Medical Assistant Professionalism and Respect for Patients

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Review important medical assistant responsibilities, concepts and skills! If you are contemplating or planning a career working as a medical assistant we  provide a creative look behind the scenes to help you evaluate your interests. Visit the New Medical Assistant .com website and evaluate your interests.

Medical Assistant Professionalism

Nowhere is the need for professional commitment and personal integrity as great as in the health care profession. While professionalism is certainly difficult to define, it encompasses several distinct criteria such as respect, competency and dedication. In the medical office where doctors, nursing staff and medical assistants are constantly dealing with people and their illnesses a medical assistant must develop and maintain personal traits that foster and promote a good rapport, trust, respect and performance.

People Knowledge and Mature Judgement

People knowledge, empathy and mature judgment must guide the care provided to any patient. This is especially crucial when the care involves touching. As a member of the health care team, medical assistants are responsible for providing complete, quality care to those who need and seek their service. This care must also be provided in a manner compatible with their patient's mental abilities, tolerance and intellectual capabilities.

1.) Common sense dictates that when medical assistants care for a patient, sensitivity to both verbal and nonverbal communication is paramount. Remember: a grin, a frown, or an expression of surprise may all be misinterpreted by the patient.

2.) Explanations and reassurances will go far in preventing misunderstandings of actions or intentions.

Religion and Nonreligious Beliefs

A large majority of people have some form of belief system that guides many of their life decisions and to which they turn to in times of distress. Medical assistants must accept the religious or nonreligious beliefs of others as valid for them, even if they personally disagree with such beliefs.

A person's religious beliefs frequently helps them give meaning to suffering and illness; those beliefs may also be helpful in the acceptance of future incapacities or death. Although medical assistants may offer religious support when asked and should always provide chaplain referrals when requested or indicated, it is not ethical for medical assistants to abuse their patients by forcing their beliefs (or non-beliefs) upon them. Medical assistants must respect their freedom of choice, offering their support for whatever a patient's needs, desires and religious beliefs may be.

To learn more about the medical assisting career please visit Medical Assistant NET on the Web.