I am still in school But I feel it needs to be Regulated.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Medical Asst.

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? no

I am just about to begin the adventure of becoming a Medical Assistant and I am also in favor of regulating the practice. This field of study definitely warrents the respect.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Laid off from Sony Electronics.

Are You Still In School? Just starting in the fall.

Are You Working? no

I'm not a MA as of yet and am still just a student, but hope to become certified very soon. I'm very much in favor of the licensure, due to the fact, I've seen the type of people who enroll in these programs. There have been a limited # of students in my classes who actually take the program seriously enough to succeed. There just there to take up space, waste other peoples time and continue gaining there food stamps and what not. I feel an entrance exam is an excellent idea. Lord knows I wouldn't trust to my life but to a limited few of them that I could count on one hand. I'm in full support of your petition.

Cat

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? no

I agree that MA's should be licensed as they perform more skilled work than a CNA and they are regulated, so why shouldn't an MA? I secondly agree with the licensing of MA's because of the respect factor. I know LPN's and RN's who think that MA's are lowly employees and many in fact resent us in the field. (Sad, so sad! but true...)
So any help I can provide, please let me know!!

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CCMA, CPT, CET

Are You Still In School? Have gone back for a MA Diploma :)

Are You Working? Yes

I am all for Licensure of Medical Assisting. I am an Instructor and Program Manager of a Medical Assisting program and have been a Medical Assistant for 10 years. Are jobs are very important and the sooner people in the medical field recognize it, the better. Tell me what to do to help. Lets get the ball rolling......

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Program Manager/CHI/CCMA/CPT/CET

Are You Still In School? yes, I am working on my Associates in Allied Health

Are You Working? yes

I just wanted to add my "2 cents". I agree with licensure for MA's! I have 5+ years of experience and have seen many co-workers who have scared me silly! There are plenty of people employed as MA's that have absolutely no business being one. There is a great responsibility with direct patient care and frankly not enough MA's take it very seriously. Hopefully if we could get licensure, it would make people more accountable.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

I am currently still in school but I think that MA's should be reconized because of all that they are train to do and for all that they do in the medical office. I think that they deserve higher pay because to me they do moe than and are trained in more than a LPN.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: medical assistant

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? no

Well guys I just read the comments made by everyone, I have been in the field for 20+ years and seen alot of changes. I 2 welcome the changes that need to be made. I tell students to take pride in their work because over the years I have seen a spiral effect on professionalism in the offices. I have close friends that are Doctors and keep in touch with the changes but the same problem arises and that has to do with the fact that people are being put in important positions that dont belong there. I feel that regulating,certifing,finger printing and making it harder to get a M.A. licence will eliminate at least half of what we see out there. This will also give those Medical Assistants that take pride in their work more leverage for better pay and respect from the nursing community.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA/Instructor

Are You Still In School? NO

Are You Working? yes

I would love to see the profession regulated. I'm in an MA 2 year degree program. I work as a PCT by night, and have had several RN's snub me for going to school for MA. They ask why not become a real nurse? Hello? According to my course outline there is not a "whole lot" of difference between the two. Lets be honest MA's work as hard if not harder due to the added office and accounting that is part of the job. Some of us will have the same degree that the RN's have, so why not the respect and pay?!?

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? as a PCT

A lonely male student MA here! I vote for licensure!

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CET

Are You Still In School? Yes

I'm a Certified Medical Assistant who haven't start working as MA yet, But I agree as much as MA are required to do they should be able to be licensed, and with out a doubt better pay.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? No

I think that regulation could be good, if done correctly.

I think that the response may be low because the thought scares alot of older M.A.'s who (like my self) may have gone to school so long ago that we learned how to do manual CBC's (yes with a microscope, not a cute machine with a drop of blood we're talking a little clicker to count the reds and whites, and a wall chart to help you identify the "wierd" stuff)

I also think that many M.A.'s forget that they are a professional and a vial part of the medical field, not just some Dr.'s whipping boy for low pay and laughable bennies (ok, so family practice is my choice - but it always pays less and expects more hours, am I right?). No, not an R.N., I hate it when I am referred to as "the nurse" - (maybe that's just me). We get caught in the cycle that we just have pt's fill out forms, or that there is no skill to giving shots and drawing blood, any one can do it.

