Connecticut, appropriate use and supervision of Medical Assistants

[JonBRN]

Hello,

I am a Nurse and the Clinical Compliance and Quality Assurance manager of an Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) within Connecticut.

We utilize quite a few Medical Assistants (M.A.) within our practices which range throughout the lifespan. In an attempt to further develop our training programs I am revising our clinical competency training. I have little experience with M.A.'s however I have a wealth of experience with unlicensed assistive personnel (U.A.P.).

Within Connecticut and according to our DPH it appears that all M.A.'s are classified as U.A.P. and as such fall under the practice of Nursing (see http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=389366)

I understand that within other states the M.A. has a defined practice however within CT that is not so. I have attempted to contact a few of the schools that offer M.A. training within the state and CT's own Society of Medical Assistants however the schools have been a dead end and the Society pointed me back to the above linked website.

I want to provide the practices with the opportunity to utilize the M.A.'s to the greatest extent that we can, thereby driving cost down, without increasing risk to patients or having them step on either provider or nursing practice.

I will eventually form a committee to assist in the development of these training materials for M.A.'s, and U.A.P. in general but I was hoping there might be some material within the public domain that could provide me with a starting point.

Any assistance is welcome.

JonBRN

[JonBRN]

Bump....

Hello,I am a Nurse and the Clinical Compliance and Quality Assurance manager of an Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) within Connecticut.We utilize quite a few Medical Assistants (M.A.) within our practices which range throughout the lifespan. In an attempt to further develop our training programs I am revising our clinical competency training. I have little experience with M.A.'s however I have a wealth of experience with unlicensed assistive personnel (U.A.P.).Within Connecticut and according to our DPH it appears that all M.A.'s are classified as U.A.P. and as such fall under the practice of Nursing (see http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=389366)I understand that within other states the M.A. has a defined practice however within CT that is not so. I have attempted to contact a few of the schools that offer M.A. training within the state and CT's own Society of Medical Assistants however the schools have been a dead end and the Society pointed me back to the above linked website. I want to provide the practices with the opportunity to utilize the M.A.'s to the greatest extent that we can, thereby driving cost down, without increasing risk to patients or having them step on either provider or nursing practice. I will eventually form a committee to assist in the development of these training materials for M.A.'s, and U.A.P. in general but I was hoping there might be some material within the public domain that could provide me with a starting point.Any assistance is welcome.JonBRN