Transcript File - Mackay Education

The Medical
Assistant &
The Healthcare
Team
Page 15 - 31
Page 17
The History of Medicine
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Andreas Versalius Father of modern anatomy; wrote
(1514-1564)
first anatomy book
William Harvey Discovered the circulatory
(1578-1657)
system
Anton van
First to observe microbes through
Leeuwenhoek
a lens; developed the first
(1632-1723)
microscope
John Hunter
Founder of scientific surgery
(1728-1793)
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Edward Jenner
Developed smallpox vaccine
(1749-1823)
First physician to recommend
hand washing to prevent
Ignaz
puerperal fever; believed there
Semmelweis
was a connection between
(1818-1865)
performing autopsies & then
delivering babies that caused
puerperal fever in new mothers
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Florence
Nightingale
Founder of nursing
(1820-1910)
Clara Barton
Established the American Red
(1821-1912)
Cross
Elizabeth
First woman in the United States
Blackwell (1821- to earn a Doctor of Medicine
1910)
degree
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Father of bacteriology &
preventative medicine; developed
Louis Pasteur
pasteurization & established the
(1822-1895)
connection between germs &
disease
Father of sterile surgery;
Joseph Lister
developed antiseptic method for
(1827-1912)
surgery
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Developed Koch's postulates, a
Robert Koch
theory of causative agents for
(1843-1910)
disease; discovered the cause of
cholera
William Roentgen
Discovered the x-ray
(1845-1923)
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Proved that yellow fever was
Walter Reed
transmitted by mosquito bites
(1851-1902)
while in the U.S. Army serving in
Cuba
Paul Ehrlich
Injected chemicals for the first
(1854-1915)
time to treat disease (syphilis)
Marie Curie
Discovered radium & polonium
(1867-1934)
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Alexander
Fleming (1881- Discovered penicillin
1955)
Developed the oral live-virus
Albert Sabin
vaccine for polio 10 years after
(1906-1993)
Salk developed the first injected
vaccine
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Founded neonatology; developed
Virginia Apgar
the Apgar score, which assesses
(1909-1974)
the status of newborns
Developed the first safe &
Jonas Salk (1914effective injectable vaccine for
1955)
polio
Christian Barnard Performed the first human heart
(1922-2001)
transplant
Page 17
The History of Medicine: Cont.
Medical Pioneers & Their Achievements
Name
Achievement
Edwin Carl Wood Pioneered the technique of in vitro
(1929-2011)
fertilization (IVF)
Research pioneer in acquired
David Ho (1952- ) immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS)
Page 18
National Departments & Agencies
That Focus on Health

Department of Health & Human Services (HHS):
Responsible for providing essential human services
& protecting the health of all Americans.
 Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC):
Agency concerned with health.
 National Institutes of Health (NIH): part of the
HHS & seeks to improve health.
 Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA): responsible for establishing & enforcing
regulations to protect individuals in the workplace.
Page 18
Professional Medical Assisting
Organizations
 American
Association of Medical Assistants
(AAMA) formed in 1956, devoted exclusively to
the medical assisting profession. www.aamantl.org
 Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs (CAAHEP) formed in 1993,
in charge of the accreditation process
 Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
(ABHES) in charge of the accreditation process
 National Certification Examination
Page 18
Professional Medical Assisting
Organizations: Cont.
 American
Medical Technologists (AMT) formed
in 1939, certification agency for multiple allied
health professionals. www.americanmedtech.org/
 National
Commission for Certifying Agencies
(NCCA). Accredits the AMT.
 The
National Healthcare Association (NHA)
formed in 1990, offers certification examination
in a number of allied health programs;
www.nhanow.com/
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job Description
 Medical
assistants are the only allied health
professionals specifically trained to work in
ambulatory care settings, such as physician’s
offices, clinics, & group practices.
 The skills performed by an entry-level medical
assistant depend on his or her place of
employment, but all graduates of accredited
programs are taught a similar skill set.
 The training includes both clinical &
administrative skills, covering a multitude of
medical practice needs.
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job
Description: Cont.
Clinical Skills Include:
 Assisting during physical examinations
 Performing patient screening procedures
 Assisting with minor surgical procedures,
including sterilization procedures
 Performing electrocardiograms (ECGs)
 Obtaining & recording vital signs & medical
histories
 Performing first aid procedures as needed
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job
Description: Cont.
 Preforming
phlebotomy
 Performing tests permitted by the Clinical
Laboratory Improvement Amendments (i.e.,
CLIA-waived tests)
 Collecting & managing laboratory specimens
 Following OSHA regulations on infection control
 Administering vaccinations & medications as
ordered by the practitioner
 Performing infection control procedures
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job
Description: Cont.
