Medical assistants are an important part of any medical team, handling many clinical and administrative duties. Their primary role is providing support to doctors and nurses so they can focus on patient care.
Although there are many things that medical assistants can do, there are certain things they are not allowed to do.
What Can Medical Assistants Do?
There are many tasks a medical assistant can do within a medical office or healthcare facility, such as:
- Welcoming patients, answering the phone, registering patients for a visit
- Taking patient vital signs, like blood pressure
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Preparing exam rooms between patients
- Preparing and updating patient medical records
- Ordering office and medical supplies from vendors
- Preparing patients for medical examinations
- Maintain patient charts
- Clean and sterilize medical tools and equipment
- Helping physicians with medical examinations
- Input insurance information
- Move patient information from paper records to electronic health records (EHR)
- Remove sutures care for wounds, and change dressings
- Collect blood and urine specimens for lab tests
- Instruct patients about medications and special diets they may need
- Give vaccine or immunization shots, if their state regulations allow
- Answer patient questions or direct them to the appropriate person on healthcare team
This is not a comprehensive list, but it should give a good idea of the responsibilities a medical assistant would typically perform.
What Medical Assistants Cannot Do
Medical assistants are not allowed to perform certain tasks, including:
- Diagnosing patients or evaluating patients
- Interpret or analyze test results
- Recommending or changing a treatment plan
- Write or refill a prescription
- Perform physical therapy
- Independently administer or distribute medication (without physician’s supervision)
- Starting or disconnecting an IV
- Injecting medication into an IV line
- Inserting a urine catheter
- Injecting collagen or Botox
- Administering chemotherapy treatments
- Operating laser equipment
- Charting pupil responses for eye examination
- Administering anesthesia
- Performing any type of invasive procedure, including spinal tap, epidural, endoscopy, colonoscopy
- Taking x-rays
- Interpreting the results of skin tests (example: for dermatology), or pregnancy tests
- Performing telephone triage, this must be done by a nurse or physician
- Advising patients about their medical conditions
- Apply orthopedic splints
- Perform chemical peels or microdermabrasion
- Apply a skin allergy test
- Determine that any diagnostic test is required
- Administer oxygen to patients
- Cauterize a wound
- Collect nasopharyngeal swabs
Medical assistants are not licensed to practice medicine, so they are not allowed to replace trained professionals such as registered nurses, nurse practitioners (advanced practice nurses), physician’s assistants, or physicians.
In short, medical assistants cannot perform any procedure, technique, or treatment that would constitute the practice of medicine.
Scope of Duties and State Specific Regulations
Some states have laws stating medical assistants can perform any task for which they are qualified to do, that they are not restricted from doing by state laws.
Keep in mind that a handful of states have very specific laws about restrictions on medical assistants and certain tasks they can perform. Check regulations for your state to find what is allowed.
Ultimately, the responsibility for what a medical assistant does falls on the physician whose license they are working under.
Become a Certified Medical Assistant in 36 Weeks
If you want to start your healthcare career, Campus, formerly MTI College, has a medical assistant training program at our Sacramento location. In about 36 weeks, you’ll learn the skills you need to begin your medical assistant career.
If you also want to get your phlebotomy certification, we also have a Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy program that lets you earn both certifications in about 48 weeks.
If you want to learn more about our medical career training programs, contact our Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.