Assistants Make A Doctor's Life Go Easier
Rules were proposed because there have been complaints about some of the irregularities in medical assistant certificate distribution, but he declined to specify the nature of the complaints. Browning said she has seen no proof of complaints and points out that 75 percent of malpractice complaints are against doctors, while only 1 percent are against nurses.
Patsy Wilson is a big believer in the Golden Rule. Having worked as a medical assistant with local gynecologist Stanley Dressler, M.D., for the past 30 years, she's had plenty of occasions to put the maxim into practice in clearing a medical assistant certificate .
"I tell people now that if they wake up and feel as if it's not going to be a good day, they'd better take a deep breath and make it a good day, " she said. "Their patients are depending on them."
Mrs. Wilson is taking her philosophy statewide as she carries out her duties as the new president of the Tennessee Society of Medical Assistants, a non-profit professional organization representing medical assistants across the state for medical assistant certificate. She is the sixth Chattanooga area medical assistant to head the group since its formation in 1992. Mrs. Wilson has held a number of offices in the local medical assistants organization, as well as elected positions on the state level. And Mrs. Wilson was named "Medical Assistant of the Year" in 2002 Medical assistants keep physicians' offices running. These health-care professionals are key elements of an efficient and courteous office practice, she said. "We're the first person a patient sees when they come to the office. We help make or break that first impression," she explained. "We serve as receptionist, clinical and administrative assistants. We're there to assist doctors in doing what needs to be done to take the best possible care of the patient," she added. Today medical assistants can choose to specialize in clinical or administrative areas. But most are cross-trained to fulfill responsibilities of both functions. There are educational programs for medical assistants, such as the one at Chattanooga State, but much of the training is gotten "on the job," she said. Her career in health care dates back to 1992 when she completed a program at Edmondson Business School and it was "safe to walk from Cherry Street to Erlanger, where we took our lab and terminology courses," she said with a smile. Her first job was in medical records at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton. In 1965, she joined Dr. Dressler in his practice. To be a successful medical assistant, "you've got to be a real "people person,' someone who is compassionate and patient; someone who will treat patients as they would want their spouses, parents or children treated," Mrs. Wilson said.
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