Risk eTips: Medication Administration by Medical Assistants

Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc.

28 Sept 201703:14

Summary

TLDRThe script highlights the crucial role of Medical Assistants (MAs) in California medical offices and the associated risks due to their limited formal education in pharmacology. It emphasizes the importance of training, competency in safe medication administration, and the supervisor's role in minimizing medication errors. The video suggests clear policies, medication safety practices, and direct supervision to prevent errors, improve patient safety, and reduce medical liability.

Takeaways

🚑 Medical assistants (MAs) play a crucial role in medical offices and clinics but may also pose a risk due to limited formal education in pharmacology.
📚 It's important for physicians to understand the full scope of practice for MAs as outlined by the Medical Board of California.
📄 Hiring MAs should involve checking for a certificate of training from a respected institution and ensuring competency in pharmacology and safe medication administration.
💉 Additional training is necessary for MAs who will be administering injections or inhalation medications to ensure safety.
📋 Implementing clear office policies and procedures that emphasize medication safety is crucial to prevent errors.
🚫 MAs should not call in new or changed prescription refills due to their unlicensed status and limited pharmacology knowledge.
🔑 Best practices include using chart alerts for drug allergies, storing similar-looking or sounding drugs separately, and labeling syringes properly.
👀 Supervisors must be present on-site whenever an MA is administering medication to ensure correct dosage and administration.
🛡 Direct supervision by a qualified healthcare provider is essential for MAs to provide patient care within their scope of practice.
💊 Verifying the 'five rights' of medication administration (right medication, right dose, right patient, right time, right route) is a supervisor's responsibility.
🛑 Medication errors are preventable with well-trained MAs, adherence to protocols, and comprehensive procedures in place.

Q & A

What is the primary responsibility of medical assistants (MAs) in a medical office or clinic setting?
-Medical assistants are primarily responsible for administering medications, as well as carrying out a variety of routine tasks that keep the medical office running smoothly.
Why might medical assistants represent a source of risk for medical practices?
-Medical assistants may represent a source of risk because they are unlicensed individuals with limited formal education in pharmacology and safe medication administration, which can lead to medication errors.
What does the review of CAPS closed claims data reveal about medication errors?
-The review reveals that medication errors occurred in nearly half of the claims where a medical assistant was directly responsible for a patient's injury.
What is the first step to minimize the possibility of a medication error by a medical assistant?
-The first step is to be familiar with the medical assistant's full scope of practice as described by the Medical Board of California and to hire individuals who can provide a certificate of training from a respected institution.
Why is additional training necessary for medical assistants who will be giving injections?
-Additional training is necessary to ensure that medical assistants can safely administer injections, such as Kenalog or vaccines, and handle inhaled medications.
What are some office practices that emphasize medication safety?
-Office practices that emphasize medication safety include developing and implementing clear policies and procedures, utilizing chart alerts for patient drug allergies, storing look-alike sound-alike drugs separately, labeling syringes, and limiting distractions when giving medications.
What are the restrictions on medical assistants regarding calling in new or changed prescription refills?
-Medical assistants may not call in new prescriptions or any refill prescriptions that have changes.
What is the supervisor's role in ensuring safe medication administration by a medical assistant?
-The supervisor must be on the premises at all times when the medical assistant is providing patient care and should verify that the right dosage of the right medication is given to the right patient at the right time via the right route.
What are the conditions under which a medical assistant can provide patient care?
-A medical assistant can provide patient care under the direct supervision of a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife, who must be on the premises at all times.
How can medical practices reduce their medical liability risk?
-Medical practices can reduce their medical liability risk by ensuring that well-trained medical assistants act within their scope of practice and adhere to comprehensive medication administration procedures and protocols.
Where can one find more information about medical assistance and medication administration?
-More information can be found on the websites of the Cooperative of American Physicians and the Medical Board of California.

