What Do Primary Care Medical Assistants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for primary care medical assistants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what primary care medical assistants do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Primary Care Medical Assistants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about primary care medical assistants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Primary Care Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
Popular Job Titles For Primary Care Medical Assistants
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Medical Assistants
- Certified Medical Assistants
- Primary Care Medical Assistants
- Clinic Medical Assistants
- Family Medicine Medical Assistants
- Pediatric Medical Assistants
- Certified Medication Aides/Certified Medical Assistants
- Urgent Care Medical Assistants
- Bilingual Medical Assistants
- Dermatology Medical Assistants
- Ophthalmic Assistants
- Cardiology Medical Assistants
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for primary care medical assistants can be found.
Best Industries for Primary Care Medical Assistants
Primary Care Medical Assistants Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Physicians: 55.3%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 12.1%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 9%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 7.8%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 2.5%
- Employment Services: 2%
- Other: 11.3%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of primary care medical assistants can be found working in the Offices of Physicians sector. In 2023, about 55.3% of all jobs for primary care medical assistants were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (12.1%), Outpatient Care Centers (9%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (7.8%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (2.5%) and Employment Services (2%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Primary Care Medical Assistants
Tackle the complexities of the healthcare industry and advance your career with a transfer-friendly 100% online bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Certificates & Microcredentials for Primary Care Medical Assistants
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 5-6 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Do Primary Care Medical Assistants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what primary care medical assistants do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work primary care medical assistants do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that primary care medical assistants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for primary care medical assistants, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Primary Care Medical Assistants
Based on 299,458 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Primary Care Medical Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistance | 240,498 | 80% |
| Vital Signs | 147,095 | 49% |
| Medical Records | 102,641 | 34% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 76,275 | 25% |
| Phlebotomy | 75,705 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Primary Care Medical Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 108,817 | 36% |
| Customer Service | 79,187 | 26% |
| Clerical Works | 64,097 | 21% |
| Scheduling | 60,965 | 20% |
| Computer Literacy | 39,549 | 13% |
Based on 299,458 job postings related to primary care medical assistants, medical assistance was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 80% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for vital signs, medical records, electronic medical record, phlebotomy and patient preparation were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for primary care medical assistants, followed by customer service, clerical works, scheduling, computer literacy and administrative functions.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistance | 240,498 | 80% |
| Vital Signs | 147,095 | 49% |
| Medical Records | 102,641 | 34% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 76,275 | 25% |
| Phlebotomy | 75,705 | 25% |
| Patient Preparation | 66,475 | 22% |
| Intravenous Therapy | 64,430 | 22% |
| Electrocardiography | 62,197 | 21% |
| Medical Terminology | 46,942 | 16% |
| Nursing | 45,323 | 15% |
| Setting Appointments | 42,659 | 14% |
| Medical Prescription | 41,679 | 14% |
| Medical History Documentation | 40,210 | 13% |
| Patient Flow | 39,549 | 13% |
| Medication Administration | 39,179 | 13% |
| Laboratory Testing | 36,967 | 12% |
| Infection Control | 29,143 | 10% |
| Blood Pressure | 29,126 | 10% |
| Sterilization | 28,536 | 10% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 26,467 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 108,817 | 36% |
| Customer Service | 79,187 | 26% |
| Clerical Works | 64,097 | 21% |
| Scheduling | 60,965 | 20% |
| Computer Literacy | 39,549 | 13% |
| Administrative Functions | 36,805 | 12% |
| Management | 35,504 | 12% |
| Operations | 32,967 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 30,364 | 10% |
| Detail Oriented | 30,333 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 25,321 | 8% |
| Writing | 23,157 | 8% |
| Professionalism | 22,731 | 8% |
| English Language | 21,464 | 7% |
| Coordinating | 21,259 | 7% |
| Filing | 20,955 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 20,802 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 20,300 | 7% |
| Organizational Skills | 20,173 | 7% |
| Teamwork | 18,123 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Primary Care Medical Assistants
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 342,825 | 61.3% |
| Certified Medical Assistants | 54,122 | 9.7% |
| Primary Care Medical Assistants | 18,771 | 3.4% |
| Clinic Medical Assistants | 14,720 | 2.6% |
| Family Medicine Medical Assistants | 14,634 | 2.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was medical assistants, with 114,355 unique job postings. Certified medical assistants were second, with 6,287 postings, followed by primary care medical assistants, clinic medical assistants and family medicine medical assistants.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to primary care medical assistants.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 342,825 | 61.3% |
| Certified Medical Assistants | 54,122 | 9.7% |
| Primary Care Medical Assistants | 18,771 | 3.4% |
| Clinic Medical Assistants | 14,720 | 2.6% |
| Family Medicine Medical Assistants | 14,634 | 2.6% |
| Pediatric Medical Assistants | 10,586 | 1.9% |
| Certified Medication Aides/Certified Medical Assistants | 13,139 | 2.3% |
| Urgent Care Medical Assistants | 10,828 | 1.9% |
| Bilingual Medical Assistants | 9,783 | 1.7% |
| Dermatology Medical Assistants | 8,928 | 1.6% |
| Ophthalmic Assistants | 9,195 | 1.6% |
| Cardiology Medical Assistants | 6,983 | 1.2% |
| Clinical Assistants | 6,830 | 1.2% |
| Patient Care Assistants | 7,815 | 1.4% |
| Back Office Medical Assistants | 6,328 | 1.1% |
| Clinical Laboratory Assistants | 6,884 | 1.2% |
| Medical Administrative Assistants | 5,975 | 1.1% |
| Lead Medical Assistants | 3,770 | 0.7% |
| Medical Assistants/Medical Receptionists | 3,593 | 0.6% |
| Endocrinology Medical Assistants | 3,497 | 0.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for primary care medical assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for primary care medical assistants.
How much do primary care medical assistants make?
Primary Care Medical Assistants: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.