What tasks is a certified medical assistant allowed to perform regarding patient treatment?

Certified medical assistants (CMAs) are trained professionals who play a vital role in both administrative and clinical settings within healthcare. One of their key competencies includes performing a variety of tasks under the supervision of licensed healthcare providers, such as physicians or nurse practitioners.

The allowance to perform both administrative and clinical tasks under supervision is foundational to the role of a CMA. This means they can handle responsibilities like taking patient histories, measuring vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting during examinations, performing basic lab tests, and managing administrative duties like scheduling appointments and maintaining patient records. Supervision ensures that patient care is safe and aligns with the scope of practice established by healthcare regulations.

The option that states only administrative tasks with no patient involvement misrepresents the CMA's scope, as CMAs are also actively involved in patient care. The idea that CMAs can perform clinical tasks without supervision overlooks the safety measures and regulatory standards that govern medical practices, ensuring that licensed professionals oversee patient care activities. Lastly, suggesting that CMAs can only perform tasks assigned by non-licensed personnel disregards their qualified training and the legal framework that defines their responsibilities within the healthcare team.