Medical assisting Administrative and clinical procedures (5e) Chapter 3 Professionalism and success

In this chapter you will learn: Recognize the importance of professionalism in the medical assisting practice, explain the professional behaviors that should be exhibited by medical assistants, model strategies for success in medical assisting education and practice.

Professionalism and Success

3.1 Recognize the importance of

professionalism in the medical assisting practice.

3.2 Explain the professional behaviors that

should be exhibited by medical assistants.

3.3 Model strategies for success in medical

assisting education and practice.

Learning Outcomes

• Profession

• Professionalism

• Professional standards

Professionalism in Medical Assisting

• Areas of competence

‒ Soft skills

Professionalism (cont.)

• Hard skills

– Minimum proficiencies

– Observable

Professionalism (cont.)

• Soft skills

– Characteristics, attributes, or attitudes

– Difficult to observe and evaluate

Apply Your Knowledge

Move to appropriate heading:

Hard Skills Soft Skills

Taking a blood pressure

Professional Behaviors (cont.)

• Persistence

– Determination

– Overcoming obstacles

• Self-Confidence

Professional Behaviors (cont.)

Professional Behaviors (cont.)

Professional Behaviors (cont.)

Professional Behaviors (cont.)

• Relations with others

– Respect and caring

Cultural Diversity

• Increase your awareness of diversity

• Increase your awareness of your own

feelings

• Look at individuals

Patient Advocacy

• Understand your scope of practice

• Be professional in relationships

• Communicate well

Professional Behaviors

• Work Quality

– Strive for

excellence – Be flexible

• Punctuality and Attendance

– Be on time – Work when scheduled

Apply Your Knowledge

ability to learn, retain, and process information

belief in oneself critical thinking

Match behavior with description:

5 2 4 6 8 1 7 3

Strategies for Success

• Critical thinking

– Evaluating

– Problem solving

– Taking action

Problem Solving

• Identify the problem

• Identify the effect of the problem

• Identify objective

Problem Solving (cont.)

• Identify solutions and strategies

• Analyze solutions and strategies

• Implement best solution

• Evaluate results

Time Management and Prioritizing

Reducing Stress

• Maintain a health balance in your life

• Exercise regularly

• Eat balanced and nutritious meals

• Avoid caffeine, salt, sugar, and fat

• Get enough sleep

• Allow time for yourself

Reducing Stress (cont.)

• Rely on support of others

• Be realistic about what you can do

• Set realistic goals

• Be organized

• Redirect excess energy constructively

• Change things you have control over

Reducing Stress (cont.)

• Stay focused

• Identify sources of conflict; try to resolve

them

• Learn and use relaxation techniques

• Maintain a healthy sense of humor

• Try not to overreact

• Seek help

What skills do you need to cultivate to be successful

as a medical assistant?

Apply Your Knowledge

ANSWER: critical thinking and problem

solving; time management and prioritizing;

stress management and avoiding burnout.

In Summary

3.1 Professionalism is behavior that exhibits the traits or

features corresponding to the standards of that

Professional behaviors are needed to function at a high

level in medical assisting and produce a good work

ethic

In Summary (cont.)

3.2 Some essential professional behaviors include:

comprehension, persistence, self-confidence,

judgment, organization, integrity, growth,

teamwork, acceptance of criticism, relations

with others, work quality, punctuality and

attendance, professional appearance, and

communication.

In Summary (cont.)

3.3 Strategies for success as a medical assistant

include cultivating your skills, such as critical

thinking and problem solving, time

management and prioritizing, stress

management, and avoiding burnout

Practicing effective strategies can assist you

during your education and employment.

“A professional is a person who can do his best at a time when he doesn’t particularly feel like it.”

—Alistair Cooke

End of Chapter 3