The medical office of today requires many different types of clerical equipment in order
to function effectively and smoothly. The role of the medical assistant includes learning
how to evaluate, purchase or lease, operate, and maintain this essential equipment. Think how difficult it would be to communicate with others outside the office
without the use of a communication system, which could include telephones, e-mail,beepers or pagers, answering machines, and fax machines. How limited would a medical practice become if the
recording of the care given to a patient had to done without
the use of a word processor, computer, or typewriter?
What if all patient billing, bank deposits, and payroll management
had to be done without the use of an adding
machine or calculator? Without a shredder, each piece
of confidential paper would have to be torn many times
before discarding. Possibly the most difficult of all tasks
would be the duplication of endless documents by hand
because there is no copy machine! In this chapter you will be learning about the use and
maintenance of many important pieces of administrative
medical office equipment. Additionally, you just might
come away with a new appreciation of the importance
they play in the function of the efficient medical practice. |