Medical Assistant Workplace Rules

Medical assistants hardly ever work on weekends, and rarely do they accumulate overtime. A typical work week is 40 hours Monday thru Friday 8 AM - 5 PM.

What Medical Assistant Can and Cannot Do

Medical assistants make all the difference in a medical office. However, it is important that they understand that they must work under the direct supervision of a doctor, or licensed health care professional and know they can and cannot legally do. For example:

• Medical assistants are not allowed to independently provide any kind of medical advice, or address illnesses and conditions, otherwise this could be seen as practicing medicine without a license (a punishable offense).

• Medical assistants who are asked to do invasive procedures, such as venipuncture for drawing blood, or removing casts or sutures, start IV lines, or take radiographic images (x-ray) should check with their State Medical Board, or Board of Nursing. Their supervisor should review these specific skills and check the medical assistant's ability to do the job. Also, these responsibilities should be spelled out in the medical assistant's job description to cover any legal issues.

• Confidentiality is a BIG thing in the medical office. ONLY if a patient has signed a form authorizing the doctor and medical staff to release medical or personal information can a medical assistant share this information with other doctors, nurses, or health insurance companies.
  
• Medical assistants are not permitted to dispense, or administer any type of medications, or treatments unless ordered by the doctor (or licensed health care professional) under which they work.
  
• Medical assistants are often pulled aside and asked for a few extra medication samples, especially pain medications before they are being discharged to return home. Medical assistants are NOT authorized to hand out ANY medication samples without the doctor's knowledge and approval. To be safe the patient's request, and the doctor's approval, or your refusal should be recorded in the patient's chart and initialed by the medical assistant and doctor.

• When attempting to obtain a blood sample form a vein and the blood draw is unsuccessful, or painful, the patient has the right to refuse further attempts. A medical assistant should never try to persuade the patient, or flat out insist on further tries to complete the procedure. Rather, he/she should defer the task to a more experienced person, such as a phlebotomist, or the doctor after 2-3 failed attempts.
  
• When taking measures to reduce a patient's pain a medical assistant can do all of the following without a doctor's orders:

- reduce noise and disturbance
- dim light and provide fresh air
- provide distraction or diversion
- help the patient into a position of comfort unless contraindicated

Establishing Written Policies and Right of Refusal

These were only a few examples of what a medical assistant can and cannot do. REMEMBER: as a medical assistant professional you have the right to refuse to perform an action you are not trained or uncomfortable with. To cover all angles, the medical office supervisor should establish written policies addressing special situations and responsibilities concerning medical assistant duties and responsibilities. More on the Medical Assistant's Scope of Practice here.