in occupational healthcare. Additionally, some patients can unintentionally pose a risk. If they are disoriented, they may push, shove, or fall on top of a healthcare worker. Once again, you'll want to know and follow proper protocol in case you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

Work Stress:

The CDC cites work stress as another potential risk for healthcare professionals. They explain that online, multimedia, and interactive training can help workers cope with the stresses of shift work and long hours. If you would prefer less hours, or a less chaotic situation, it might be worthwhile to explore various specialties in healthcare. For instance, a job in geriatrics could be a great choice for those that would like to avoid chaos.

Scope of Practice Adherence:

As a Medical Assistant, it's important to remember your qualifications. While you fill a critical role in healthcare, you should not give advice or direction that you are not qualified to give. It may be tempting to do so, especially if you have a close rapport with your patients, but it's vital that you refrain from doing so. Instead, you can reiterate or help explain what a doctor or nurse has already relayed to the patient. If they have more questions, kindly direct them to their physician.

Proper Procedures:

On the job, be sure to properly sterilize equipment and dispose of waste. Even slight contamination can pose significant risk to a patient. It is essential that you follow proper cleaning procedures and dispose of any devices that should only be used once. Not only could poorly prepared equipment harm patients, but it could also spread disease to you and other healthcare workers.

Accurate Information:

To protect your patient as well as your job, it is imperative that you be accurate while recording medical history, filling out official forms, updating charts, etc. Be sure to write legibly and include any relevant information. If you have information that may not be entirely accurate, always consult with a physician to ensure everyone's safety. If you think about it, failing to adequately record symptoms or test results could lead to an incorrect diagnosis. It could even lead to a serious illness being overlooked.

As a Medical Assistant, your primary goal should be to protect your patient's safety as well as your own. Medical Assistant training will help you prepare for the reality of the job, but there are certain real-world scenarios that may still come as a surprise. In those situations, remember to prioritize everyone's safety by following the proper protocols.

While there are risks inherent to healthcare settings, the rewards are often too invaluable to put in words.