Ch 16 The Professional MA

MEDICAL
ASSISTANT

PROFESSIONALISM

WHAT IS AN
MEDICAL
ASSISTANT?

Defined by the AAMA as a multiskilled member of the
health care team who performs administrative and clinical tasks under the supervision of a licensed provider.

Personal attributes should include being courteous, conscientious, enthusiastic, & caring.

Professional characteristics should include reliable,
proficient, knowledgeable, and shows initiative.

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF?

◼ Do you communicate well?

◼ How do you present yourself?

◼ Are you competent?

◼ Do you have initiative?

◼ Do you possess integrity?

ROLE
VERSUS
SCOPE

◼ Duties of the MA profession

◼ Telephones

◼ Data Entry

◼ Coding

◼ Correspondence

◼ Scheduling

◼ Medical History

◼ VS, ECG, Wound care

◼ Medication Reconciliation

◼ Prepare patients, Educate patients

◼ Collect specimens/Phlebotomy

◼ Test specimens

◼ Prepare/Administer medications

LICENSURE VERSUS CERTIFICATION

LICENSURE

◼Mandatory

◼Legislated by states

◼Illegal to work without

CERTIFICATION

◼Voluntary

◼Must work under supervision of provider

◼Must work within scope of training and state law

ATTRIBUTES

◼CONSCIENTIOUS- meticulous, careful

◼ADHERENCE- sticking to something, follow-through

◼INTEGRITY-adhering to ethical standards or right conduct standards

◼COURTESY- being polite

◼RESPECT- showing consideration or appreciation

◼COMPASSION- deep awareness of suffering of another and wanting to ease that suffering

◼TACTFULNESS- sensitive to what is proper and appropriate when interacting with others.

◼DIPLOMACY- using tact and sensitivity when interacting with others

◼EMPATHY- the ability to understand another's perspective, experiences, or motivations.

SETTING

◼ The MA will work primarily in an ambulatory setting.

◼ “Customers” will be patients, family members or caregivers,
providers,

co-workers, and allied health professionals.

◼ What is an “internal” customer versus “external” customer?

BEHAVIORS TO AVOID!

◼ GOSSIP

◼ Accessing charts

inappropriately

◼ Being too familiar with

patients

◼ Presenting unprofessional

MEDICAL ASSISTANT EMPLOYMENT ROLES

◼ Traditional-in office providing clinical care and performing

administrative duties.

◼ Care Coordinator- goal is to reduce cost, increase efficiency,

provide greater patient care

◼ Patient Navigator-or advocate- for the chronically ill

◼ Scribe- data entry of provider-dictated information

◼ Telemedicine-assisting with telecommunications technology

◼ Liaison- go between worker for the patient and provider

SCOPE: STATE
DEFINES THE
REQUIREMENTS
AND
CAPABILITIES OF
AN UNLICENSED
HEALTHCARE
TEAM MEMBER

Know your state’s
scope!

OP.NYSED.GOV

PERFORMING DELEGATED TASKS: 3 CRITERIA MUST BE MET

◼The task must be allowed by state law

◼The task is withing the medical assistant's scope of

practice

◼MA is knowledgeable and competent to
perform

the task

QUESTIONS?

1. confront the other MA in front of patient

2. Open a new box

3. Wait until the other MA is available to inquire about the supply

You are performing an ECG, your patient is in a hurry. You filled the supply of electrodes this morning. The supply is now empty. Another MA just performed an ECG and is in an exam room with a patient.
What do you do?

Field Application Challenge

EMPATHY
VERSUS
SYMPATHY:
ADDED
ELEMENT OF
SYMPATHY

RELIABILITY
DEPENDABILITY

HOW YOU
AFFECT YOUR
TEAM

You finish early. You notice another MA running behind. Other MAs refuse to help because they have other commitments and are not fond of this MA. You have plans and you remember this MA mentioning that she was attending a birthday party for her mother.
How would you handle this situation?

Field Application Challenge

Poll

You finish early. You notice another MA running behind. Other MAs refuse to help because they have other commitments and are not fond of this MA. You have plans and you remember this MA mentioning that she was attending a birthday party for her mother.
How would you handle this situation?

• Leave as you planned

• Stay and assist the MA

• Enlist the help of others so everyone can leave early

TEAMWORK:
HANDLING
CRITICISM

◼NO DEFENSIVENESS

◼ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Clothes

2. Hair/Nails

3. Cosmetics

4. Cologne/Perfume

5. Jewelry

6. Tattoos

7. Hygiene

8. Posture

​

​APPEARANCE

QUESTIONS?

HOW TO HANDLE DIFFERENCES?

CHAIN OF
COMMAND

SUPERVISOR

SUPERVIOR

OF

SUPERVISOR

FOLLOW
FACILITY
POLICY

Multiple Choice

WHICH HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS?

• Volume of Paperwork

• Managed Care’s emphasis on ambulatory care

• Baby Boomers beginning to retire

• All of these

CERTIFICATION

◼ IS IT MANDATORY?

◼ WHO IS OCC ALLIGNED WITH?

◼ WHAT OTHER CERTIFYING ENTITIES CAN YOU BE CERTIFIED BY?

Open Ended

WHO IS OCC ALLIED WITH FOR CERTIFICATION?

Multiple Choice

CERTIFICATION IS MANDATORY.

• TRUE

• FALSE

QUESTIONS?