Which of the following is NOT a typical responsibility of a medical assistant?

A medical assistant plays an integral role in the healthcare setting, primarily focused on supporting healthcare providers and ensuring that operations run smoothly. Among the typical responsibilities of a medical assistant are taking vital signs, assisting with patient examinations, and scheduling appointments. These tasks require a range of clinical and administrative skills that medical assistants are trained to perform.

Taking vital signs, such as measuring blood pressure, temperature, and pulse, is a fundamental duty of a medical assistant, enabling them to provide essential information to healthcare providers about a patient’s condition. Assisting with patient examinations encompasses preparing the examination room, positioning patients, and sometimes aiding physicians during procedures, which is crucial for effective patient care. Scheduling appointments involves coordinating patient visits and managing the provider's calendar, key aspects of maintaining the flow of a medical practice.

However, prescribing medications falls outside the scope of a medical assistant's responsibilities. This task is reserved for licensed healthcare providers, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants, who have the necessary training and legal authority to make clinical decisions regarding treatment and medication management. Thus, the action of prescribing medications is not a typical responsibility of a medical assistant.