Table 2. Practice and workplace characteristics during the past three months (n = 550 practice assistants).

Practice characteristics
Practice structure
Working in group practice	296	53.8
Working in single physician practice	147	26.7
Working in practice with several locations	50	9.1
Working in practice with an employed physician	39	7.1
Working in privately owned health center	6	1.1
Medical records
Electronic medical records (EHR)	348	63.3
Paper and electronic records	187	34.0
Practice services
Emergent home visits	515	93.6
Practice offers regular home visits	511	92.9
Nursing home visits*	508	92.4
Tasks of practice assistant during past 3 months
Scheduled appointments	518	94.2
Documented in patients´ EHR	513	93.3
Prepared prescriptions	504	91.6
Pulled up paperhealth records or opened electronic patient files	500	90.9
Performed phone service	499	90.7
Worked at reception	486	88.4
Obtained blood pressure readings	461	83.8
Performed ECGs	430	78.2
Prepared practice equipment for the day and switch them off in the evening	414	75.3
Performed laboratory work	393	71.5
Supported physician during patient-consultations	363	66.0
Supported billing of statutory health insurance patients	358	65.1
Performed disease-management examinations	332	60.4
Applied long-term blood pressure devices*	327	59.5
Ordered medical supply	284	51.6
Applied long-term ECG*	247	44.9
Ordered office supply	239	43.5
Performed treadmill testing	237	43.1
Supported billing of private patients*	236	42.9
Performed doppler examination of foot vessels/measured ankle-arm index*	103	18.7

*Missing values above 5%