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Medical Assistants in the Medical Office: "Why Do Doctors Hire Them?"

It has been long predicted that doctors will change the way they select their staff. All doctors have an ethical obligation to provide competent patient care, and those that run their own full-time, or part-time private practice as general or specialist practitioners are actually running a small business. With so much at stake, it comes as no surprise that the vast majority of them seek experienced, certified medical assistants when they hire. 

Who Is In Charge of the Medical Assistant?

With the absence of a requirement for licensing and mandatory certification in the U.S.A. the employer, usually a doctor, is in charge of medical assistants under their employ. This can also be another type of licensed health care practitioner, e.g. a licensed nurse practitioner, or physicians assistant (PA). Furthermore, when a registered nurse, employed by a doctor delegates a task to a medical assistant, then the nurse becomes the supervisor of that task, while the doctor is responsible.

Established Professional Standards

Medical assistants must practice only methods and procedures that are commonly accepted in their profession, and in which they were properly instructed, trained, and supervised. Those who have received special training are expected to perform at a higher standard of care than those without special knowledge, or training.

Medical assistants who disregard established professional standards and attempt to perform procedures, or tasks beyond their training, capabilities, or lawful scope of practice are in danger of exposing themselves, the patients, and their supervisors to serious consequences and liability issues. More on Medical Assistant's Scope of Practice.

Median Medical Assistant Pay Scale

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) (United States)

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