Check who's injecting you your Botox...

Doctors Allowing Medical Assistants to Illegally Administer Certain Drugs

It seems doctors and medical office managers still don't clearly understand what medical assistants can and cannot do...

As seen in the news: [Sep 9, 2009 09:17 PM, abc 13 Action News] "Nevada Board of Medical Examiners finds under-qualified medical staff administering drugs... The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners has found many physicians in Nevada are allowing medical assistants to illegally administer certain drugs, including Botox."

And so the confusion about the medical assistant's scope of practice continues.

Where Can I Go for Answers?

The Medical Practice Act and the Board of Medical Examiners govern the practice of medicine to protect the health, safety and well being of citizens in the United States of America. These boards have ruled that physicians are accountable for the actions of medical assistants under their employ. Therefore a good place to start asking questions regarding the medical assistant's scope of practice is the State Board of Medical Examiners.

Guidance and Information:

State Medical Board/Board of Medical Examiners
The State Medical Board may investigate, assess and handle certain questions or concerns about a medical practice, doctors and their medical assistants.

State Department of Public Health
Contact your local Health department.

State Board of Nursing/Nursing Department
The State Board of Nursing establishes rules and regulations for the licensure and practice of professional and practical nursing and may also include rules regarding medical assistants.

National Professional Membership and Certification Bodies
Certified medical assistants may also receive guidance regarding their scope of practice from their professional association or certifying body's local chapter. Their headquargers may be able to determine whether there were any complaints against a medical assistant.

Additional resources which may be useful to those who seek guidance as to whether specific tasks are within the medical assistant's scope of practice may include professional literature, medical assistant textbooks, and medical assistant professional membership organizations to inquire about their national guidelines.