Advanced Educational Topics for Medical Assisting

The Advanced Educational Topics for Medical Assisting defines advanced medical assisting skills and areas of knowledge:

General

Compliance (federal, state, managed care, and regulatory agencies)

  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
  • Employment practices
    • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
    • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • The Joint Commission
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS)
  • Cultural competency

Risk management and safety procedures

  • Patient satisfaction surveys
  • Utilization reviews
  • Chart reviews
  • Site reviews
  • Emergency preparedness planning

Supervisory functions

  • Train/orient employees
  • Conduct performance reviews
  • Maintain personnel records
  • Perform personnel supervision
  • Lead/motivate employees
  • Plan and conduct staff meetings

Computer information systems

  • Create spreadsheets and databases
  • Create computer presentations and graphics
  • Act as EHR super user

Leadership skills (workplace)

  • Plan community health projects
  • Participate in and/or plan board functions, task forces, and committees
  • Mentor colleagues
  • Plan, develop, and conduct continuing education activities

Clinical

Patient care

  • Design telephone/in-person screening algorithms
  • Assist with clinical trials
  • Assist with emergency medical services
  • Provide information about current and new medical technologies
  • Act as patient advocate
  • Perform and/or assist with specialty procedures
  • Assist patient in completion of advanced directives, living wills, durable medical power of attorney
  • Initiate and/or discontinue IV access with appropriate training and supervision as permitted by state law

Administrative

Financial management

  • Manage professional insurance contracts and renewals
  • Develop and maintain fee schedules
  • Process payroll, maintain records, and track benefits
  • Formulate and analyze budgets
  • Prepare periodic reports
  • Implement cost containment strategies
  • Research and negotiate contracts for purchasing professional and medical services
  • Apply accounting principles
  • Manage accounts payable
  • Manage accounts receivable
  • Obtain accurate claims submission through coding
  • Document and maintain accounting and banking records
  • Research and negotiate leases and prices for equipment and supply contracts
  • Identify third-party payers

Develop and implement marketing, communication, and education

  • Analyze demographic data
  • Create materials for target marketing
  • Participate in practice analysis
  • Coordinate plans for practice enhancement, expansion, consolidation, and closure
  • Participate in and coordinate networking opportunities
  • Manage implementation of new products and services
  • Develop patient education materials
  • Develop and maintain personnel policies and procedures manual
  • Generate communications (including press releases, news/feature stories, newsletters)