A Gentle Touch a Day Keeps White Coat Syndrome At Bay

A medical assistant should know how and be able to provide a personal and caring touch that helps a patient feel comfortable, or at ease. This does not have to always be a physical touch, but can be as little as a friendly gesture and positive attitude. Establishing a pleasant environment can be very important when measuring vital signs; for instance, did you know  that a person’s blood pressure reading will tend to be higher in a hospital, or medical center environment? Yes this is correct. With all of the hustle and bustle on the floors, phones ringing, conversations everywhere, white walls and the pre-mindset, or the hypochondriasis of medical office and hospital settings, these will definitely cause ones blood pressure to rise.

A medical assistant must have the pre-mindset that this hypochondriasis, or more commonly known as white coat syndrome anxiety exists in most patients to varying degrees. The vital signs are the doctor’s window to a persons body, condition, and mindset.  The blood pressure typically rises and falls with the effect of external stimuli, but  the healthcare provider is looking for a BP that is obviously to high, or too low.
The physician is also looking for consistency in blood pressure (BP) readings. The medical assistant can assist the doctor and the patient in getting a more accurate and consistent reading. This can be done by first starting a conversation with the patient; a little friendly talk. Make sure the patient realizes that you are listening.

Give the patient feedback when they tell you about how their day is going, share their health concerns, or describe the pain they are experiencing.  Give a smile or tell a joke if the moment calls for it.  We are not saying that you have to be a psychiatrist. You don’t need to try to solve people's personal problems.  Your objective, in your role as a medical assistant, is to get the patient to relax and get good vital sign readings. You will find that the elderly and young children would need a little more of your personal touch than others.  If you can get them to smile, it might just make their day a little brighter, and therefore yours, and the doctor's as well.

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More at Medical Assistant NET website.

The Medical Assistant Unsung Super Hero

Based on my own first-hand experiences as a former Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) I agree with the study mentioned in the recently published article on the CNN News website titled Why Physicians Lie, and find the statement that the doctor-patient relationship is a complex one to be accurate.

Difficult Situations In A Medical Office

Dealing with people who are sick, or have health concerns and feel out of control can be difficult and stressful. Certain medical and healthcare establishments are busier than others by nature, and some experience a higher stress level internally or among their patients depending on the medical specialty and sub-specialty focus area. A pediatric hematology and oncology department, or an OB/Gyn clinic, where the work load is heavy, the hours long, the liability high, and the outcome of a treatment plan not always easily predictable can quickly drive the stress level up on both sides. Certain seasons, like the cold and flu, or allergy season can leave both, the patient and the medical office staff flustered, hoping for better days, especially in a pediatric or internal medicine practice. This is where the doctor’s medical assistant can make a world of a difference. 

Medical Assistant: I've Got The Power!

Remember the old-school classic by Snap! "I've got the power"? This definitely is a song a medical assistant can sing a song about, however, often the medical assistant remains the unsung hero of the medical office.

Medical assistants are the first line representative and “point of service” of the modern medical practice and in an excellent position, often in a better one than the doctor, to recognize, alleviate and ease some of the daily stresses and frustrations through courteous interactions and excellent interpersonal communications skills; as a matter of fact, the medical assistant is often the ONLY person who can put patients at ease even BEFORE they are seen by the doctor in the examination room through mindful interaction and a gentle touch.

How the Medical Assistant Makes a Difference
Doctors generally agree that they depend quite heavily on their medical assisting staff member's knowledge and skills to make the day go over well and keep their practice on track.

As far as difficult situations, no one wants to be the bearer of bad news, and doctors are just as human as their patients. To tell a mother her child has a serious disease is never easy. This is where true empathy will make a world of a difference to the patient, and make the doctor’s job and day a little easier.

A friendly “hello, how are you” can go a long way, along with a gentle reminder discretely passed on to the doctor that he/she is on running on schedule, that a patient didn’t show and there is room for a brief break, or that h/she is starting to fall behind the schedule and need to speed up the pace a little to catch up. You can learn more about the

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More at Medical Assistant NET website.

