GD9 CTW fileÒ  Medical 15, Ú A person who works as a medical assistant takes care of the routine tasks that keep the office or clinic of a doctor running smoothly. These duties will differ from office to office, of course, depending on the location and size of the office. In a small practice, an assistant will serve as a generalist, which means that he or she will take charge of both the administrative and clinical duties and may report directly to the doctor or to an office manager. Medical assistants perform many administrative jobs. They may answer the phone, greet patients, update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms, handle the mail, take care of all appointments, arrange for any hospital admissions and lab services, and handle all of the billing and bookkeeping. They may also buy and maintain supplies and equipment and keep the waiting and examining rooms neat and clean. Clinical duties will vary according to state laws and may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining the treatment to the patients, preparing them for the exam, and helping the doctor during the exam. They may also collect and prepare lab specimens and perform basic lab tests, dispose of used supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They will also talk to patients about their medication and special diets, prepare and give the medicine as directed by a doctor, authorize drug refills as directed, phone in the prescriptions to a drugstore, draw blood, and change dressings.