MARWeek, or Medical Assistants Recognition Week, is usually held during the third full week in October. Medical assistants play a critical role in healthcare facilities, providing essential support to physicians and other healthcare professionals. Meant to formally acknowledge the key contributions of medical assistants, MARWeek has been celebrated since the 1980s.
Let’s take a closer look at MARWeek, and what it means to acknowledge the efforts of medical assistants in the healthcare industry. Interested in a career as a medical assistant? Become the cornerstone of medical facilities everywhere by finding medical assistant training near you.
What Do Medical Assistants Do?
The job of a medical assistant is both clinical and clerical. Medical assistants work with patients to record patient history, take vitals, draw blood or conduct other tests, and to assist physicians with any other needed procedures. In addition to patient-facing responsibilities, medical assistants also handle appointment scheduling, medical record keeping, ordering inventory, and sometimes even coordinating insurance.
They pretty much are a jack of all trades when it comes to keeping patients healthy and happy, and supporting the smooth operation of any healthcare setting. Acknowledging their contributions can go a long way in career satisfaction, and employee retention.
The History of MARWeek
MARWeek was established by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) in the 1980s. This week of recognition was not only intended to boost MA morale, but also to promote the profession of MAs, and to highlight the critical role they play in a healthcare setting.
Learn more about the job of medical assistants by checking out this career page!
Ways to Thank Medical Assistants
Whether you’re a patient, or in the healthcare industry yourself, there are many ways to show the MAs in your life some appreciation. Of course, many of these gestures can overlap one another.
If you’re a patient, for instance, you could write a short letter of appreciation for the medical assistant taking care of you. If you’re really wowed by the care you’ve received, take a moment to call the office and mention the medical assistant by name. Shout-outs like these can truly make a difference in an MA’s career.
If you’re in the medical field and know some MAs personally, gifts that are more personal could also be the way to go. For instance, you could give a gift card to a coffee shop, restaurant, or breakfast place you know the MA likes. Especially since many MAs start their day early, a morning treat can make for a very enjoyable shift ahead.
Other gifts an MA might like are scrub pins, personalized mugs or thermoses, comfortable slippers or socks, or even customized badge holders.
The Bottom Line? Thank you, Medical Assistants, for Your Dedication and Care!
Many factors make medical assistants key players on any healthcare team. The versatility of their knowledge, abilities, along with clinical and clerical skills, positively impact patients and fellow professionals alike.
We hope that every MA out there enjoys a happy and fun MARWeek!
Does the multifaceted and highly-skilled job of a medical assistant sound like something you’d enjoy as a career? We’re connected with great schools across the country offering excellent medical assisting programs. Take the first step by connecting with a school in your area!
