What Skills are Important for Medical Assistants to Have? Education and training are one aspect of becoming a medical assistant (MA). There are several soft and hard skills that will help you succeed in this rewarding profession. You only get one chance to make the most of your training program. If you are considering enrollment in a medical assisting training program, now is the time to learn the skills you need to succeed in your studies. Practice and perfect those skills now so you don’t miss out on any opportunities later. 3 Essential Soft Skills for Medical Assistants to Learn Soft skills are non-technical skills, like leadership, time management, and teamwork. Even though soft skills are difficult to measure, they can be learned …show more content…
Kindness, patience, understanding, and empathy are the baseline for good bedside manner. Since MAs are often the first-person incoming patients meet, you must understand where they’re coming from. You should have empathy, or the ability to put yourself in their shoes to comfort and prepare them for the next steps. Communication Skills Since MAs interact directly with patients, they must be able to explain and translate complex medical terminology and jargon for non-medical people. Sometimes this is done in stressful, high anxiety situations which is why calm, clear, and reassuring communication is a prerequisite for a successful MA career. It’s a good idea to start practicing your communication skills during your training program. Problem Solving On occasion problems may arise in your training program or on the job. Having finely tuned problem-solving skills can help you take swift action or make the most of an obstacle or difficult situation. You can develop problem-solving skills during your MA program by putting forth your best effort in class projects and critical thinking assignments. 3 Essential Hard Skills for Medical Assistants to