Identity and Role of Today's Modern Medical Assistant

Do you have what it takes to become a medical assistant?

Almost all medical offices, practices and clinics are now employing between one and three medical assistants, it not more, to help them run and manage their business. Patients are considered customers and medical assistants are the first line representative when they come to see the doctor.

While the doctor conducts an objective and subjective assessment of the patient’s medical needs and prescribes a treatment plan and medications, it is the medical assistant who is responsible for all other business and customer service aspects of the visit, directly or indirectly, since telephone calls are also answered and routed by the  medical assistant.

Traits Of The Modern Medical Assistant

Medical assistants must the flexible and responsive and caring as they assist the doctor. As now and existing patients arrive for their appointment they document their demographic and health insurance information to register them into the system, help them fill out forms, copy insurance cards and verify health insurance eligibility, take vital signs, take and route messages for the doctor, respond to prescription refill requests, manage the patient’s medical records, maintain the waiting room, reception area, examination rooms, storage, supply and archive closets, and greet patients as they arrive. For every nurse in an ambulatory medical office or facility is at least one, or two medical assistant helping with crucial tasks, however, medical assistants are not allowed to do any tasks that lie outside their scope of practice.

Politely Correcting Misunderstandings

The medical assistant should immediately correct the misunderstanding and politely tell the patient that he, or she is a medical assistant who works for doctor “so-and-so”. Such misunderstandings can easily be prevented by wearing a clearly visible name tag and via proper introduction right at the beginning of every appointment visit. It only takes a second to say, my name is Paula, I am your doctor’s medical assistant. Proper introduction at the workplace falls right in line with professional conduct, excellent communication and customer service skills in the medical office. It is only through effective communication that medical assistants are able to identify the goals of individual people and the healthcare system.

To function effectively in their role as a medical assistant they must be informed and skilled participants in all areas of the medical office. They are expected to interact well with others and communicate well under different conditions. The development of required knowledge and skills is dependent upon their commitment to seeking out continuing education learning experiences across the entire spectrum of medical office and health care services.

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More at Medical Assistant NET website.

Medical Assistant Responsibilities and Limitations

Every medical office should have an organized plan that outlines the duties of every staff member in the medical office, especially their medical assistants, which should also address how to handle patient assessment and triage procedures, administration of medication, treatment procedures and emergency situations.

A good medical practice and health care facility has established policies and provides a written job description outlining responsibilities for each specialty and discipline to all their medical office staff members, including medical assistants. It is good policy to instruct their staff that they have specific responsibilities while also being subject to certain limitations while performing work related duties under their employ. These responsibilities and limitations are based on the quality and amount of their education, training and experience, as well as local and state regulations and official guidelines regulating their profession, i.e. the medical assistant's specific scope of practice.

The responsible medical assistant will recognize, accept and demand that these limitations are respected and strictly adhered to where ever they work and practice their skills. Click the link for an extensive list of what a medical assistant can and cannot do.

Medical Assistants Taking X-Rays

Medical assistants may work in a medical office or facility where x-rays are part of the daily routine. The doctor might wish for the medical assistant to handle taking the radiographic images, however, a special license is required in most states. State authorities have jurisdiction over radiology licensing for each state.

Medical Assistants Reading Laboratory Results

When it comes to reading lab or x-ray result to patients over the phone, that is permissible. Medical assistants are allowed to read x-ray and various other medical screening and laboratory results from the medical chart. When the lab printouts are read and the patient has specific questions then the medical assistant must refer them to the doctor for his/her interpretation. Once read, the medical assistant annotates the lab slip with the date, who he/she spoke to over the phone, any other brief notes, initials it and files it back into the patient's chart and brings chart to doctor. A short annotation is enough (but very important!): "05/15/2009; results read to PT, referred to doctor; SMD, CCMA (initials)."

For more info visit Medical Assistant Net: Medical Assistant Scope of Practice which provides answers to questions regarding medical assistants with limited x-ray responsibilities and their requirements.

Medical Assistants Seeking Certified Phlebotomy Credentials

Medical assistants often are trained in venipuncture (blood drawing techniques) and are responsible for obtaining ordered blood specimens for diagnostic analysis in a laboratory. Medical assistants often seek phlebotomist certifications to work as phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician in a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare facility.

