What Does a Certified Medical Assistant’s Scope of Practice Include in New York State?

In New York State, a certified medical assistant’s scope of practice is limited to performing specific tasks under the supervision of a licensed physician or nurse.

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Certified Medical assistants in New York State

In New York State, a certified medical assistant’s (CMA) scope of practice is limited to performing certain delegated medical acts under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or other licensed healthcare provider.

A CMA may perform such delegated medical acts as taking and recording vital signs, performing Phlebotomy and EKGs, assisting with minor office surgery, and providing patient education on topics such as disease prevention and health maintenance.

A CMA may not provide any diagnosis or treatment, prescribe medication, or perform any procedure that requires the use of invasive equipment or instruments.

The New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions provides a list of the specific delegated medical acts that a CMA is allowed to perform in New York State.

The Scope of Practice for Certified Medical Assistants in New York State

The scope of practice for certified medical assistants in New York State is relatively limited when compared to other medical professionals such as nurses and doctors. Certified medical assistants in New York State are not permitted to diagnose patients, prescribe medication, or perform any type of invasive procedure.

However, certified medical assistants in New York State are permitted to perform a number of tasks that are essential to the efficient operation of a medical office or clinic. These tasks include taking patient vital signs, performing basic lab tests, updating patient medical records scheduling appointments, and assisting doctors and nurses with patient examinations and treatments.

While the scope of practice for certified medical assistants in New York State is relatively limited, these professionals play an important role in ensuring that medical offices and clinics run smoothly and efficiently.

The Duties of a Certified medical assistant in New York State

Certified medical assistants in New York State are regulated by the State Board of Regents. They have a broad scope of practice, which includes taking medical histories, performing physical examinations, ordering and interpretting diagnostic tests, and assisting with office surgery. In addition, they may give immunizations and injections, and perform other clinical tasks as delegated by a licensed physician.

The Rights of a Certified medical assistant in New York State

A certified medical assistant’s (CMA) scope of practice in New York State is limited to performing specific tasks or functions delegated to them by a licensed physician or other licensed health care provider. The rights of a CMA are defined by the physician or licensed health care provider who delegate tasks or functions, as well as by state and federal law.

Task or function delegation must be specific, and the CMA must be competent to perform the delegated task or function. The physician or licensed health care provider is responsible for determining whether the CMA is competent to perform the delegated task or function. The CMA must also follow the physician’s or licensed health care provider’s orders when performing delegated tasks or functions.

The New York State Department of Health has published a list of tasks and functions that may be delegated to CMAs by licensed physicians and other licensed health care providers. This list is not all-inclusive, and additional tasks and functions may be delegated at the discretion of the physician or licensed health care provider.

The Responsibilities of a Certified medical assistant in New York State

The title of Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is granted by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To be a CMA, an individual must graduate from an accredited medical assisting program and pass a national certification exam administered by the AAMA. The scope of practice for a CMA may vary slightly from state to state. In New York State, the following responsibilities are within a medical assistant’s scope of practice:

Performing basic laboratory tests
Taking and recording vital signs
Administering medications as directed by a licensed practitioner
Preparing patients for examinations
Assisting with minor office surgery
Providing patient education
Maintaining infection control standards
Completing insurance forms and coding for billing purposes
Scheduling appointments

These responsibilities are typically performed under the supervision of a licensed physician or another healthcare professional.

The Supervision of a Certified Medical Assistant in New York State

In New York State, the supervision of a certified medical assistant (CMA) can be performed by a licensed physician, a licensed nurse, or a licensed mid-level practitioner. The level of supervision required is based on the task being performed and is defined by the New York State Education Department.

The supervision of CMAs is further delineated into three categories: direct, indirect, and general. Direct supervision means that the supervisor must be present in the same room and be immediately available to provide assistance and direction if needed. Indirect supervision means that the supervisor must be present in the same building and available to provide assistance and direction if needed. General supervision means that the supervisor need not be present in the same room or building, but must be reasonably available to provide assistance and direction if needed.

The table below lists commonly performed tasks by CMAs and the level of supervision required for each task in New York State.

|Task|Supervision Required|
|—–|———————|
|Administering oral medications|General|
|Administering intramuscular (IM) injections|Direct|
|Administering subcutaneous (SC) injections|Indirect|
|Drawing blood from a vein (venipuncture)|Direct or indirect (if delegated by supervising physician)|
||

The Training of a Certified Medical Assistant in New York State

The training of a certified medical assistant in New York State must include successful completion of an accredited postsecondary medical assisting program that leads to a certificate, diploma, or degree and includes both classroom and clinical instruction. Clinical instruction must total at least 720 hours and include but not be limited to the following topics:

-Anatomy and physiology
-Medical terminology
-Patient relations
-Pharmacology
-Administrative practices
-Clinical practices
-Infection control

The Certification of a Certified Medical Assistant in New York State

The certified medical assistant’s scope of practice in New York State includes, but is not limited to, the following:

-Performing basic office and clinical tasks
-Taking and recording medical histories and vital signs
-Administering injections
-Preparing and maintaining laboratory specimens
-Instructing patients on medications and special diets
-Assisting physicians with examinations and treatments

The Renewal of a Certified Medical Assistant’s Certification in New York State

In order to maintain certification, certified medical assistants (CMAs) in New York State must complete a renewal application every three years. The renewal fee for CMAs is currently $50. To be eligible for renewal, CMAs must have completed at least 30 contact hours of continuing education (CE) within the past three years.

The Continuing Education Requirements for a Certified Medical Assistant in New York State

In order to maintain their certified medical assistant (CMA) credential in New York State, CMAs must complete at least 10 contact hours of continuing education (CE) every year. CE can be obtained through a variety of different sponsors, including but not limited to accredited colleges, universities, and professional associations.

At least two of the 10 required contact hours must be related to infection control or disease prevention. New York State also requires that CMAs complete a CPR course every three years.