What Do Medical Technicians Do?
Medical technicians play a crucial role in the healthcare industry. They provide reliable support while completing tasks like performing diagnostic tests. In this article, we’ll review the typical responsibilities of most people in this field.
Laboratory Testing
Doctors typically order laboratory testing to diagnose specific ailments or determine a patient’s health. For example, doctors often request a test to determine a person’s white blood cell count to determine if they have an infection. A technician usually does not obtain the specimens, like urine or blood, for testing. However, they do conduct the testing, analyze the results, and have to operate the medical equipment necessary to do this job.
Analyzing Results
After conducting the tests, the technician will analyze the results. They’ll observe what a standard range is and what is considered abnormal. For example, the creatin level of an adult male has a standard range that can go as high as 1.7 and be considered normal. Individuals with one kidney or conditions like diabetes often have higher creatine levels. A technician will consider these factors and the usual range when analyzing results.
Communicating
Communicating with team members is crucial to working as a medical technician. A person in this role must communicate with others in the lab and share equipment. They must communicate results to doctors or someone in a medical administration position efficiently and effectively. This technician must also utilize technology to communicate and document lab testing results accurately.
Administration Position
Sometimes, a medical technician will work with administrators to further their career. According to LinkedIn, Being a medical technician requires an associate’s degree, two years of schooling. Some technicians advance their education to be eligible for a medical administration position. However, some facilities need experience for this position, so a technician may do more than this role to further their career.
Specialization Areas
Some medical technicians choose to further their careers by specializing in a particular field, like hematology. This lets them conduct more complex testing in these specific areas. Medical technicians often require additional coursework and experience to specialize in a particular field. However, those that choose this route usually work in specialty clinics or medical centers where their expertise is valuable.
Many medical centers contact local staffing agencies to fill roles in the healthcare setting, from medical technicians to a medical administration position. For more information on healthcare staffing, call or email us today.
Posted August 16, 2023