The money is good and the jobs are plentiful. Phlebotomists, and medical assistants who perform venipunctures (and phlebotomy) as part of their daily routine in California need special approved phlebotomy training and phlebotomy certification in order to work in this occupation in this state. The certification exam is sponsored by a handful recognized certification sponsors that allow phlebotomy certification candidates to apply and take their proctored phlebotomy certification exams.

A list of Professional membership organizations and agencies that certify phlebotomy candidates by examination in the USA is here: Phlebotomy Certifications.

Medical Assistant Professionalism and Respect for Patients

New Medical Assistant - Anybody???

Review important medical assistant responsibilities, concepts and skills! If you are contemplating or planning a career working as a medical assistant we  provide a creative look behind the scenes to help you evaluate your interests. Visit the New Medical Assistant .com website and evaluate your interests.

Medical Assistant Professionalism

Nowhere is the need for professional commitment and personal integrity as great as in the health care profession. While professionalism is certainly difficult to define, it encompasses several distinct criteria such as respect, competency and dedication. In the medical office where doctors, nursing staff and medical assistants are constantly dealing with people and their illnesses a medical assistant must develop and maintain personal traits that foster and promote a good rapport, trust, respect and performance.

People Knowledge and Mature Judgement

People knowledge, empathy and mature judgment must guide the care provided to any patient. This is especially crucial when the care involves touching. As a member of the health care team, medical assistants are responsible for providing complete, quality care to those who need and seek their service. This care must also be provided in a manner compatible with their patient's mental abilities, tolerance and intellectual capabilities.

1.) Common sense dictates that when medical assistants care for a patient, sensitivity to both verbal and nonverbal communication is paramount. Remember: a grin, a frown, or an expression of surprise may all be misinterpreted by the patient.

2.) Explanations and reassurances will go far in preventing misunderstandings of actions or intentions.

Religion and Nonreligious Beliefs

A large majority of people have some form of belief system that guides many of their life decisions and to which they turn to in times of distress. Medical assistants must accept the religious or nonreligious beliefs of others as valid for them, even if they personally disagree with such beliefs.

A person's religious beliefs frequently helps them give meaning to suffering and illness; those beliefs may also be helpful in the acceptance of future incapacities or death. Although medical assistants may offer religious support when asked and should always provide chaplain referrals when requested or indicated, it is not ethical for medical assistants to abuse their patients by forcing their beliefs (or non-beliefs) upon them. Medical assistants must respect their freedom of choice, offering their support for whatever a patient's needs, desires and religious beliefs may be.

To learn more about the medical assisting career please visit Medical Assistant NET on the Web.

Medical Assistant Students Frustrated Over Medical Billing and Coding Expectations

Medical assistant students enrolled in medical assistant courses often have difficulties understanding the medical billing claim form and have problems understanding evaluation and management codes.

We often hear from frustrated students on our active online forums; many wind up venting.

One medical assistant student recently posted into the forum that her instructor wasn't very helpful; she felt the instructor apparently wasn't well versed in the medical billing and coding process herself and therefore was unable to explain the process in a manner that made it clear to the class. The students are frustrated and overwhelmed.



Another person posted a request for help:

I work for a Cardiologist. We are trying to get clarification on:
·        CPT 93454  (Catheter place in coronary arterty(s) for coronary angiography, imaging supervision, and interpretation

·        CPT 93458 (with left heart catherization including intraprocedural injection(s) for left ventriculogy, when performed

QUESTION: Can these two codes be billed together if both of these services are performed?

Medical Coding and Billing Questions in the Certification Exams

We receive many, many, many similar forum discussions from frustrated medical assistant certificants. Some posted right after taking the medical assistant certification exam where they stated that they were totally stumped over the amount of medical coding questions in the exam. The questions were multiple choice and asked about specific numeric codes, or modifiers, for a given specific diagnoses or procedures. Now, ask any medical assistant to cite a specific code without any reference book/manual; he/she would be hard-pressed to give the right one, since there are so many, not to mention specific modifiers.