Just my 2 cents

Your Professional Title/Credentials: M.A

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

I think they should let medical assitant take a few classes to convert to lpn ...becasue it nearly the same thing...that way we can goforth with registered nurse school shortly after....its bs that i have to go to school to be an lvn when I know almost 95% of what I am going to learn...totally bs!!!!

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? yes

Lisa,

I have done both programs...and yes there is a difference.

here is some websites that might help to show the differences in educations and duties.

lpn - http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/content.cfm?PageCode=st_courses_results&keywords=&OutlineID=361

ma - http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/content.cfm?PageCode=st_courses_results&keywords=&OutlineID=341


another idea to see the differences in education, duties, responsibilities, etc is to go to your local bookstore like barnes & nobles, borders and review the reference material for licensure and certification for lpns and ma's..
review the 'pn nclex' books..this is the test practical nurses have to take in order to get licensed.
also reviw the 'cma' certification books.

one is not better then the other...just different
l.lopez lpn

Your Professional Title/Credentials: lpn

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

I'm an MA currently awaiting the results of my RMA (it's taking forever!) exam. I must admit I have a lot of mixed feelings in the area of licensure. I agree there's a huge need for regulation in the field. However, my concern w/the licensure route is that once inacted we will need to purchase some form of liability insurance & it will take a long time for our pay to catch up w/our ability to pay such... Also, who will make up our "board", our governing body? AMT? AMAA? A combination of the two? I'm not saying that I'm against licensure...I just still have a lot of concerns. Why not first begin w/mandatory certification? That will lessen the appeal of the diploma mills that are not accredited & give us a little more respect due to uniform standardization...just some thoughts on the subject.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? no

Clancy,

if ma's are to become licensed, it would be through the 'state' just like nurses. I pay around $75 a year for malpractice insurance as a lpn. It probably would be cheaper for ma's because of the scope of practice.

I have found it ironic that the person cutting my hair has to have a license but the person sticking a needle in my vein does not..

I think it is just a matter of time, but ma's get licenses.

l.lopez lpn

Your Professional Title/Credentials: lpn

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

Again..."I'm not saying I'm against licensure" I'm just expressing concerns. There are many things to think about. I am definately in agreement that SOMETHING needs to done....
Proud to be an MA,
Sheila

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? no

Sorry, I meant Clancy...LOL

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? no

I think that Medical Assistants should be licensed. Medical Assistants are every bit as qualified as Practical Nurses to perform clinical and administrative duties. Medical Assistants training programs actually cover more subject areas than does any Practical Nursing program in the United States. I have even worked with nurses who have received licensure and have no true idea of how to perform clinical procedures, they are usually asking medical assistants how to perform a lot of clinical procedures. What makes it so different for medical assistants not to become licensed practicioners? We perform primaryily the same duties as practical nurses and receive much more training in school and cross training on jobs.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA, CMAA, CBCS

Are You Still In School? Yes, working on my degree.

Are You Working? No, hard to find work with little experience and being a male medical assistant.

Hi Everyone,

I have been a Medical Assistant for 15 years now and I have seen many changes, some positive for our MA Titles some negative. I have seen co-workers young daughters come in and obtain positions of MA's(where they are trained by medical assistants on the job and did not have any formal training at all) I have had LPN's and RN's say to me "Why don't you want to go to school and just become a nurse?" So you see it is very necessary to take this step. I don't like to sling mud and that is not what I am doing now, this just a fact, in most of my jobs I did the work the LPN's and RN's considered "Not Their Job!" Beneath them! Such as: EKG's, Blood Draw, Ear Irrigations, Throat Cultures, Wet Preps, UA's and assist in GYN Day Procedures: Cone BX, Cryosurg. Now I don't know about all of you in the Medical Assistant Field but I do see a need to be credited in my field. I love my work because I see pt's, help them with billing problems, make them their apts and refill their rx. We are not less than, we are more than and we should take a stand and receive the aknowledgement! WE NEED TO BE LICENSURE! Let me know what I can do!

