The Medical Assistant Professional (de facto)
What Is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is best defined as a de
facto member of the health care team trained to assist
licensed medical professionals, and practitioners. (*De
facto is a Latin expression that means of the fact, or
in practice, but not ordained by law). The title
medical assistant may have legal status is some countries, but
here in the United States it still remains a largely
unregulated, and loosely defined group of health care workers
helping doctors with patients.
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Trained Medical Assistants in the U.S.A.
Historically, medical assistants in the U.S.A. were trained
on the job, usually by a doctor, or other practicing
licensed medical professional who hired them. However, with the
vast expansion of modern medicine knowledge, and
technology there is an ever increasing demand for medical
assistants that have graduated from vocational schools,
technical institutes, community colleges, or recognized online
educational programs, and have achieved their
certifications.
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ATTENTION Medical
Assistant:
As you
already
know, working medical
assistants, as well as graduates from a
qualifying vocational training program
should seek their professional
certification
ASAP.
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Why Become a Medical Assistant?
All medical assistants MUST work under the direct
supervision of a doctor, or licensed health care practitioner.
If a medical assistant did not have any prior experience,
or formal training they can be trained right on the job in
form of clear instructions on what to do, and being shown how
to do it.
Contributed by Jenny, MA Student
More in our Medical Assistant
Forum
You have to
ask yourself why you want to be a medical assistant.
If it is for the money realize that it is average
pay at best. BUT if you
want a job in the medical field where you can make a
difference every day, I think you would enjoy being an
MA! This is the reason I'm doing it, not for the
money, but for the good feeling of helping many
people! 
The Medical Assistant's Role
Once adequately trained medical
assistants must take great care to function only within
their specific scope of practice appropriate for their
state. This means, they can ONLY perform duties they are
allowed to do, and provide direct patient care ONLY in the
presence of a practicing physician, or licensed health care
provider. Among other things, this includes strict
rules for administering injections,
and x-rays, starting IVs lines, and
performing venipunctures.
What a Medical Assistant Is
NOT!
A
medical assistant is NOT a licensed, practicing healthcare
professional! It is extremely important to understand that ALL
medical assistants, whether certified, or not, are required to
work under the direct supervision of a licensed healthcare
practitioner, such as a medical doctor, surgeon, or nurse
practitioner. They are the supervising authority, and
the only ones that are allowed to assign
medical office routines, and health care
procedures to a medical assistant under their
license.
- Professional Expectations
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