Agnes told us:Hi, I just took the RMA exam today and I have to tell you that from the 206 questions none of them were in the AMT study book. I passed the test so I feel very lucky because it was very difficult. I was very disappointed because I felt the RMA test was not fair; they focused too much on the administrative area and I felt like it has nothing to do with the MA profession.

We also heard from a physical therapy instructor who teaches the basics of medical coding and billing as it pertains to PT because the majority of his students do their own billing and coding. One question this has raised is why do medical assistant students have to learn medical coding and billing and why is is such an extensive part of the medical assistant certification exams? Rather, shouldn't students who want to learn about it sign up for medical coding and billing classes?

Should Medical Assistants Learn Coding and Billing?

We can see where medical assistants (MA) need to have an idea of medical practice financial management, such as banking deposits, accounting and bookkeeping, dishonored check processing, payroll - and even that is nowadays often outsourced. Nevertheless, in any profession you should get a picture of how the whole kit and caboodle functions to make it run.

In our opinion, as far as medical assistant students being introduced to the billing and collections process in GENERAL is okay--only to give them a well-rounded understanding of the practice and how things work. This way, they can better address patient questions and communicate with the medical billing and coding staff efficiently should certain issues arise.

However, as far as actual billing and coding responsibilities in my role as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA),  I was NEVER involved in the actual billing and coding process, neither were any of my medical assistant colleagues, with the exception of one medical office manager, who had worked her way up through the ranks as a medical assistant in a small single-physician office.

Many believe medical assistant programs who focus too much and dive too deep into the medical coding and billing process as part of their teaching curruculum are wasting their time. Most medical assistant students feel this time would be better spent drawing up injections, or drawing blood.

What Stands Behind the Medical Assistant's Name

Have You Ever Asked Yourself: What Stands Behind the Medical Assistant's Name?

If you asked anybody, whether a health care professional, neighbor, or friend what stands behind a medical assistant's name, chances are you might get one of the following two responses:

1.) what the heck is a medical assistant?
2.) let me think about that for a moment

The latter will give it a moment's thought and then very likely say:

a.) I don't know
b.) a bunch of letters?

... by which they are referring to various certified medical assistant credentials, such as RMA, NCMA, CCMA, and CMA. You know the gamut of certified credentials and designations! However... what truly stands behind a medical assistant's name are not roles, titles, credentials, or the letters that signify a certification, but MOSTLY and more appropriately their dedication, hard work and pride in their profession and what they do. Not every medical assistant is certified, but every medical assistant is proud and giving it their very best helping people and making a difference in their community, even if it is as "only" a medical assistant (MA) without any special certifications.

So, if you are a medical assistant I would like to hear your stories and thoughts on What Stands Behind the Medical Assistant's Name - be spontaneous - right off the top of your head!!! (And don't come back with answer a.) - You already KNOW what a medical assistant is. The POST COMMENTS link is below.

Are Medical Assistant Required to State their Name?

On January 8th, 2011 Mandy Roads asked:

Are medical assistants supposed to provide full name or only 1st name to a patient who asks? All doctors provide full name, but do patients have the right to full name disclosure of Medical assistants, also? If not, how do patients keep track for reference who said what, or did what medical care etc. on a given date and time etc.?

Medical Assistant Name Admin Says: 
March 23rd, 2011 at 4:10 pm   edit

In my opinion, and many will agree here, there is good policy and practice to state your full name when greeting a patient. By stating your name you establish an identity and build rapport with the patients.

Most medical assistants simply use their first name, while wearing a name badge with their full name and credentials printed behind it, e.g. MA, RMA, CMA, CCMA, NCMA, or whichever designations they have. A typical greeting, once a patient has been called in from the waiting area, is: “Hello, my name is Judy, and I am your medical assistant.” However, if a patient asks for the full name, I believe it would be improper and unethical to refuse to give it. I am sure this would not go over well with the doctor under which the medical assistant works. To me, refusal to state the name immediately implies lack of cooperation, lack of empathy, lack of courtesy and comes across as unprofessional.