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Medical Assistant

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

Alvin,

I have done both ma and lpn programs and yes there is a huge difference in the education/training. When I did the ma program I learned more of the 'hands on' clinicals in a doctors office...the 'how to do a ekg,throat culture etc". When I went back to school for the lpn program, I learned a lot more "theory" in disease process, patient education,care plans,medications, performing assessements, which I could not do as a ma or looking back I didn't even know what an assessment was. Most ma's believe the education is the same as lpn's...this can be misleading because if you are working with a lpn then you are in a office setting, and the duties are similar if not the same, which makes ma's believe they have the same education/skills etc as a lpn....BUT when an lpn works outside of a doctor's office like a hospital, long term care, visting nurse, hospice, dialysis etc ...this is where the lpn will apply her/his education and training and 'skilled nursing' which a ma cannot work do.

I know that it can be confusing, lpn's and ma's have their own scope of practice and different education redquirements. I work in a doctors office and know how to perform a lot of 'procedures,tests, exams etc because of my ma education, but I also have more knowledge regarding diseases,medication, patient education because of my lpn education...because I have done both the ma and lpn program, I have become a very valuable assest to my employer and was promoted to nursing manager this past summer.

Lorianne

Your Professional Title/Credentials: lpn

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

Hi Lorrianne,

Thanks for the reply! I do understand that LPN/RN's do have to learn more theoretical applications and also agree that in terms of working in a hospital setting, there is a need to understand the disease process. In terms of the MA Practice, we also learn of disease processes and complications with medications . I have met several new nursing graduates who have graduated from LPN/RN programs and they really don't have much more concrete understanding of diseases than most MA's. I do feel that if there was legislation approved to allow Ma'S TO OBTAIN LICENSURE, it would be necessary to redesign some of the courses needed to assume the responsibility of assessing patients, disease processes and creating care plans. Most of the MA courses do in most ways relate to nursing courses only a little less time to cover in greater detail. I have met nurse managers and some doctors who have said that actually it is not what is taught in the classroom but rather the knowledge gained through actual work experience is what truly defines competent nursing personnel. Many of the skills nurses perform as well as for the MA's are learned on the job. Sure , an MA could take courses in school and read the nursing books and most are capable to perform just as well as the supposed other clinical personnel. Honestly, I feel that there should be no such title as Medical Assistant, we should all be referred to as nurses. There is indeed some additions to the MA training/courses that may needto be increased and changed, but hey if one can successfully learn and perform as a competent MA now in such a short time in school, certainly with a little more emphasis on disease processes we could all perform the same duties.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: NCMA

Are You Still In School? Yes, obtaining my AS Degree/Nursing

Are You Working? Yes

I agree with the licensing and regulating. The pay for MA's isn't that great, even though MA's do a wide range of duties. Reception, BP's, immunizations and on and on.
I'm working on becoming an MA and will work for the University of Wisconsin Hospital where I currently do. I see an aweful lot of people that somehow ended up in an MA position that scare me. I'm pretty certain that these people would never pass and certification and if I were getting my care from them I would not be happy with it.
I intend to use my MA position to my fullest ability and for the bettering of my department and institution. There is a lot of potential for MA's, but I think maybe not the respect and pay that goes with the responsibilities.
Jen V

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Administrative Secretary

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? yes

Hi Alvin and Lorraine,

I just wanted to get my post out and state, I am happy with my position of MA (with 15 years exp) why are we looked at less than because of the MA title by co-workers. I have a position just as important as the LPN's and RN's with job duties that are different. (My statement of what I have come accross regarding training others and not having the skills needed for the job is a reality. Many employees are hired right out of school and well sometimes they can hire them for less money - lets not get me started on that! LOL) That was my point in my post, I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Medical Assistant

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

I completely agree - this field should be regulated. It would mean regulating the schools and the cirriculum. Perhaps the pay scale would increase two-folds. Because we know the pay stinks.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Secretary/MA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes

