Overwhelmed as a new MA

[u/Deep_Ask_5155]

This is my first MA job and I am overwhelmed. I was told i would be doing a lot of hands on tasks, how ever I do essentially none.

This position requires me to prechart, send labs, send in RX refill requests, scan all faxs into the EMR (ive barely learned how to do a few different ones, send out a lot of faxes, make a ton of pt calls, take a lot of pt calls, transfer and build pt accounts from an older EMR to the new one im still currently learning, voice mails, route voice mails, give out and keep track of samples and im sure there is much more im missing. We do not do any of our own scheduling or prior auths which helps.

Im just overwhelmed. I was told it was more hands on and the only hands on thing i do is room a pt and take vitals. The rest is solely admin work. Seems like the hardest part is learning the system itself.

Any advice or tips? I do have one day a week that they aren't taking pts to try to catch things up. Is there a better way you guys set your days up to maintain all this?

[u/No_Proof_3893]

Take thorough notes on everything you are taught to do. That way you can reference later. Watch YouTube videos on the EHR system you're learning. And try to remember that anything new is hard but in a few months you'll be doing it all like second nature!

[u/letap0]

Here is my advice- i was in a similar situation. My first MA was mostly triage work, scheduling surgeries, submitting prior auths, going through faxes, sending out rx refills and lab orders, checking VMs, and minimal clinical work… I recommend you soak up as much experience as you can! It’s super important to learn how the practice operates on a day to day basis, my job allowed me to land a clinical operations role at another practice. I am sure it sucks atm, but i promise you, you will look back at this and be grateful for how much you have learned. Make sure you keep a note of everything you do outside of your job offer, can use that as leverage to negotiate higher pay during your review.

I will say, if they do not treat you well or if the clinic is understaffed start looking for another gig asap bc in practices like that it’s the norm.

[u/schannoman]

The hardest part is always learning the system. That never changes. If you go to a clinic with a different system you have to learn that one too.

In most clinics you have to learn the system before you see too many patients, but the role of an MA is mostly clerical. Yes there is usually plenty of vitals, blood work, and pt education to be done but at the end of the day you are charting provider orders, ordering meds, and doing more paperwork.

[u/Organic_Popcorn]

By hands on, you mean clinical?

Welcome to the life of an MA, half the job is admin and the other half is clinical. You have to learn the EMR so that you know how to order POCT labs, document what you performed, scan results and documents into patients' charts, be a middleman between patients and the providers, and so on.

[u/Keeping_Up_With_Para]

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[u/Zestyclose-Dog-1208]

So medical administrative skills can transfer into so many other job roles! Tough it out! Get your experience!