Medical Assistant Review!
Professional Practice
New Medical Assistant
Professional Practice Advance To Next Lesson 
Professional Ethics
Professional EthicsNOTE: Continue only after having read this and the previous lessons!
 Medical Assistant Schools and More!  Begin your path to an exciting new career! See schools in your local ZIP code area, or select "Show All" to view various healthcare programs both ON campus AND online.
 |
Professionalism
Lesson 3: Each member of the healthcare team has specific responsibilities and limitations that define their area of practice.
The medical assistant s practice is based on a sound body of knowledge and the development of well-defined technical skills.
Furthermore, on-the-job training, in-service classes, and continuing education programs contribute significantly to continued growth in both healthcare knowledge and skills.
|
|
Lesson 3
The medical assistant's duties in the clinical setting may include administering medications, performing treatments, and providing individual patient care and health education in compliance with specific orders from the supervising medical doctor, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or other licensed healthcare practitioner.
In A Hospital
In the hospital a charge nurse divides and delegates portions of the patient's care to the healthcare team based on the skills and experiences of each staff member. In situations where a charge nurse is not a member of a floor or departnemt the doctor will generally make such delegation of duties.
In A Medical Office
In a medical office the office manager is responsible of assigning individual jobs and delegating certain aspects of patient care to different members of the staff. Usually the medical office staff is divided into administrative and clinical staff members.
The duties and responsibilities of medical assistants frequently include areas of practice usually provided by doctors and licensed healthcare practitioners.
Typical Duties of a Medical Assistant:
1. Understand anatomy and physiology
2. Use medical terminology
3. Prepare patients for examination
4. Understand purpose of diagnostic procedures
5. Set up and print out diagnostic tests
6. Collect and process lab specimens
7. Administer medications
8. Follow proper infection control procedures
..9. Perform CPR and First Aid
10. Perform word processing
11. Adhere to medical law and ethics
12. Use current bookkeeping techniques
13. Process insurance claims
14. Transcribe medical dictation
These responsibilities are only legal when performed under the authority and supervision of the doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner.
Proper Identification and Representation
Wearing scrubs, and proper attire suitable for the job is essential. Also, a name-tag displaying the medical assistant's name and credentials, along with an medical assistant pin, or sleeve patch received upon graduation marks the medical assistant worthy of respect. Most importantly it prevents misunderstandings.
Professional Limits
In conjunction with their professional responsibilities, all medical assistants must realize that they are subject to certain limitations in providing healthcare services. These standards of practice are based on the amount and kind of their education, training, experience, local regulations, and guidelines possessed by the medical assistant. The mature, responsible individual will recognize, accept, and demand that these limitations are respected.
Medical Assistants Can Not:
1. Independently diagnose or treat patients.
2. Perform arterial punctures.
3. Perform tests that involve the penetration of human tissues except for skin tests and drawing blood as provided by law.
4. Administer intravenous medications: only healthcare professionals who are certified or licensed to do so may start IV's.
5. Idependently provide medical treatment, analyze test results, advise patients about their condition, or treatment regimen, make assessments or perform any kind of medical care decision making.
6. Administer any anesthetic agent, except a topical (local) numbing agent to the skin, such as an EMLA patch.
7. Independently prescribe or refill medications.
8. Practice physical therapy; however, they may assist a physician by providing technical supportive services, which utilize concepts of physical therapy.
Accountability
Regardless of specialty, training, and experience, all members of the healthcare team are held directly accountable for their performance. Being accountable means being held responsible for all actions. Medical assistants should continue to acquire new knowledge and skills and to strive for clinical competency. Equally important is their ability to apply new knowledge and acquired skills as a competent professional in providing total healthcare.
Medical Advice
Another area that has potential medical and legal implications regarding their role as medical assistants is that of giving advice or opinions. Because of their frequent and close contact with patients, medical assistants will often be asked their opinion of the care or the proposed care a patient is undergoing. Often, these questions are extremely difficult to respond to.. No one is ever totally prepared, or has so much wisdom that he can respond spontaneously in such situations. In such situations, it is best to refer the question to the nurse or physician responsible for the patient's care, especailly if they are directly related to medical or health concerns.
Suggested Activities!
Links: Visit: 1. Issues in Risk Management
Visit: 2. Medical Assistant's Scope of Practice
Medical Assistant Forum: Discuss: Professionalism
|
|
Advance To Next Lesson Professional Ethics
Professional EthicsNOTE: Continue only after reading this and the previous lessons!
This is a non-accredited, non-credit online review primarily intended for personal and professional self-evaluation. It is provided to the general public, free of charge, through private efforts and the generosity of Web Developer Danni R., who owns and manages this and other related websites on the Interned dedicated to Medical Assistants.