As an OB-GYN medical assistant, I often hear that people think our work focuses only on obstetric care. A large part of my role also involves preventive gynecologic care. Throughout the day, I assist with prenatal visits, annual exams, pap smears, birth control counseling, and breast exams.
No two days flow the same way – a walk-in or a longer appointment can shift the whole rhythm – so adapting quickly is as much a part of the job as blood draws, vitals, and room prep.
The Start of My Day
Appointments start at 9:00 am and end at 5:00 pm. My day begins an hour before the first appointment of the day, at 8:00 am, by first reviewing the schedule for the day. The schedule is a mix of:
- Prenatal visits
- New OB visits
- Annual exams
- Preventative screenings
I use this extra hour to mentally prepare for the busy day, especially if multiple new patients are establishing their prenatal care. I also use the beginning of my day to:
- Restock exam rooms, if needed
- Set up the room
- Restock the cabinets with phlebotomy supplies
- Checking the equipment for procedures is readily available in each room
By taking the start of my day to review the schedule, mentally prepare myself, and physically prepare the exam rooms, I set up a successful day.
The Middle of My Day
By midday, the clinic is full of patients coming in for their prenatal visits, annual exams, new OB visits, and gynecological visits. During this time, every minute truly matters.
One minute I’m rooming a patient, taking their vitals, and updating their medical chart. The next minute, we are now 10 minutes behind schedule due to a difficult blood draw. I might be taking vitals when my provider needs me to assist with translation for a Spanish-speaking patient. At the same time, a patient could be waiting for a callback due to an urgent medical question or a pharmacy could be waiting on the line with a question about a patient’s prescription.
Balancing clinical and administrative duties is essential to keeping the day running efficiently – specially making sure patients are brought back promptly and that each one gets my full attention, even during the most hectic stretches. My focus is not only on ensuring the patient has an excellent experience in our office, but for them to continue their care with our clinic. Equally, I am making sure all specimens from blood draws and procedures are labeled with the correct patient information and stored properly.
The End of My Day
As the day comes to an end, I am focused on:
- Making sure the rooms are cleaned
- Lab specimens are sent out
- Patient messages are reviewed
Lab results that are finalized and reviewed by the provider are sent to my inbox for me to call and inform the patient about. Patient messages are answered or sent to the provider to review before I give the patient a call or message back.
Before leaving, I review the schedule for the following day and ask my coworkers if they need any assistance with cleaning their rooms or with lab specimens.
The Hidden Side of Being a Medical Assistant
As an OB-GYN medical assistant, there are patient visits that can involve sensitive topics, such as a miscarriage or positive biopsy result. During these conversations, communication and empathy are essential.
I ask the patient if they need a minute alone, answer questions, and provide them with reassurance. Much of my time is also spent walking to and from rooms back to my desk, and prepping rooms between patients. Just as demanding are the responsibilities of proper specimen handling, charting, and clear communication with the provider.
Properly performing these responsibilities is important as they can directly affect patient care and safety.
My Expectations vs. My Reality
Before becoming an OB-GYN medical assistant, I expected clinical skills such as phlebotomy to be the most challenging. However, communication with the patient, both in person and over the phone or via messages, had its challenges.
I had to learn to communicate lab results to patients in a way they could best understand them, especially for my Spanish-speaking patients.
I was surprised at how rewarding it was to be a part of a patient’s prenatal care and ensure their pregnancy went well. Communication, empathy, adaptability, teamwork, and clinical knowledge are essential in this career.
