Therefore, healthcare providers need to determine medical assistants’ scope of practice by checking their state's statutes and reg ulations. There are many different factors that can make one well suited to be a medical assistant. UAPs also provide bedside care—including basic nursing procedures—all under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or other health care professional. The mission of the American Association of Medical Assistants is to provide the medical assistant professional with education, certification, credential acknowledgment, networking opportunities, scope-of-practice protection, and advocacy for quality patient-centered health care. They are allowed to perform certain medical tasks, including taking a patient’s vital signs and administering medication. In that case, the facility would be allowed to transfer or discharge the resident if the resident's stay is no longer covered by long-term care insurance and he/she is unable to continue to pay privately. A nurse goes beyond the basic duties of a medical assistant (vitals and injections) and treats patients on a much deeper level. Some skills are personal and need to be cultivated outside a classroom, such as effective communication, organization, and empathy, while others can be taught, like how to take a blood pressure reading. In some states, medical assistants can also give patients injections under the doctor's supervision. Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. Generally, you would be allowed to take a person's medical history, take vital signs, help the practitioner with examinations, schedule patient appointment and prepare blood for tests. Medical Assistants Moving Up: A New Opportunity in Nursing. When medical care or treatment is provided, medical practitioners are required in many situations to obtain a patient's informed consent, which means they understand the treatment (its risks, benefits, etc.) Medical assistants, in particular, are never allowed to administer intravenous medications or evaluate a patient. A more detailed list of approved procedures can be found here. Skills for Medical Assistants. It’s a generally accepted duty of the care provider, and right of the patient, to obtain informed consent. In Demand | Medical assisting is one of the nation's careers growing much faster than average for all occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, attributing job growth to the following: Generally, no. Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are paraprofessionals who assist individuals with physical disabilities, mental impairments, and other health care needs with their activities of daily living (ADLs). Physicians generally should not treat themselves or members of their immediate families. Medical assistants have a clearly stated scope of practice in some states ; however, in other states, no laws exist regarding medical assistants. More information about the medical assistant profession in Florida can be found at the Florida Health Education Centers Network. Learn about this and more at FindLaw's Patient Rights section. and have approved its use. The only exception is if the facility is not certified to accept payment from the Medi-Cal program. Some medical assistants enjoy helping patients so much that they decide to transition to a career in nursing. Informed consent is an ethical and legal concept that relates to medical decision-making. 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