Standards of care

As a medical assistant, you are expected to fulfill the standards of the medical assisting profession by practicing appropriate legal concepts for your profession. According to the AAMA, medical assistants should uphold legal concepts in the following ways:

• Maintain confidentiality.
• Practice within the scope of training and capabilities.
• Prepare and maintain medical records.
• Document accurately.
• Use appropriate guidelines when releasing patient information.
• Follow legal guidelines and maintain awareness of healthcare legislation and regulations.
• Maintain and dispose of regulated substances in compliance with government guidelines.
• Follow established risk management and safety procedures.
• Meet the requirements for professional credentialing.

Some state laws dictate what medical assistants may or may not do. For instance, in some states, it is illegal for medical assistants to give injections to patients. No state considers it legal for a medical assistant to diagnose a condition, prescribe treatment, or allow a patient to believe that the medical assistant is a nurse. In addition to what is stated by law, you and the physician must establish your scope of practice- the procedures that are appropriate for you to perform while working under the physician’s supervision. Once that scope of practice is agreed upon, you must continue to stay within that scope of practice unless the scope is updated or changed by mutual agreement. For instance, your scope of practice may change if laws change in your state or if you receive additional training, increasing your skill and/or credential level, which allows an increase in responsibilities for your position.

Scope of practice for medical assistants

**Scope of practice **is defined as the range of responsibilities and practice guidelines that determine the boundaries within which a healthcare worker practices. What is the scope of practice of a medical assistant? There is no single definition of the scope of practice for medical assistants throughout the United States, but some states have enacted scope of practice laws covering medical assistant practice. These states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Medical assistants working in those states must refer to the identified roles specified in the law. However, for those employed in states without scope of practice laws, medical assistant practice is guided by the norms of that particular location, facility policies and procedures, and individual provider-employers.

In some states, medical assistants are overseen by the board of nursing, whereas in others, the board of medicine oversees medical assistants. It is important for you to know your state’s rules governing medical assistants’ scope of practice.

One fact is absolutely true about all practicing medical assistants-They are not independent practitioners. Whether certified or not, regardless of length of training or experience, every medical assistant must practice under the direct supervision of a physician or licensed provider (nurse, practitioner, or physician assistant).

Professional medical assisting organizations, credentials, and continuing education

Becoming a member of a professional organization, obtaining credentials, and participating in continuing education are all part of being a professional medical assistant. In this next section, you will find information about the different professional organizations and how to obtain a medical assistant credential, and continuing education.

Most healthcare organizations have high standards for quality and performance. A code of ethics is also developed by the organization to help guide the actions of those in that particular profession. Professional organizations provide many benefits to their members, including opportunities for continuing education, national and regional conventions, and networking opportunities. Medical assisting is no different. Becoming a member of a professional organization will also show your employer that you are committed to being the best medical assistant. The following sections describe three of the main professional medical organizations available.

The American Association of Medical Assistants

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) was founded in 1956 and remains the only association devoted exclusively to the medical assisting profession. According to the AAMA’s website, becoming a member includes the following benefits:

• AAMA legal counsel represents medical assistants across the United States to fight for the rights of medical assistant practice; in addition, the counsel stays abreast of federal and state laws regarding medical assisting.
• Members receive a complimentary subscription to CMA Today, an informative magazine devoted entirely to the medical assisting profession; each issue (six per year) offers continuing education unit (CEU) articles, medical assisting news, and healthcare information.

American Medical Technologists

The American Medical Technologists (AMT) was founded in 1939 as a nationally recognized certification agency for multiple allied health professionals, including medical assistants (RMA), medical laboratory technicians (MLT), phlebotomy technicians (RPT), medical administrative specialists (CMAS), and dental assistants (RDA).

The following are benefits to becoming a member of AMT:

• Professional publications
• Annual conventions
• State society meetings and seminars
• Continuing education
• Career services
• Awards and scholarships

Additional information can be found on their website.

The National Healthcareer Association

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) was established in 1990 to offer certification examinations in a number of allied health programs. Certifications can be obtained in pharmacy, phlebotomy, and electrocardiography (ECG) technician. NHA also offers two different certifications in medical assisting: certified medical administrative assistant (CMAA) and certified medical clinical assistant (CCMA). NHA is not involved in program curriculum standards or program accreditation. Certifications are only offered to applicants who successfully pass the NHA examination developed for each specific medical discipline. You can obtain more information on their website.