When you take a medical assisting training program, most of the time, the school will include an unpaid externship as part of the program. One reason for the externship is you must have a certain amount of hands-on clock hours to take the certification exam. The unpaid externship is also a way for you to get experience in a real medical facility, learn how they do things, meet medical professionals in your area, and potentially receive a job offer.
Usually the training school will place students in an externship with a medical facility because they have ongoing relationships with medical offices and healthcare facilities in their city. Once you have the initial meeting with the externship facility scheduled, here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of your time.
Before the Externship Interview
Most of the time, before your externship begins, you will interview with the facility. Treat this as you would a traditional job interview. Some steps to take, prior to and during the interview:
- Research the medical facility, be prepared.
- Find out about the organization, what is their mission statement? Who do they primarily serve?
- Get your resume organized, they will look at this, plus it shows you are a professional and taking your time at their facility seriously.
At the Externship Interview
Put your phone on silent and be present and attentive. Take it seriously and be professional. Be early, if possible. First impressions mean a lot.
Ask questions, it shows you are interested in their organization. It shows you are curious and trying to learn as much as possible about the healthcare industry and office dynamics.
Remember that an externship is like an ongoing interview, they are watching to see if they want to hire you when they have an opening. They will especially look at how you work with other people.
During the Externship, Be on Time Every Day
Not only be on time but don’t call out sick during your externship. This is your beginning period with them, they are observing what kind of employee you will be.
Prepare for Anything
Brush up on the procedures you’ve learned during your medical assisting training. When you do your externship, take a small notebook or sticky notes to write down anything you want to note.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The externship facility knows you are there to learn and get hands-on experience. It shows initiative to ask questions about things you don’t know or are unsure about.
You Will Shadow Other Medical Assistants
Your externship might have you helping out in a hospital, clinic, physician’s office, rehab facility, retirement home or one of many other places. When working with medical professionals on your externship, learn what they do, how they do it, and why they do it a particular way. Depending on the location, you may be tasked with doing a particular job, such as recording patient information or drawing blood, or a combination of clinical and/or administrative duties.
Administrative duties may include:
- Welcoming patients and answering the phone
- Setting appointments
- Overseeing patients’ medical records
- Supervising patients’ insurance information
- Organizing necessary information, such as hospital admissions and laboratory services
- Handling correspondence
Clinical duties may include:
- Preparing patients for medical examinations
- Drawing blood
- Removing sutures and changing dressings
- Performing basic laboratory exams
- Writing down medical histories
- Assisting the doctor during exams
- Instructing patients about medications and special diets they may need
When you’re working in an actual healthcare facility, you will likely “shadow” (follow) a professional who is already working in the field. This might be a doctor, nurse, lab technician or even another medical assistant. This is an opportunity to observe, take notes and apply what you learned in school in a real-world situation – working on real patients. Don’t worry; your supervisor will be there to guide you. You may also be invited to attend staff meetings and/or conferences. All told, you’ll learn about all aspects of the business and what goes on in healthcare facilities.
Empathy is a Big Part of Your Job
Pay attention to patients, they are all different, they are not all the same, and showing empathy will help you be a good medical assistant. Empathy is particularly important because people react differently to being sick, some are stressed, some are stoic, some don’t want to take time off work.
A medical assistant is the first person they see at their appointment, and you set the tone for their visit. Offer camaraderie and comfort to the patient, part of your role is to be a reassuring patient advocate.
Each Facility is Different
Pay attention to their procedures and the way they do things. They may have a slightly different system for seeing patients than you learned in class. That’s okay, this is a learning experience. Every medical facility and every workplace will be lightly different, but the important thing is to show up ready to learn and be part of the team.
Show up to Learn
Take notes, watch and observe, learn from people who do it every day. Be teachable and see how it is done in the field. Be humble and let the veterans teach you. Every medical office is a little different, and the experienced medical professionals can give you tips on how to succeed in your role as a medical assistant.
Show Initiative, Stay Busy
If you see small things that need to be done, such as tidying up the waiting area, or cleaning the examination rooms, just do them so you look proactive. Don’t wait to be told to do every little thing, be useful. See what you can do next, don’t sit still or be idle. Also, keep your phone in your pocket unless you are told to take a break. Show up to work and to learn. You’re there to make a good impression and show the medical office you are easy to work with and an asset to their team.
Be a Good Teammate
During your externship, observe the roles that each team member plays in the medical facility. Take note of the office dynamics, and how each person contributes to ensure the patients’ appointments run smoothly. Do your best to show you are a helpful person and are willing to play your part in providing medical care to patients.
If They Make a Job Offer, Consider It
The demand for medical assistants is high right now and projected to stay high for the next few years. It’s okay to take a job and get experience and look for another job if this one does not meet your expectations. Of course, if the pay or logistics don’t make sense, then you can say no to a job offer, but if your externship facility makes an offer, give it some consideration. It’s easier to find a job if you already have a job, and getting some work experience on your resume will make it much easier to land your next position.
Become a Certified Medical Assistant and Start Your New Career
If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, Campus Sacramento, formerly MTI College, offers a Medical Assisting program that will help you become certified in about 36 weeks. We also offer a combined Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy certificate program that lasts about 48 weeks. You can start your career in healthcare in less than a year. For more information on start dates, financial aid, or anything else, contact our friendly Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.