I AGREE

Your Professional Title/Credentials: medical assistant

I agree, some sort of regulation would be great in defining exactly what we can and can't do in an office setting. I'm tired of doing same duties as lpn's and rn's but getting treated and paid like an unwelcome stepchild because I am a MA. Also tired of lpn's treating us like we are unworthy because we are ma's when we do same exact duties as them only better.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: ma,associate degree

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

It would be great if they regulated/licensed the MA profession. Maybe the pay would increase, but maybe MD's would hire other unlicensed personel to do the same job for pennies on the dollar since it is their practice. Also bashing nurses wont solve anything. Although MA's may do the same thing or more than nurses, the bottom line is that nurses are licensed, and MA's arent which translates into more money and opportunity for nurses. In my area of the country RN's make more than $35,000 a year more than the most experience MA. That alone solidified my decision to become a nurse. Although we think we do the same job or more, our compensation level states otherwise. I have several Associate degree MA's in my class who feel their education was a waste of money due to pay wages paid to MA,s. All Associate Degrees are not created equal!

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? Yes

This is really an interesting forum. I too would like to see some movement toward "licensure" of MA because of many of the reasons already posted. MAs perform many technical jobs that RNs or LPNs do. I am considering going to RN school (I already possess a BS degree) just because of the MUCH poorer pay as an MA.

I believe that MAs should at least by "certified." Since there is more than one organization that "certifies" MAs, whose certification should be accepted. AAMA and AMT now require the completion of an approved course of study (on-the-job training is no longer acceptable) to sit for one of their certification exams. And there is some controversy out there concerning the "CMA"(AAMA) and the "RMA"(AMT) designations.

The American Association of Medical Personnel (AAMP) also offers a certification exam and results in the RMA designation.

Of these 3 organizations (AAMA, AMT, AAMP) the first 2 are probably the most widely regarded and all 3 offer reciprocity of their credentials if you are already "certified by an approved credentialing agency." I received my RMA,Instructor credential through the AAMP by reciprocity alone.

I think the main thing here about "licensure" or "certification" of MAs being lacking is caused by the fact that an MA works directly under the practitioner's license; hence the MA her/himself does not require certification. It's a really complex and vexing issue. With the future of allied health professionals being in such short supply, I can see some need for at least "certification" down the road. Medical malpractice is also a concern. Health care providers need someone who is "adequately" trained.

Can you let me know more about the petition? I would be interested in becoming involved.

Hey, guess what?? I just viewed your e-mail address and already sent you an e-mail this morning about MA legislation in Florida.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: BSE; RMA(AMT)

Are You Still In School? no

Let us know if he answers you. He has not been on this board in months,and I really miss his input. I think he got very discouraged over the initial lack of response to his thread. Plus I think he knows what he proposed will never come to be.

I think that part of the problem is that a good many MA's simply don't care! I'm the only MA in our office that's even certified. The concensus seems to be "Why bother? I won't get paid any more because I'm certified!"

Once some type of certification is mandated you then have to get it mandated that the docs can not HIRE unlicensed/uncertified personnel. As it is, there are no laws to prevent that. So we fight our butts off to require that MA's be certified and the docs will replace us with unlicensed personnel under a different title....

Lorraine

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

Hmmm, Sheila and Lorraine - some very good points to think about. Well, I am wondering about "will never come to be." When I first started working as a nursing assistant, you usually got OJT - no certifications required.

Now, in most all states you must go through the proper training and sit for a state licensure exam.
Kansas now requires that any individuals making X-rays be licensed. California and a couple other states require licensure of phlebotomists.

So, I do think that at some point, this could happen to MAs. I think it would be a good thing. I just think that it requires a group of people who are willing to take the time.

Yes, I think that you are right about certified MAs not getting paid much more than OJT'ers. And since there are no rules that MAs even get CEUs, this will take a lot of time.

I'm going t

Your Professional Title/Credentials: BSE; RMA(AMT)

Are You Still In School? no

Yes, Sheila he did answer my e-mail. If you will e-mail me I will send you his answer.

