Delivering High-Quality Primary Care Requires Work That Is Worthwhile for Medical Assistants

Alden Yuanhong Lai, Bram P.I. Fleuren, Christina T. Yuan, Erin E. Sullivan, S. Mark McNeill

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Medical assistants are core members of the primary care team, but health care organizations struggle to hire and retain them amid the ongoing exodus of health care workers as part of the “Great Resignation.” To sustain a stable and engaged workforce of medical assistants, we argue that efforts to hire and retain them should focus on making their work worthwhile. Work that is worthwhile includes adequate pay, benefits, and job security, but additionally enables employees to experience a sense of contribution, growth, social connectedness, and autonomy. We highlight opportunities during team huddles, the rooming of patients, and career development where the work of medical assistants can be made worthwhile. We also connect these components to the work design literature to show how clinic managers and supervising clinicians can promote worthwhile work through decision-making and organizational climate. Going beyond financial compensation, these components target the latent occupational needs of medical assistants and are likely to forge employee-employer relationships that are mutually valued and sustained over time.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)193-199
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2023

Keywords

  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Health Personnel
  • Leadership
  • Medical Assistants
  • Primary Health Care
  • Workforce

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Family Practice

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