In addition, from my own observations as a patient, I always find it odd if a medical assistant calls me in for my exam, takes me to the exam room, begins to take my vital signs and NEVER stated her name. Often, I will say politely something along the lines: “Excuse me, but I didn’t get your name”, just to let him, or her know I’d be more comfortable knowing with whom I am in the room. I, in my own role as a medical assistant and also, as a patient, highly recommend that every medical assistant automatically states his, or her name. The patients will appreciate it.

Question: Which Medical Assistant is Better?

Every year thousands of new and experienced medical assistants applying for jobs are asked to show potential employers reliable documentation of their education, training, knowledge and skills, despite the fact that not every highly skilled and qualified medical assistant is always certified.

Most employers now expect 1-3 years job experience and certifications, or else they are hesitant to hire. However, does certification automatically mean that one medical assistant is better than another? For instance, is a recent graduate from a medical assistant school with certification better qualified than an applicant who received his/her medical assisting and first aid training in the Military and has worked in the health care field for many consecutive years without ever getting certified?


Please comment! Which medical assistant do YOU think is better? To learn more about the medical assisting career please visit Medical Assistant NET on the Web.

Difference Between Medical Assistant and Nurse Work Schedule

A Medical Assistant works different hours, usually first shift, from 8-5 PM and rarely on weekends or holidays, which some feel are better hours for parents. Nurses work different shifts around the clock. Some pull doubles and they usually must work on weekends and holidays, at least some.

Medical assistants are utilized in different capacities in the administrative, laboratory, or clinical areas, depending on the office's specific needs. Very small family practices may have the expectation that the medical assistant covers all areas, front and back. They often specialize in pediatrics, general practice, gynecology, dermatology, rheumatology, podiatry, or ophthalmology, etc.! Check the jobs in your area to see who is hiring medical assistants and who is hiring LPN's and for which kind of areas. While it may not apply to all positions you may find that the expectations, duties and responsibilities are generally the same for both, medical assistants and LPNs when medical offices recruit their staff.

Other significant differences:

• wages
• hours
• duties
• responsibilities
• scope of practice
• supervision

Medical assistants are often preferred by doctors in private, or group practices, because they are more cost effective than RN's or LPN's; but then again, each discipline has its specific place and uses in different settings.

Utilization of Medical Assistants: Delegation of Tasks by Nurses

There is an increasing number of group medical offices and practices where doctors partner with licensed nurses and other  healthcare providers in diverse roles to meet the needs of their patients.

In contrast to nurses, medical assistants do not hold a license to practice and are therefore are not regulated by the state or any other entity. This leads to confusion about what a medical assistant can and cannot do. Questions arise when it comes to nurses delegating certain tasks to medical assistants; for example, administering medications, patient vital status monitoring, suture removal, starting IV lines, or removing bandages and casts.

The topic of which specific tasks nurses can delegate to medical assistants remains widely discussed.
To learn more about the medical assisting career please visit Medical Assistant NET on the Web.

New! Review Important Medical Office Concepts and Skills!

We offer a creative look behind the scenes of a busy medical office. The purpose is to help you self evaluate your knowledge and skills, and become more successful in your chosen career.

Our Promise To Help You:
Locate a good medical assistant school for you nearby
Find the best online medical assistant training programs
Understand important medical office concepts and skills

It's 100% free!

The role of the medical assistant as part of the core health care team is becoming increasingly important and the demands on their knowledge and skills are rapidly increasing. Employers and job agencies are screaming for more qualified front and back office assistive staff and are ready to recruit well trained medical assistants for available positions in the administrative and clinical areas. Therefore, new medical assistants should take every opportunity to enhance, solidify, and further their knowledge and skills in order to remain efficient and competitive in our modern and rapidly advancing healthcare system.

The goal is to introduce you to  the multi-disciplinary aspects of medical assistant duties and reinforce basic theories and concepts that are taught in a medical assistant school, with special focus on issues that are typically encountered daily in a busy medical office. From organizational and clinical skills, to infection control, to administrative responsibilities, such as medical record keeping and management... each and every lesson highlights important skills that medical assistants must know.