I will also let him know you miss his posts on this website.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: BSE; RMA(AMT)

Are You Still In School? no

I also would like to direct you to the following webpage:

http://www.amt1.com/site/epage/15341_315.htm

This is the AMT national website and there are 2 documents posted concerning the scope of practice of MAs and an MA tasklist.

It was interesting to note that there are a few states that are already requiring medical assistants to graduate from a CAAHEP, ABHES, or similar program in order to be an MA.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: BSE; RMA(AMT)

Are You Still In School? no

Unless this is a very new development, the state doesn't require you graduate from the programs, the AMT and AAMA however require that you graduate from
either a CAAHEP or ABHES program in order to sit for their certification exams.

Lorraine

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

licensing ma,

there are a few things that need to be done before ma's can be licensed. 1st you would need to get the AAMA to endorse it because they have the money & resources to get the ball rolling. Although, I don't believe that the AAMA would want ma's to get licensed because the AAMA would lose their source of revenue. 2nd, you would need to contact a government offical such as a congressman, senator etc, and inform them on the pitfalls of nonlicensed ma's and the benefits to public of having licensed ma's. I don't think this will be an easy task, but there is saying 'a journey begins with a single step'.
lorianne

Your Professional Title/Credentials: lpn

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

Haven't seen too many new posts lately concerning this subject. One thing I would like to address: Why would the AAMA "not" like to see MAs licensed?

Instead of taking money "away" from the AAMA, the organization would probably GAIN money. Here's how it works: the individual states would require licensure, not the AAMA or AMT. In order to obtain a state license, the MA would need to be "certified" by some organization, such as the AMT or AAMA. So, in this case, "licensure by the state" is going to force MAs to be "certified." This would increase the membership for all organizations (ie., AAMA, AMT, AAMP) and bring in a LOT more money for them.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: B.S.E., RMA, AHI

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

I have never been on this website before but I've noticed there haven't been many replies to this subject lately.I would love to see MAs be licensed it would only be greatly beneficial to everyone.PLEASE let me know if there is anything I can do to help this happen!

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA Student

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? no

Suzanne-What you wrote makes sense but can you think of a reason why,if making certification or licensure mandatory for all MAs would bring in money to the AAMA,then how come they aren't pushing for that? Aside from all the red tape involved in getting the legislature going,then why are they stalling in even attempting to get this off the ground?

Your Professional Title/Credentials: RMA

I have also noticed that there have not been very many replies on this subject lately. I am a CMA and aworking in a Neurology Clinic. I am proud to be a Medical Assistant, but I really don't think that we would ever receive licensure. One thing that would knock us back some , is the fact that there are plenty of LPNs. out there who can and are replacing a lot of MA,s especially in physician offices. I truly don't even know why there is such a job title of Medical Assistant. I have decided to return to school to become a Nurse, atleast then, I should see some type of compensation worthy of having to go to school for. As I see it now, Medical Assistants are basically treated like underpaid over glorified nursing assistants. Several MA's that I have talked with about this licensure thing, agree that it is just a waste of time even discusiing the issue. It will never happen. My advice to all other MA's is to return to school and just earn the true tile of "Nurse", and atleast enjoy being paid for doing very little.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Certifed Medical Assistant

Are You Still In School? Yes

Are You Working? Yes

Because it takes drive and initiative to get a "grassroots" endeavor off the ground. There are not enough core people really interested to get the ball rolling.

I know this for a fact - the AMT won't even address this issue. Why beats me. I guess the really big thing here is that the AMA is really going to be behind such a push. And that will cost them money. Certified MAs will require higher pay. What doctor wants to pay more?

Your Professional Title/Credentials: B.S.E., RMA, AHI

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

Hi -- I came across this interesting and thoughtful forum while looking for information for my daughter, who is commencing a course of MA studies.

There are definite benefits to a state license as many of you have pointed out. A national program would be even better, but more complicated to get instituted. A key point raised earlier is that MA's have a limited scope of practice, and ultimately are under the control of the doctor who is held accountable if someone gets hurt.