Outlines

00:00

💊 Medication Administration Risks and Safety

This paragraph discusses the critical role of medical assistants (MAs) in administering medication in California medical offices and clinics. It highlights the risks associated with MAs, who are unlicensed and may have limited pharmacology education, and emphasizes the importance of training and competency in safe medication practices. The paragraph also underscores the supervisory responsibilities of physicians and other healthcare providers to ensure medication errors are minimized, including verifying correct dosage, patient, timing, and administration route. It calls for implementing medication safety protocols and practices, such as clear policies, refill guidelines, chart alerts for allergies, and minimizing distractions during medication administration.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Medical Assistants (MAs)

Medical Assistants, often abbreviated as MAs, are healthcare professionals who perform administrative and clinical tasks in medical offices and clinics. They are essential in supporting physicians and ensuring the smooth operation of healthcare facilities. In the context of the video, MAs are highlighted as a potential source of risk due to their limited formal education in pharmacology, emphasizing the importance of proper training and supervision to minimize medication errors.

💡Medication Administration

Medication Administration refers to the process of giving patients their prescribed medications. It is a critical aspect of healthcare that requires precision to ensure patient safety. The video script underscores the importance of safe medication practices, especially when performed by MAs, to prevent errors that can lead to patient injury.

💡Pharmacology

Pharmacology is the branch of science concerned with the study of drugs, their composition, and their effects on living organisms. In the video, it is mentioned that MAs may have limited formal education in pharmacology, which is a concern because understanding drug properties and interactions is crucial for safe medication administration.

💡Medication Errors

Medication Errors are mistakes made in any part of the medication process, from prescribing to administration. The video script reveals that medication errors occurred in nearly half of the claims where an MA was directly responsible, highlighting the need for stringent measures to prevent such errors and protect patient health.

💡Scope of Practice

The Scope of Practice refers to the range of functions and responsibilities that a healthcare professional is legally allowed to perform. The video emphasizes the importance of being familiar with the MA's full scope of practice as described by the Medical Board of California, to ensure they work within their legal and professional boundaries.

💡Training Certificate

A Training Certificate is a document that verifies an individual has completed specific training programs. The script advises hiring MAs who can provide a certificate of training from a respected institution, particularly in areas like pharmacology and safe medication administration, to ensure competency.

💡Injections

Injections are a method of administering medication where the drug is delivered into the body via a needle and syringe. The video script mentions that if an MA will be giving injections, such as Kenalog or vaccines, additional training is essential to ensure these are done safely.

💡Medication Safety

Medication Safety involves creating an environment and practices that minimize the risk of medication errors. The video script suggests employing office practices that emphasize medication safety, such as clear policies and procedures, to enhance patient care and safety.

💡Supervisor

A Supervisor in the context of the video is a licensed healthcare professional, such as a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife, who oversees the work of MAs to ensure they provide patient care safely. The script stresses that a supervisor must be on the premises when the MA is administering medications.

💡Direct Supervision

Direct Supervision means that a healthcare professional is immediately available to provide guidance and intervene if necessary. The video script explains that MAs can only provide patient care under direct supervision, ensuring that the right medication, dosage, and administration method are used.

💡Medical Liability

Medical Liability refers to the legal responsibility of healthcare professionals for any harm or injury they may cause to a patient. The video script connects safe medication administration with reduced medical liability risk, indicating that proper procedures and protocols can protect both patients and healthcare providers.

Highlights

Medication administration is a common responsibility of medical assistants.

Medical assistants (MAs) play a vital role in routine tasks and office operations.

MAs represent an underappreciated source of risk in medical practices.

Many physicians are unaware of the limited formal education MAs have in pharmacology.

Caps closed claims data shows medication errors in nearly half of the claims where an MA was involved.

Be familiar with the full scope of practice for MAs as described by the Medical Board of California.

Hire MAs with a certificate of training from a respected institution.

Ensure MAs demonstrate competency in pharmacology and safe medication administration.

Provide additional training for MAs who will be giving injections or administering inhalation medications.

Develop clear office practices that emphasize medication safety.

Implement policies and procedures including refill guidelines to prevent medication errors.

Utilize chart alerts for patient drug allergies to enhance medication safety.

Store look-alike sound-alike drugs separately to avoid confusion.

Label syringes and administer medication to only one patient at a time to ensure accuracy.

Limit distractions when administering medications to reduce the risk of errors.

Understand supervisor responsibilities to ensure MAs provide care under direct supervision.

A supervisor must verify the right dosage, medication, patient, and route each time.

Medication errors are preventable with well-trained MAs and comprehensive procedures.

Safe medication administration improves patient safety and reduces medical liability risk.

For more information, visit the Cooperative of American Physicians and the Medical Board of California's websites.