Question

compare and contrast the provider role and the medical assistant role in terms of standard of care

Answer 1

Standard of care is a " diagnostic and treatment process that a clinician should follow for a certain type of patient, illness, or clinical circumstance" ( New England Jounal of Medicine) and in legal terms standard of care means "the level at which the average, prudent provider in a given community would practice".

Role of a Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant career is one of the major new are of work in health care. They keep the offices and clinics of physician and other professionals in allied health care and ensure the smooth running of the same. They perform both clinical and administrative duties like attending calls, scedule appointments and billing.

Academic qualification : Graduation in Medical Assistant programme and a year diploma in Medical Assistant.

Roles and responsibilities :

Clinical duties like history collection from patient( personal and medical), checking vital signs( temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure), weight and height checking, and assisting doctor in patient examinations( some time giving injections to some patients as per physician's order). Administrative duties of a Medical Assistant are attending patient calls , scheduling and cancellation of appointments, billing and record keeping.

Provider or physician's role

A person who assess, diagnose and provide health care services to patients is called physician. Qualification of a physician should include medical education, minimum 3 year of experience as practicing intern and a current and valid state medical licence.

Roles of a physician : Assessment, diagnosis of patient and provide health care services includes treatment, maintain accurate and detailed medical records of patient, prescribe medications, attending patients daily in hospital or clinics, explain the procedures and test results to patients and also consulting with other physicians or surgeons about patients treatment.