One thing you might not have thought of is this. (Leave it to a lawyer to think of this, right?) What happens if someone gets sued for malpractice? As it is now, it would appear that the doctor is the one who pays. If you are licensed, you could be held accountable financially, be required to have malpractice insurance, and that would relieve the doctor's of a LOT of liability. (Which THEY would sure like -- I didn't kill him, the MA killed him.)

The doctors would be less likely to be accountable for negligent entrustment, also. Imagine this scenerio on the witness stand,

"Doctor Welby, why did you allow the MA to perform the procedure that killed Mr. Smith, when the MA was a quasi-reformed heroin addict, and a convicted murderer, rapist and drunk driver?"
Answer, now:
Welby: "You're right, you should have my house and car."

The answer after licensing?
Welby: "I had no idea. He was LICENSED by the state, and I'm entitled to rely on the state licensing."

Another point. Having appeared before the state nursing board with a client, I can tell you that adding a level of discipline will have its own (undesirable) complications.

Mark

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Attorney at Law

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes

Thank you Mark for posting your views from a different perspective.

You know... we here, in this medical assistant forum, truly try our best, and although we always find our own answers and share great advise based on experience, we often lack some "outside" views, such as you have provided today. Shedding a different light from a different angle was very interesting and helpful!!!

A few years ago I published a two page essay on on exactly this topic: Malpractice and Liability for Mistakes and Accidents in the Medical Office (pertaining to medical assistants). Although this report is not new, I don't think much has changed over time.

I am NOT a lawyer, therefore the article is not to be taken as legal advice. However, based on my research, I believe what I wrote it is true.

We live in the USA, where anybody can sue anybody if they feel they have a case. It is a big misconception, and misbelief, among medical assistants that they cannot, or will not be named in a law suit.

Same misconception exists among volunteers! Should they ever decide to volunteer, or work at a part-time position, or do private health care duty, performing these jobs and circumstances open them up to a possible law suit should something go wrong.

Even if the accused is completely innocent, defending innocence can still wind up wiping a person completely out, emotionally and financially.

READ:
Mistakes and Accidents
http://www.medicalassistant.net/prof_liability_ins.htm

Malpractice and Liability
http://www.medicalassistant.net/prof_liability_policy.htm

------------------------

Because I own and manage a number of medical assistant websites and this medical assistant message board I DO CARRY PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY and ERRORS & OMISSION insurance, simpy for the fact that I could wind up getting sued for something that's posted here, or written on my site! To me, that's a few thousand dollars very well spent each year.

Medical assistants should seriously consider their own malpractice insurance policy for the same reason. I have always said that....


Danni R.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Website Owner/Site admin

Oh... that's right Mark.

I should have added that I agree with you. Licensing will have it's advantages (more consistency, uniform scope of practice definitions, more pay) and disadvantages (being held responsible for your own acts and actions at a much higher level in the court of law).

Indeed!!!!



Danni R.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Website Owner/Site admin

Thanks for the thoughtfull reply, Danni.

I looked over your articles and agree with nearly everything you say.

One point on the standard of care however -- I think the standard of care may actually be higher than "reasonable person." Since you are acting in your professional capacity, and with specialized training, I would expect that you would be held to the standard of a "reasonably prudent MA, acting according to local standards." This is not my area of practice, and this is NOT legal advice, but my naive expectation would be that you would be held to a higher standard than just reasonable person off the street.

I was curious about the Dannenhold v. Knoxville Pathology case that you talked about, and tried to look it up. You didn't cite the state or the reporter, and I couldn't find it by looking up the names of the parties. If you could give us a little more information on where the court of appeals case was reported, I'd love to look it up.

I'm curious about how much liability they imposed on the cytotechnologist, and was wondering if there were other facts used in the reasoning, and if the tech shared liability with anyone else.

Thanks
Mark

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Attorney at Law

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes

I kept looking and found the case Danni cited. It's actually "unpublished," which means that another court cannot rely on it as an authority (although another court could repeat its reasoning.)

The case is actually DANNENHOLD v. PATHOLOGY GROUP, 03A01-9710-CV-00443 (Tenn.App. 11-11-1998).

