Medical Assistant Rules

Medical assistants hardly ever work on weekends, and rarely do they accumulate overtime. A typical work week is 40 hours Monday thru Friday 8 AM - 5 PM.

What Medical Assistant Can and Cannot Do 

• Medical assistants make all the difference in a medical office. However, it is important to understand that they must work under the direct supervision of the M.D. (or licensed health care professional).
  
• They are not allowed to independently provide any kind of medical advice, or address illnesses and conditions, otherwise this could be seen as practicing medicine without a license (a punishable offense).
  
• Furthermore, medical assistants are not permitted to dispense, or administer any type of medications, or treatments unless ordered by the doctor (or licensed health care professional) for which they work.
  
• When taking measures to reduce a patient's pain a medical assistant can do all of the following without a doctor's orders:
  
  - reduce noise and disturbance
  - reduce light and provide fresh air
  - provide distraction or diversion
  - help the patient into a position of comfort unless contraindicated