Pain Medications

I work as a Medical Assistant in a Rheumatologist’s office. One-hundred percent of our patients are chronically ill, and are living with constant often debilitating pain.

Confusion About Medical Assistant's Scope of Practice

I am sure everybody who reads this understands concerns and questions medical assistants have, and the confusion that revolves around the medical assistant's scope of practice.

Fact is, not only are medical assistants confused, so are their supervising physicians, licensed health care practitioners, registered nurses, medical office managers. They, too are not always 100% sure of what tasks can be assigned, or delegated to the medical assistant under their employ. Post after post in our medical assistant web forum proves it!!!

Medical assistants who don't know, or disregard established professional standards and attempt to perform procedures or tasks beyond their training, capabilities, or scope of practice are in danger of exposing themselves, and possibly their employer, and supervisor to serious consequences, and possible liability issues.

When a medical assistant winds up doing tasks they aren't allowed to do, or act independently without permission, or supervision most medical office supervisors react with very harsh measures. Over the years I have seen and heard stories where medical assistants were immediately suspended and dismissed (fired!) without any further counseling, or second chances.

The fear of damaging the office's reputation and the consequences of a malpractice law suit is overwhelming. Where so much is at stake, there just rarely are any second chances, especially when it comes to new staff members where trust has not even been established yet.

Now, don't get me wrong! Often it is not the medical assistant's own fault, or fault alone. Like I said before, even the medical office managers and clinical supervisors are not always sure what the medical assistant is allowed to do.

They realize that it is important to clearly delineate and communicate the medical assistant's role and responsibilities, however, when looking for answers pertaining to the medical assistant's scope of practice in their state, they often don't know where to turn.

For example, many states mandate that anybody performing phlebotomy, EKG and X-ray must have a specific license to do so, and medical assistants who draw blood in California, and those who perform point of care testing in Georgia are required to be certified in that particular skill first.

In closing I want to remind all medical assistants and their instructors and supervisors to make it their top priority to clearly define and communicate rules and regulations that affect medical assistants and medical office staff to promote a healthy and safe work environment, and success.

Medical Assistant Career Guide and Educational Resources

Medical Assistant Website Speaks to Thousands of Medical Assistants

According to the US Department of Labor some of the hottest careers lie in medical assisting. Opportunities in this field abound for men and women alike. In order to succeed they must continuously focus on their career and skill development, and network with their peers to receive help, or inspire others.

Website Provides Medical Assistant Career Guide and Educational Resources

Here is where Danni R. and her website at MedicalAssistant.net come into play. Danni is a former Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), who has worked side-by-side with her peers in different medical offices. As time went on, she also taught the medical assistant curriculum at well respected vocational schools in her community and online. With her broad range of experience, she understands the concerns and struggles of medical assistants and knows the needs of those who are preparing for tests, quizzes, and final exams unlike anyone else.

Today, Danni no longer works in scrubs. Instead, she has traded her scrubs for the proverbial pajamas, since she now develops and manages some of the best known online medical assistant websites and resources right from home. She speaks to thousands of medical assistants coast to coast from a small corner desk in a small home office.

Danni’s relentless efforts have paid off in many ways. Although she seldom gets to know the visitors that surf in daily to MedicalAssistant.net she knows that she reaches each one of them on an individual level to meet their needs.

When asked, whether it bothers her that she never gets to meet the people she touched, Danni says: "I find it rewarding and hope that MedicalAssistant.net will always be there for medical assistants who need a place to come to for advice and support.”

Not only does Danni speak to thousands of medical assistants, she also gives them a voice so they can communicate with eachother in her active active medical assistant web forum, where the motto is: "If medical assistants post, medical assistants will reply!".

Medical Assistant Net 

Announcing: Brand New Medical Assistant Website!

I know! I know!

There already are hundreds of websites dedicated to medical assistants on the Web...

However, we just had to add one more.

A completely redesigned "Advanced Medical Assistant of America" dedicated to the medical assistant has been launched to the Web on 07 July 2008.

We can never have enough medical assistant websites. Read about:

1. Medical Assistant Training
2. Medical Assistant Schools
3. Medical Assistant Certifications

And more!

Who Governs The Medical Assistant's Role?

Physicians, licensed health care practitioners and medical office managers are not always sure of what tasks can be assigned to the medical assistants they supervise.

What is a medical assistant's role?

What qualifications must they have?

Who must be present when they work?

Who can supervise the medical assistant?

Who do they report to?

What can they do?

In the USA it is the Medical Practice Act and the Board of Medical Examiners that govern the practice of medicine to protect the health, safety and well being of citizens. These boards have ruled that physicians are accountable for the actions of medical assistants under their employ. Therefore, the first place to start asking questions regarding the medical assistant's scope of practice is the State Board of Medical Examiners!

One can also check with their State Health Department and national recognized certifying bodies for medical assistants such as AAMA and AMT.

Medical Assistant Net Career Blog Wants You To KNow...

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How To Get Into College

Getting into a college can be an intimidating and scary process. There was a time—maybe 20, or 30 years ago—when students would put in three applications and were accepted into one, or two schools.

Unfortunately, there is NO backdoor in the college admissions process. There’s only the front door, and you either crawl in through the crevices, or you waltz in. That is, if you get in at all. I know it, because I've spent two years researching the complexity of today’s admissions standards.

Know what to expect! You usually get only one chance at it. That's it! It’s up to you to gather whatever information you can in order to compete to get into a matching college.

Find your match! American colleges, and college admissions standards ought to be simple, but today’s admissions process has become a high-stake obstacle course.