The court of appeals actually said something a little different than what your article said. (And this stuff is kind of complicated, I don't mean to be overly critical of you here.)

The court of appeals said:

The pathologists who issued the 1991 and 1993 reports did not actually view either of the slides, but on both occasions issued the negative diagnosis by relying on the pre-screen reading given the slides by a cytotechnologist.[fn4] The diagnosis of the pap smear is issued only in the name of the pathologist and the patient is charged the same for the pap smear diagnosis, regardless of whether the slide was actually read by the pathologist or reported based only on the pre-screen reading given by the cytotechnologist. The cytotechnologists should have recognized the slides to be abnormal in 1991 and in 1993 and should have identified them for further review by the supervising pathologist who would be issuing the reports for that day.


I think if you read between the lines of the opinion, the court is really saying, "Look you lazy ass MD's, would it kill you to get off your butts and read a few more slides? You are CHARGING everyone the same. So do your **** job!"

But I agree with Danni in general that the cytotechnologist may have liability for mis-reading a slide, but I don't think that case shows it, or shows how much. A question left for another day, as the courts are fond of saying...

Best wishes,
Mark

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Attorney at Law

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes

Mark, without realizing it, you have done me a great favor. I remember looking into this close to my graduation from medical assisting school in December/January 1998.

I pieced the article back together from my notes a couple years later, around 2000 or 2001 but in looking back I could no longer find the actual source to cite it properly. Without knowing much about the case I gave up on the search. Today you have dug it up for me. I am really glad and will now add my references and source.

BTW. I found your feedback and putting things into "layman's terms" very helpful and rather enjoyable. Great point. Looks like we both learned something new today thanks to this Medical Assisting Forum. That's actually the reason why it's here.

I hope you will point your daughter to this forum once she starts her medical assisting training. It is a very rewarding field one can get into fast---and then, if so inspired, continue on to a higher field, such as medical technologist, or nursing. Some, however, make it their life-long career and just love it.

It opens doors to many different opportunities. I became a well known web developer/designer because of it... a little bit different from the rest, but nevertheless, it goes right back to my medical assistant training.

Glad you came by today.

I am wishing you and your aspiring daughter all the best in all future endeavors. I am sure she will do great!!!!

Danni

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Website Owner/Site Admin

Would a licensure mean that MA's would no longer be competing with CNA's for medical office work? I never saw that coming when I was in school. It's a problem where I live in FL. Even though I love what I do everyday at work, I feel I'm in a deadend position and am considering LPN next but still only want to work in a medical office.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CCMA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes

Can you explain that more? Are you saying that where you are at,CNAs are getting MA positions? How can that happen?

I don't know if licensure is an answer,or if it will ever come to be,but something that should be enforced is MANDATORY CERTIFICATION. I don't know how it is in the MA field,how much on-the-job-training still goes on,but in phlebotomy,all but 2 states in the US will hire just anyone in some places,with or without extensive training. Does anyone know if some offices will actually hire a completely untrained person for a medical assistant position?

Your Professional Title/Credentials: RMA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Not in months

I was recently hired after answering an ad for a CMA/CNA position that was previously filled by CNA's in a primary care office. At just about any given time, there are 3-4 ads in my paper just like that. I was competing with CNA's for medical office positions in primary care and ob/gyn. I am this practice's first CMA. It was discouraging to compete with CNA's. While I waited for an interview, a CNA came in for an interview also...wearing her scrubs. I refused the job due to the hours involved. However, I did have an offer of employment from a specialist who told me she "only hires MA's". I guess if a CNA can assist a nurse in a clinical setting...why not a medical office? From an MD's perspective...they are cheap to hire and are already trained to take vitals. CMA's have a long way to go to earn respect in this field and licensure may be the only way to get there.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CCMA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes

The reason the aama does not want ma's to be licensed is because it would be the 'state' that issues the license and not the 'aama'.

licensure is done through the "government level". In order to get a 'ma license', you would need to take an exam from the licensing board of your state ....just like nurses do. The state would issue the license...hense the aama would not be needed.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: lpn

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes