| Many physicians are unsure of what tasks are | | | | coordinated to maximize workflow in a practice. |
| appropriate to assign to a Medical Assistant. It is | | | | Communicating the Medical Assistant roles to other |
| important to remember Medical Assistants are not | | | | staff and clearly delineating their responsibilities is |
| licensed to make independent medical assessments | | | | important in maximizing the productivity of the health |
| or give advice. Although many Medical Assistants may | | | | care team.Although legal requirements addressing the |
| have advanced training in certain clinical areas it is | | | | Medical Assistant scope of practice vary by state, |
| ultimately the responsibility of the supervising | | | | the Medical Assistant generally works under the |
| physician or other licensed health care provider to | | | | license of their supervising physician or the managed |
| assure that their staff and Medical Assistants working | | | | care organization that employs them. To learn more |
| in the office are performing duties in compliance with | | | | about medical assisting scope of practice, contact |
| all governing laws.Physicians must determine the skill | | | | Donald A. Balasa, Executive Director and Legal |
| level and capabilities of each Medical Assistant they | | | | Counsel of the American Association of Medical |
| supervise and take into account liability risk and | | | | Assistants, by e-mail at .Below are some of the |
| quality control when assigning them their | | | | duties that a typical medical assistant may perform (it |
| responsibilities. Physicians should provide initial direct | | | | is important to check with local and state medical |
| supervision and periodically assess the quality of their | | | | boards to determine what duties a medical assistant |
| work. In practices with nurse managers, medical | | | | can legally perform. |
| assistants can receive additional supervision | | | | |