Training Standards and Rules

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	Training Standards and Rules

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Medical Assistant Training Standards:

Medical assistants perform a wide variety of supportive services in medical offices, clinics, or hospitals and therefore must learn a wide variety of skills in a short time. Although medical assistants are not licensed, some States require them to take a test or a course before they can perform certain tasks, such as taking x rays, giving injections, or starting IV lines.

Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to the wide range of questions concerning the medical assistant's training standards and rules because the profession is not officially regulated. Medical assistant training is either provided through a licensed vocational training program, or under the direct supervision of a medical doctor, or other licensed healthcare practitioner. Supervision means initial and ongoing direction, procedural guidance, observation and evaluation.

Training of The Medical Assistant Professional...

The Board of Medical Examiners has ruled that doctors who train medical assistants in their practice must be in reasonable proximity when they perform direct patient care and hands-on procedures, regardless of the number of years the medical assistant may have been doing this before. This rule protects the patient in that the physician can be quickly summoned to intervene should something unforeseen happen.

Medical assistant administers injection.

The physician or licensed healthcare practitioner, or nurse manager in charge must determine the skill level and capabilities of each medical assistant they train.

Along with the responsibility of training and supervision of their medical assistants, the employer also must take on responsibility for quality control when assigning tasks to the medical assistant in either the front or back office, but especially in the back office's clinical areas.

Although legal requirements regarding the medical assistant's scope of practice vary from state to state, medical assistants work under the license of a supervising physician or licensed healthcare practitioner.

The trainee's performance should be periodically assessed and the roles and responsibilities clearly communicated to them. Other medical office staff should also know what the student may and may not do. This is important to maximize the productivity and protect the patients and the office team. For example, it should be made clear that the medical assistant student cannot make independent medical assessments, triage, prescribe medications, or give medical advice.

The Autority in Charge of Medical Assistants:

The authority in charge is ultimately the doctor under which they work. The doctor, in turn, answers to their State Medical Board. These boards consists often consist of a number of physicians, or licensed healthcare practitioners, and/or public members. Board members are appointed by the state governor and confirmed by their legislature. The board adopts regulations to carry out the laws governing the practice of medicine.

It must be clearly understood that medical assistants MUST always stay within their scope of practice regardless of their level of training. They must practice ONLY methods and procedures that are commonly accepted in their profession and in which they were properly trained and supervised.

Medical assistants who 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, patients and supervisors to serious consequences and liability issues.

Although certified medical assistants are trained in phlebotomy, EKG and X-ray procedures many states mandate that anybody performing phlebotomy, EKG and X-ray must have a specific licence to do so. Medical assistants who draw blood in California and those who perform point of care testing in Georgia are also required to be certified.

Several states mandate that medical assistants are required to be licensed or certified to perform needle injections; such as necessary for allergy testing, purified protein derivative (PPD) or Mantoux skin tests and venipuncture. In other states medical assistants need permission from the state to expose patients to X-rays.

Medical assistant scope of practice

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can a medical assistant place and initiate an IV line, or administer IV medications?

Revised CAAHEP standards and guidelines for Medical Assisting Educational Programs indicate that a the curriculum of an accredited program must now include the principles of IV therapy. However, according to the AAMA, a medical assistant is allowed to place an IV line, initiate an IV line and administer IV medications only after having received proper appropriate training and only as permitted by their particular state law!

Are medical assistants allowed to give shots?

Medical assistants are allowed to administer medications via intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. However, several states mandate that medical assistants are required to be licensed or certified to perform needle injections; such as necessary for allergy testing, purified protein derivative (PPD) or Mantoux skin tests and venipuncture.

Can medical assistants administer medications?

Yes, by oral route and through inhalation of pre-measured medications after verification by a physician or podiatrist!

Are medical assistants allowed to chart pupillary responses?

No, the charting of pupillary responses are considered an assessment, which is a form of interpretation. Medical assistants are not allowed to read, interpret or diagnose symptoms or test results and this is not within the medical assistant's professional scope of practice.

Can medical assistants do X-rays or bone densitometry?

Many states mandate that medical assistants have special training and licenses beforeexposing patients to X-rays.

Can medical assistants performdialysis procedures, including home dialysis?

Yes, in most states they can (including Florida).

Disclaimer:

The above is not an exclusive itemization of the technical supportive services a medical assistant can or cannot perform. Medical assistants must ALWAYS adhere to state and local laws and regulations! As an integral part of the allied healthcare team medical assistants must demonstrate practice consistent with legal standards and state regulations that may apply. Since all fifty (50) states vary in their regulations as to the definition, training standards and scope of practice of the medical assistant, specific state requirements for practice must be identified and met by the concerned individual within the state they work!

Nationally recognized credentialing bodies for medical assistants, however, may further define and regulate the role of the medical assistant. Medical assistants working in a medical office setting must adhere to the rules, regulations and requirements mandated by their state in which they practice as well as those imposed by their credentialing body/certification association.