Administrative medical assisting 5th by lindh chapter01

Chapter 1The Medical Assisting Profession... of Education • 1991: American Association of Medical Assistants AAMA approved current definition of medical assisting... Education of the M

Chapter 1

The Medical Assisting Profession

Historical Perspective of

Profession

• Nursing: role of management, training, assisting provider in clinical procedures

• 1978: profession of medical assisting recognized by U.S Dept of Education

• 1991: American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) approved current

definition of medical assisting

Career Opportunities

• Versatile and multifaceted profession

• Employment in variety of settings

• 500,000 MAs in workforce

• Projections of more than 650,000 by 2018

Education of the Medical Assistant

• Community colleges, junior colleges,

proprietary schools

• Requirements based on entry-level MA responsibilities in medical office

• New mode of education is online

education

• Student receives diploma or certificate

• Associate’s and bachelor’s degree

Education of the Medical Assistant

• Courses in a Medical Assisting Program

– Administrative

– General

– Clinical

– Practicum (externship and internship)

• Sites

• Benefits

Accreditation of MA Programs

• CAAHEP

– Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health

Education Programs

– Accrediting body for medical assisting programs in private and public postsecondary institutions

– Standards are minimum standards of quality

– On-site review teams evaluate program’s

compliance

Accreditation of MA Programs

• ABHES

– Accrediting Bureau of Health Education School – Accreditation to medical assisting programs in public and private schools and colleges that offer health education

Attributes of MA Professional

• As you watch the video clip, write down all the characteristics that Dee is

lacking.

• After you watch the video clip, do you see any similarities between Dee and yourself?

Attributes of MA Professional

• Communication

• Presentation

• Appearance

• Good personal hygiene practices

• A smile

• Follow dress code for your facility

• Use of correct body mechanics

Attributes of MA Professional

• Manual dexterity

• Empathy

• Good attitude

• Competency

• Dependability

Measuring blood pressure

requires the MA to see

and hear well >>

Attributes of MA Professional

• Flexibility

• Initiative

• Desire to learn

• Integrity

• Accountability

• Ethical behavior

• American Association of Medical

Assistants (AAMA)

– Founded in 1956

– Certification

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

• Voluntary, not mandatory, for medical assistants to practice

• Continuing education requirement for recertification of CMA credential

• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

– Founded in 1939

– Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

• 1972: AMT established certification examination

• Voluntary credential for medical assistants

• National exam

• Certified Medical Administrative

Specialist (CMAS)

– Competent in multitude of skills

– Familiar with clinical and administrative concepts – Credentials help secure medical assistant’s role in health care field

• Continuing education

– Certification Continuation Program (CCP)

– To maintain RMA credential, you must obtain 30 points in 3-year period

• National Healthcareer Association

– Certifies and offers continuing education course development

– Membership services for professionals

– Registry for certified professionals

– Two ways to attain certification

• National certification exam

• NHA home study courses

• Continuing education

– Courses offered online

– Certification remains current

– NHA recognized and approved by many organizations

National Center for Competency

Testing (NCCT)

• Independent certifying body for many allied health professions

• Two routes:

– Graduation from approved educational program – Qualifying work experience

• National Certified Medical Assistant

(NCMA)

Regulation of Health Care Providers

• Credentialing regulates health care

providers, which ensures:

– Competence of health care providers

– Minimum standard of knowledge, training, skill

– Limiting of performance of certain procedures to specific occupation

– Licensure, certification, registration are three kinds

of regulations/credentialing

Regulation of Health Care Providers

• Scope of practice

– Medical assistants not licensed

– Medicine and nursing licensed professions

– License: regulates activities of professions by laws that specify educational requirements and define scope of practice

– MAs can become certified voluntarily