 Performing
patient education & coaching
initiatives within the scope of practice
 Documenting accurately in a paper record or an
EHR
 Applying therapeutic communication techniques
 Acting within legal & ethical boundaries
 Adapting to the special needs of a patient based
on his or her developmental life stage, cultural
diversity, & individual communication barriers
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job
Description: Cont.
 Acting
as a patient advocate or navigator,
including referring patients to community
resources
Administrative skills include:
 Answering telephones
 Managing patient scheduling
 Creating & maintaining patient health records
 Documenting accurately in a paper record & an
EHR
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job
Description: Cont.
 Performing
routine maintenance of facility
equipment
 Performing basic practice finance procedures
 Coordinating third-party reimbursement
 Performing procedural & diagnostic coding
 Communicating professionally with patients,
family members, practitioners, peers, & the
public
 Managing facility correspondence
Page 18
Medical Assisting Job
Description: Cont.
 Performing
patient education & coaching
initiatives within the scope of practice
 Following
legal & ethical principles
 Complying
with facility safety practices
Page 19
Allied Health Professionals
health professionals – those who can act
only under the authority of a licensed medical
practitioner (e.g., MD, DO, optometrist, dentist,
pharmacist, podiatrist, or chiropractor)
 The term “allied health” is used to identify a
cluster of healthcare professional, encompassing
as many as 200 careers.
 Allied
Page 20
Medical Professionals
 Primary
care providers (PCPs) are often referred
to as “gatekeepers,” because most insurance
policies require that patients first must be
assessed &, if possible, treated by the PCP before
they are referred to a specialist for more advanced
assessment & care.
Doctors of Medicine
 Medical doctors (MDs) are considered allopathic
physicians. They are the most widely recognized
type of physician. They diagnose illness &
prescribe treatment for their patients.
Page 20
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Doctors of Osteopathy
 Osteopathic
physicians (DOs) complete
requirements similar to those of MDs to graduate
& practice medicine. Osteopaths use medicine &
surgery, in addition to the osteopathic
manipulative therapy(OMT), in treating their
patients. Dos stress preventive medicine &
holistic patient care, in addition to a special focus
on the musculoskeletal system & OMT.
Page 20
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Doctors of Chiropractic
 Chiropractic Doctors(DCs) typically are thought
of as “bone doctors,” but they actually focus on
the nervous system to help patients live healthier
lives. The intention of the chiropractic adjustment
is to remove any disruptions or distortions of the
nervous system that may be caused by slight
misalignments.
Page 20
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Hospitalists
 Hospitalists are physicians whose primary
professional focus is the general medical care of
hospitalized patients. Most hospitalists are
employed by the healthcare facility instead of
having individual freestanding offices in which
patients are seen & treated. Hospitalists work a
specific, set number of hours each week &
receive a set salary from their employers.
Page 25
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Dentists
 There is no difference in training between dentists
with a “DDS” or a “DMD.” The two degrees
mean the same thing: the dentist graduated from
an accredited dental school. DDS stands for
Doctor of Dental Surgery, & DMD stands for
Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of
Dental Medicine.
 The university where each dental school is based
determines the degree in dentistry that is awarded.
Page 25
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Optometrists
 The optometrist (OD) is trained & licensed to
examine the eyes, to test visual acuity, & to treat
vision defects by prescribing correctional lenses
& other optical aids.
Podiatrists
 Podiatrists (Doctors of Podiatric Medicine
[DPMs]) are educated in the care of the feet,
including surgical treatment. Podiatrists are
trained to find pressure points & weightdistribution problems.
Page 26
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Nurse Practitioners
 Nurse practitioner (NPs) provide basic patient
care services, including diagnosing & prescribing
medications for common illnesses, or they may
have additional training & expertise in a specialty
area of medicine.
Page 26
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Nurse Anesthetists
 Nurse anesthetists are registered nurses (RNs)
who administer anesthetics to patients during
surgical or inpatient diagnostic procedures. They
practice in many different healthcare settings,
including hospital surgical areas, labor, &
delivery units, ophthalmology offices, plastic
surgery offices, & many others.
Page 26
Medical Professionals: Cont.
Physician Assistants
 A physician assistant (PA) is a certified healthcare
professional who provides diagnostic, therapeutic,
& preventive healthcare services under the
supervision of a medical doctor.
Page 26
Types of Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals
 Hospitals are classified according to the type of
care & services they provide to patients & by the
type of ownership. There are three different levels
of hospitalized care, which are interconnected.
