New Medical Assistant
Advance to Chapter 9 Communication
Professionalism
Each member of the health care team has specific responsibilities and limitations that define
their area of practice. The medical assistant's duties in the clinical setting may include
administering medications, performing technical skills and providing individual patient care and
health education in compliance with specific orders from the supervising medical doctor, delegating
registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or other licensed health care practitioner. Performing these
duties requires attention to detail and proceeding with reasonable care. Regardless of specialty,
training and experience, all members of the health care team are held directly accountable for
their actions and performance while on the job.
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Chapter 8
Professional Conduct and the Law
Accountability
Regardless of specialty, training and experience, all members of the
health care team are held directly accountable for their own performance. Being accountable means
being ready to accept all consequences and ramifications for your own actions. Equally important is
the ability to apply new knowledge and acquired skills in your role as a competent member of the
medical office and health care team. To responsibly carry out medical assistant duties each individual
should continue to acquire current knowledge and stay on top of all technical skills and strive for
clinical competency.
In A Medical Office
In a medical office the doctor together with the practice/medical
office manager is responsible for assigning and overseeing 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 working in the front and back
office. The duties and responsibilities of medical assistants frequently
include areas of practice usually provided by doctors and licensed health care
practitioners.
These responsibilities are only legal when performed under the
authority and supervision of the doctor or licensed health care practitioner.
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.
In A Hospital
In the hospital a charge nurse divides and delegates portions of the
patient's care to the health care 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 department the doctor will generally make
such delegation of duties.
Limits and Responsibilities
Questions regarding the medical assistant scope of practice and
about medical assistant's legal, ethical, and moral responsibility for patients and their care and
malpractice issues frequently arise among individuals seeking information.
In a nutshell, all medical assistants must realize that they
are subject to certain limitations when providing direct patient care and other services on the
job and are bound to the limitations within their discipline's scope of practice. These limits
are based on the amount and kind of their education, training, experience, local laws, rules, regulations,
and guidelines. The mature, responsible individual will recognize, accept, and demand that these
limitations are respected and rules and regulations are known, understood, and adhered to.
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 (IV) medications: only health care providers
who are licensed to do so
5. Independently 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 where permitted
7. Independently prescribe or refill medications, or change prescription
dosages
8. Practice physical therapy; however, they may assist a physician by
providing technical supportive services, which utilize concepts of physical therapy
Whenever you are unsure about specific procedures a
medical assistant can do in the state that they are working in, it is advisable to
contact the State Board of Medical Examiners/Board of Medicine, because they regulate the practice
of medicine and write rules and regulations as to which tasks can be delegated to medical assistants working under
the direct supervision of a physician.
Medical Assistants Starting IV Lines
While you are under the employ of a physician, and the
understanding is, that you are working under the doctor's umbrella, you MUST be properly instructed and
taught any skills you are expected to perform (e.g. a certain number of successful venipunctures shown, taught, and
recorded). Furthermore, in your role as a medical assistant you are also expected to be responsible
for your own actions and know your state rules, laws and regulations. You can easily find your state Medical
Board/Board of Medical Examiners by using a search engine by adding your State + Board of Medical Examiners or
Medical Board into the search box. Then search their website for "medical assistant" rules and legislation. If
nothing comes up, just call or email them and state your concerns. Rules on starting or removing IV lines in an
ambulatory or in-hospital setting differ from state to state; just because it was taught in medical assistant
class does NOT always automatically mean it is allowed. It is, after all, considered an invasive
procedure.
Medical Assistants Giving Medical Advice
Another area that has potential 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,
especially if they are directly related to medical or health concerns.
Suggested Activities!
 Links:
 Visit Medical Assistant Forum:
 Chapter Assignment:
Use a search engine to locate your State Medical
Board
Advance To Next Chapter Communication
NOTE: Continue only after reading this and the previous
lessons!
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