[cleo]

Is the receptionist a CMA? In our department we have CMA's that are AD level and have been trained to do both office work and patient care.

[ms_orion]

NO. The receptionist is not a CMA. I would have no problem with that at all. In fact, we have three employees (one phone operator, one receptionist and one medical records clerk) that on their own took a CNA class and became certified. Two of these people are bi-lingual as well, which would make them very valuable to the medical staff as far as assisting the physicians and nurses with direct pt care. They were not hired to fill a CNA position, but I would prefer they utilize them and their skills but NOPE....they use the receptionist. What can be done? Who do you talk to if management is the one that came up with this idea?

[simplyvia]

It's true receptionists nowadays are given too much responsibility and even recent UK studies say so. For example, our hospital receptionists book appointments for walk-in patients, so the receptionists have to choose which subspecialty (Cardio, Gastro, etc.) the patient goes to. So they have to link a chief complaint to the appropriate doctor. Isn't that a nurse's job? Or is it how things go in hospitals?