Primary Level of Care
 Smaller city or community hospitals
 Usually serve as the first level of contact between
the community members & the hospital setting
Page 26
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
Secondary Level of Care
 Both
PCPs & specialists provide care
 Larger
municipal or district hospitals that provide
a wider variety of specialty care & departments
Tertiary Level of Care
 Referral
system for primary or secondary care
facilities
 Provide
care for complicated cases & trauma
 Medical
centers, regional & specialty hospitals
Page 26
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
 Private
hospitals are run by a corporation or other
organization & usually are designed to produce a
profit for the owners or stockholders.
 Nonprofit hospitals exist to serve the community
in which they are located & are normally run by a
board of directors. The term nonprofit sometimes
is misleading, because “profit” is different from
“making money.” A nonprofit hospital or
organization may make money in a campaign or
fundraiser, but all of the money is returned to the
organization.
Page 26
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
 A hospital
system is a group of facilities that are
affiliated & work toward a common goal. Many
hospital systems are designed as integrated health
delivery systems.
 An integrate delivery system (IDS) is a network
of healthcare providers & organizations that
provides or arranges to provide a coordinated
continuum of services to a defined population &
is willing to be held clinically & fiscally
accountable for the clinical outcomes & health
status of the population served.
Page 26
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
 Accreditation
is considered the highest form of
recognition for the quality of care a facility or
organization provides. Not only does it indicate to
the public that the facility is concerned with
providing high-quality care, it also provides
professional liability insurance benefits & plays a
role in regulatory agency re-licensure &
certification efforts.
Page 27
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
Ambulatory Care
 Ambulatory care centers include a wide range of
facilities that offer healthcare services to patients
who seek outpatient health services. Physician’s
offices, group practices, & multispecialty group
practices are common types of ambulatory care
facilities, & medical assistance can be employed
in all of these practices.
Page 27
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
Other Healthcare Facilities
 Diagnostic laboratories offer testing services for
patients referred by their provides.
 Home health agencies or hospital-affiliated home
healthcare organizations provide crucial services
to patients who require medical follow-up but are
not in a hospital setting. Home healthcare
includes therapy services, administration of &
assistance with medications, wound care, & other
services so that the patient can remain at home,
yet still obtain consistent medical attention.
Page 28
Types of Healthcare Facilities: Cont.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home
 According to the Agency for Healthcare Research
& Quality (AHRQ), the patient-centered medical
home has five core functions and attributes:
• Comprehensive care
• Patient-centered care
• Coordinated care
• Accessible services
• Quality & safety

http://pcmh.ahrq.gov
Page 28
Scope of Practice & Standards of
Care for Medical Assistants
 Scope
of practice is defined as the range of
responsibilities & practice guidelines that
determine the boundaries within which a
healthcare worker practices.
 Make sure you are aware of your states’ rules
governing medical assistant scope of practice.
Page 28
Scope of Practice & Standards of
Care for Medical Assistants
 Specific
task that are beyond the scope of practice
for medical assistants:
• Performing telephone or in-person triage;
medical assistants are not legally authorized to
assess or diagnose symptoms
• Prescribing medications or making
recommendations about over-the-counter drugs
& remedies
• Giving out drug samples without provider
permission
Page 28
Scope of Practice & Standards of
Care for Medical Assistants
•
Automatically submitting refill prescription
requests without provider orders
•
Administering intravenous (IV) medications &
starting, flushing, or removing IV lines unless
permitted by state law
•
Analyzing or interpreting test results
•
Operating laser equipment
Page 28
Scope of Practice & Standards of
Care for Medical Assistants
 Standard
of care is a legal term that refers to
whether the level & quality of patient service
provided is the same as what another healthcare
worker with similar training & experience in a
similar situation would provide.
 Medical assistants not meeting the expected
standard of care may be charged with professional
negligence
Page 29
Closing Comments
 A crucial
role of medical assistants is to act as the
patient’s navigator; that is, to help patients
understand & comply with complex care issues.
 Medical
assistant practice must align with state &
regional scope of practice laws & must meet
expected standards of care.
 Medical
assistants must always act under the
direction of a physician or provider; they cannot
diagnose, prescribe, or treat patients
independently.
Page 29
Closing Comments
Patient Education
 Some patients have very little knowledge about
the healthcare industry & may need instruction &
explanations about details important to their
healthcare. They often call the healthcare facility
with questions; therefore, MAs must understand
the wide variety of healthcare facilities & medical
resources available in the community. Become
familiar with community resources to make
provider-approved referrals for patients who need
help from various sources.
Page 30
Closing Comments
Legal & Ethical Issues
 MAs
are responsible for understanding &
following the scope of practice in their
communities & for always meeting the expected
standards of care. Not meeting these
responsibilities can result in serious liability for
themselves & their employers.
 You
must know the limitations placed on you
practice by the state in which you live or by the
facility or provider who employs you.