  Skills Reviewed:

   Introduction
1. Concepts of health and illness
2. Patients' Bill of Rights and responsibilities
3. Key elements of professional practice
4. Concept of professional ethics
5. Important personality traits of a healthcare professional
6. Factors that can affect interpersonal relations
7. Communication techniques used in a healthcare setting

Coming Soon!

It is of vital importance that the medical assistant knows applicable state laws, local scope of practice regulations, and also acquire a good grasp on skills and knowledge beyond basic patient procedures and philosophies. These skills may also include assisting with emergency procedures, small surgeries, patient education, health insurance regulations, and concerns of the terminally ill patient! Knowing the law and mastering the various skills provides a solid base from which to grow as a medical assistant in a modern health care system.

8. Recognizing the importance of patient education
9. Policies pertaining to consent for medical treatment, incident reports, and release of medical information
10. Proper patient care reporting and assessment procedures
11. Evaluating the needs of a medical patient
12. Non-emergency ambulatory care provided for patients
13. Needs of a surgical patient during the preoperative and postoperative phases of treatment
14. Evaluate the needs of the orthopedic patient...
And more.
15. Uses and application procedures for dressings and bandages

What Should Medical Assistant Students Learn?

The nature of a medical assistant's workplace today is different from that of the past. It is characterized by competition, cultural diversity, new technologies, and new management processes that require critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills as well as advanced levels of various complex job skills.

Medical assistant students should be taught more than just skills related to a basic secretarial job and never become a "Girl-Friday" for the doctor on the clinical floors. Medical assistant students should be taught in all aspects of administrative and clinical skills, and be exposed to advanced interpersonal and resume writing skills which will prepare them for the demands and versatility needed to assist doctors and various other licensed health care providers, and land the better jobs.

Medical assistant programs need to provide health and medical skills education in clinical lab classrooms where they take on the role of working medical assistants and patients to practice skills they need. They should role-play scenarios to learn how to run the front and back office efficiently and productively.

Medical Assistants to be Stationed at Rural Clinics

Friday July 9, 2010
News on thestar.com online

SEPANG: Medical assistants will be stationed at all rural clinics for the convenience of patients in the area, said China's Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow said the upgrading of the 2,000 rural clinics nationwide, currently run by community nurses, would be done in stages but it would take time to place a medical assistant in each of them.

“Having medical assistants at rural clinics would mean that patients in the area would no longer have to travel far to seek treatment for minor problems like influenza, fever or cough,” he said.

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In reading this news article I immediately wondered what the function and scope of practice for medical assistants in China might be. The article says, the rural clinics are run by community nurses. Therefore, the article seems to imply that there aren't necessarily doctors at all, if not any of the clinics, which then, if I spin this thought on further, would put the nurses in charge of the newly hired medical assistants there. Interesting, and quite a bit different from the function and supervision of medical assistants in the USA.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/9/nation/6635241&sec=nation

Medical Assistants Who Administer Medications

The confusion about what a medical assistant can and cannot do continues, mostly because of the wide variety of training options, differences in programs, and lack of clearly spelled out rules and regulations. Medical assistants are unlicensed health professionals with special training, which means they have the duty to abide by the rules and use ordinary care within their scope of practice. Often, the doctors and supervising nurses in the medical office wonder: "Can I delegate this, or that task to my medical assistant?". This includes the question, whether the medical assistant is allowed to administer medications.

Medical assistants are allowed to administer medications, or hand patients a measured dose for self-administration while under observation IF it has been so ordered by their medical doctor*, or licensed health care professional (*by doctor's, or licensed provider's orders, such as a physician's assistant, or an advance practice registered nurse ONLY).

Medical assistants can administer only oral, topical, or inhalant medications, suppositories, intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular injections, and medications applied to mucous membranes , such as eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Administration means the direct application of a medication by inhalation, ingestion, or any other means to the body of a person, including by injection.

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 Assisting - The Reality of it!

Medical Assisting - Unmasked
Medical assisting, job duties, physician office.

http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/290907/medical_assisting_unmasked.html

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.

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.