Crafting a Strong Medical Assistant Letter of Recommendation

Getting a great letter of recommendation is crucial for medical assistants looking to advance their careers A well-written letter can help demonstrate your skills, experience, and character to future employers This comprehensive guide will provide tips for medical assistants on how to get excellent reference letters.

Who Should Write Your Medical Assistant Letter of Recommendation

Choosing the right person to write your letter of recommendation is the first step. Good options include:

• Former or current supervising physician you worked closely with. They can highlight your clinical skills.

• Office manager or administrator you reported to They can detail your administrative abilities,

• Supervisor from externships or volunteer work. They can discuss your competencies.

• Coworkers like nurses, lab techs, or fellow medical assistants. They can provide insight into your teamwork skills.

• College instructors for externships or clinical rotations. They can talk about your education and training.

• Avoid personal friends or family members. Also be cautious asking recent acquaintances, as they may not know you well enough.

Select recommenders who can speak to your talents and qualifications. Check if they feel comfortable writing you a positive letter. Give them at least one month’s notice to write a thoughtful letter.

What to Include in a Request for Your Medical Assistant Reference

After choosing your recommender, you’ll need to make a formal request for their medical assistant reference letter. Here are some tips on what to include:

• Refresh their memory on when and how you worked together and your key accomplishments. Provide a current resume.

• Give them specifics on your future career goals and what qualities they should highlight (clinical care, administrative skills, etc).

• Provide details on where to submit the letter. Include any forms or requirements from employers.

• Ask if they can meet the deadline. Offer to provide stamped/addressed envelopes to make the process easy.

• Thank them for supporting your career growth. Let them know you appreciate their time and effort.

Providing these details will help the recommender write the most personalized and compelling letter possible.

How to Help Your Recommenders Write a Strong Letter

You want to make the writing process as simple as possible for your recommender. Here are some tips:

• Offer to provide an outline or draft. This gives them a template to work from. But make sure the final letter uses their own words.

• Prepare a list of your responsibilities and accomplishments as a reminder. Quantify your achievements with stats when possible.

• Refresh their memory on specific situations that demonstrate your skills. Remind them of patient interactions or projects you worked on together.

• Send your resume, transcripts, letters of appreciation from patients/colleagues and performance reviews. These will jog their memory.

• Give them at least one month to complete the letter. Check in politely if it is getting close to the deadline.

Helping provide clear details and resources will allow them to vividly recall their experience working with you. This enables a detailed, enthusiastic letter.

Key Elements to Include in a Medical Assistant Letter of Recommendation

A compelling letter of recommendation should highlight an array of your personal and professional abilities. Be sure your letter includes:

• How long the recommender supervised/worked with you and in what capacity. If they are a medical provider, note their specialty.

• Include one sentence on your current job search. For example: “Jill is applying for a Certified Medical Assistant position at Community Health Center.”

Clinical Skills

• Ability to take vital signs, give injections, perform venipuncture, EKGs, and phlebotomy.

• Accuracy in recording patient histories and documenting in charts.

• Knowledge of medical terminology, medications, and lab testing.

• Compliance with clinical policies, quality assurance, and safety standards.

• Bedside manner and developing rapport with patients.

Administrative Skills

• Handling phones, scheduling appointments, verifying insurance eligibility.

• Managing patient records, filing, entering data efficiently.

• Collecting payments, billing and medical coding.

• Ordering supplies and vaccines, keeping exam rooms stocked.

Soft Skills and Attitude

• Strong teamwork, collaboration, and communication abilities.

• Professionalism in dealing with providers, patients and staff.

• Reliability, integrity, and willingness to learn.

• Compassionate, organized, detail-oriented.

Standout Accomplishments

• Specific examples of how you improved office efficiency or patient outcomes.

• Projects you spearheaded or protocols you developed.

• Notable performance reviews or patient letters praising your care.

• Summary of your strengths as a medical assistant.

• Statement on how you would be an asset to your future employer.

• Enthusiasm in recommending you without reservation.

• Contact info if they have additional questions.

This comprehensive outline touches on all aspects of being an exceptional medical assistant.

Medical Assistant Letter of Recommendation Template and Examples

It can be helpful to provide your recommender with a template letter or sample letters of recommendation for inspiration.

Template

Date

To Whom It May Concern:

I highly recommend Jane Doe as a medical assistant. I first met Jane when she began working at my family medicine practice in March 2018. In the two years Jane worked with us, I directly supervised her clinical work and collaborated with her daily in caring for patients.

Jane always demonstrated top-notch clinical skills. Her technique for venipuncture, injections, and EKGs resulted in minimal discomfort for patients. She accurately documented medical histories, vital signs, SOAP notes and medications. Jane strictly followed protocols for sterilization of instruments and proper handling of samples. Her diligence helped our office avoid any clinical incidents.

Just as importantly, Jane excelled in her administrative duties. She handled a challenging multi-line phone system with professionalism and efficiency. Her warm demeanor always put patients at ease when scheduling appointments or inquiring about test results. Jane mastered our EHR system quickly and kept meticulous digital and written records. Her organization of the sample log and vaccine fridge optimized our inventory management.

On a personal level, Jane is a joy to work with. Her teamwork and communication skills are excellent. She trained new staff and volunteered for extra projects without complaint. Jane’s integrity, honesty and willingness to learn aresecond to none. I cannot recommend her strongly enough for any medical assistant position she applies for. Please feel free to contact me with any other questions at 123-456-7890 or [email protected].

Sincerely,
[Signature]
John Smith, MD

Excerpt from Sample Letter:

As Dr. Stevens’ medical assistant for the past three years, I have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with Hanna Novak in my orthopedics practice. Hanna joined our team shortly after completing her Medical Assisting certificate. What immediately stood out was her motivation to learn – she asked thoughtful questions and embraced constructive feedback. Hanna sought out opportunities to gain new skills like casting, splinting and taking X-rays. Her willingness to expand her knowledge made her a valuable contributor to delivering orthopedic care.

Excerpt from Sample Letter:

One of Alex’s greatest strengths is his ability to make each patient feel cared for during appointments. He excels at explaining procedures in a reassuring manner. I still recall the grandmother of a seven-year-old who brought her grandson in for a fractured wrist. The boy was very anxious about the splinting process. Alex walked him through each step beforehand and provided distraction during the procedure itself. His empathy put the young patient completely at ease. Alex has an exceptional bedside manner that relieves patients’ stress and discomfort.

Using samples like these can help recommenders write a polished, vivid letter that brings your skills to life.

Medical Assistant Letter of Recommendation Etiquette

It is important to follow proper etiquette when requesting a letter of recommendation. Here are some key tips:

• Give at least one month’s notice, more if possible.

• Explicitly ask if they feel they can write you a positive letter. Do not assume.

• Only ask current/former supervisors who know you well and will remember details.

• Tell recommenders to decline the request if they cannot comfortably endorse you. No need to explain why.

• Do not pressure busy medical providers who may lack the time. Find an alternative.

• Send a thank you card or small gift after they submit the letter. Show your gratitude.

By being considerate and gracious, you encourage recommenders to take the time required to produce an outstanding letter.

How to Store Medical Assistant Letters of Recommendation

• Keep the original copy in a safe location in case employers want to see it. A locked file or safe is ideal.

• Add the recommendation letters to your professional portfolio. This keeps copies handy as you apply for jobs.

• Save electronic and scanned versions on your computer, external hard drive, and cloud storage. This provides backup copies if originals are lost.

• When submitting online, upload recommendation letters in PDF format to preserve formatting.

Properly archiving letters prevents you from misplacing them and makes