To help you with your efforts to find and apply for a college that's right for you I've researched and created this college admissions guide as a guide for any of you considering a tertiary education at one of America’s 2,400+ four-year undergraduate colleges (instead of a vocational education and training program).

Admissions-Guide.info

5 Tips for Becoming a Fast-Learning Medical Assistant

by Heather Johnson
Whether you are still in school or have already entered the workforce, you now realize how important the position of medical assistant is. Indeed, you have a lot of information to retain and are responsible for important duties. Don't become overwhelmed by the job, as you will quickly learn the ropes by following the five tips below.

1. Don't Hesitate to Ask – If you are having any doubts about something or have encountered a strange situation, never hesitate to ask your supervisor / teacher what to do. It might be prudent to ask questions privately if you are in front of a patient, but you should never feel too ashamed or proud to admit you need help.

2. Take Efficient Notes – While you are in class or are being trained on the job, take very efficient notes. Write rules and procedures down, as you may not be able to recall them later. Employers will actually appreciate your resourcefulness when they see you taking notes.

3. Stay Organized – From your notes to your workspace, you need to stay streamlined in order to be a more efficient medical assistant. Keep the clutter away and always know where your important tools are located.

3. Never Stop Studying – Even after you graduate, you need to keep authoritative texts handy and brush up on your studying from time to time. This will help to develop both your skills and a sharper memory.

4. Observe Your Superiors – Whether you are studying your teacher's demonstration of a blood draw or you are watching your employer fill out paperwork, take mental (and written) notes of how everything is done.

You may feel a bit overwhelmed on both the first day of medical assisting school and the first day on the job. After all, this is an important position and you are responsible for knowing a lot of information. Push any doubts from your mind, as everyone feels this way at first. By following the advice above, you will quickly catch on and become a seasoned pro in no time at all.

About the Author:Heather Johnson is a regular commentator on the subject of how to become a pharmacist. She welcomes your feedback and potential job inquiries at heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.

Medical Assistant Job Interview Survival Tips

Possessing the appropriate combination of credibility, training, and experience leads to opportunities. Surviving the job interview opens the doors! Here are our hottest tips for job seekers and working professionals.

Follow thise tips and you will be golden:

Make Them Want You!
Possessing the appropriate combination of credibility, training, and experience leads to opportunities. Surviving the job interview opens the door! Stay ahead of the curve by presenting yourself as a knowledgeable professional, and reliable member of the health care/medical office team. But realize, that since "value" is subjective, you will need to support your claim with objective, factual statements, and documentation.

Don't Be Shy!If you can show during the interview that you are their most qualified candidate it simplifies the decision-makers selection process. But at the same time, be careful, tough, because the interviewers expect you to prove your claim. So, before you talk about how you can add value to their office have the documentation that supports your claim with you and readily available.

Tell Them Your Qualifications
Don't tell them you are a great asset to their organization because your mother worked in a similar field for 30 years. Instead, tell them about YOUR traits and qualities that matter most to them in a medical office setting...

Traits that matter…• High standards
• Attention to detail
• Analytical skills
• Efficiency
• Dependability
• Integrity
• Persistence
…and

• Enthusiasm
• Listening skills
• Communication skills
• Flexibility
• Teamwork

Show Them You Mean Business!
You'll have to convince those present that your knowledge and skills provide genuine value and benefits to their business. After substantiating your best qualities, show them that you mean what you say. Pull out your "secret weapon" and hand over the following documentation to the decision makers in the room:

1. Resume (a detailed description of your achievements and experience)
2. Diploma from an accredited medical assistant school (MA program)
3. Letter of Recommendation (previous employers, volunteer supervisors)
4. References (individuals in your community, businesses, or organizations)
5. Professional certification documents (credentials by means of exams)

Now think about it!
Why wouldn't they want to hire a medical assistant like you? Do your homework so you are confident. If you don't you are more apt to struggle internally and blank out.

To learn more about educational requirements, and practical tips for handling emergencies, and proper documentation visit Medical Assistant Net on the Web. There is lots of additional "scope of practice for medical assistants" info at that web site.

Medical Assistant Job Application Tips

New graduates from medical assistant programs looking for their first job often feel that don't have enough experience under their belt to compete with others and often get discouraged.

Do You "Suffer" From Lack of Experience?
Lack of experience can be an obstacle for new medical assistants fresh out of school. Most employers, indeed, are looking for workers with one to two years experience when they hire and it is the new medical assistant who feels the sting of not having the amount of experience the employer expects.

However, little do new medical assistants seeking for jobs realize that their skills gained from previous jobs, volunteer work, related coursework, vocational training, and extracurricular activities can be just as impressive and beneficial as direct experience in the field. It should always be listed in the resume and highlighted in the interview.

As a medical assistant student YOU DID spend a considerable amount of time practicing important patient care skills under the direct supervision of your MA instructor:

• Basic concepts of EKG, ESR, Hematocrit, Urinalysis, stool samples, throat cultures
• Administering injections: intradermal, subcutaneous, deltoid, and Z-track
• Basic wound care, bandaging, and cast removal
• Snellen eye chart vision screening
• Venipuncture/Phlebotomy
• Collecting and organizing data for research and patient care

Medical Assistant Certification---The Best Documentation!
The BEST way to document your skills and qualifications is through certification! There's no better time than now. Get free publications to quickly determine which certifications are right for you. You can get certified based on your training or years of experience in the field. Find out when, where, and how! Free medical assistant study guides are also available...
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