South Dakota Society of Medical Assistants 

South Dakota Scope of Practice Determinations Relating to Medical Assistant Practice

 

1.  Supervision: The Joint Board committee approved the following definition of physician “direct supervision” of the medical assistant: Direct supervision of a medical assistant means supervision of all activities performed by the MA.  Should the physician be unable to provide on-site supervision, such supervision by a properly supervised physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife shall satisfy the supervisory requirement.  June 1994.

  

2.  Administration of Medications:  The Joint Board affirmed at their meeting conducted on September 15, 1993, the following in regards to the medical assistant scope of practice:

    a. Does not include injection of insulin;

    b. Does not include arterial withdrawal of blood, but does include venous withdrawal of blood;

    c. Does include administration of medications by unit dose, which means medication prepared in the exact amount, in an individual packet, for a specific patient; and

    d. Does not include patient education.

 

3.  The Joint Board committee met on April 25, 1994 and  provided additional clarification on these scope of practice questions regarding the medical assistant:

    a. The medical assistant may report diagnostic lab findings to patients only after appropriate interpretation by the 

physician;

    b. The medical assistant may only provide education information to the patient and may not perform health teaching or counseling;

    c. The medical assistant may perform EKG’s and glucose testing;

    d. The medical assistant may not administer medications which require calculation of a dose;

    e. * 

    f. The medical assistant may only distribute pre-printed information to a patient on medications and inhalers;

    g. ** 

    h. * 

    i. The medical assistant may not perform irrigations for ostomy/stoma care;

    j. The medical assistant may apply ace bandages and splints to extremities; and

    k. The medical assistant may only perform suprapubic catheterizations involving an established fistula.

 

 *   Item e. and Item h. above were reversed September 1995 and the statements were deleted.

 ** Item g. above was reversed April 2009 and the statement was deleted.

 

4.  Medical Assistant Role:  In response to a request for clarification, these areas were identified as appropriate for medical assistants by a Joint Board committee December 1994:

    a. Skin testing performed by intradermal technique.

    b. Skin testing performed by the scratch technique.

 

5.  At the September 20, 1995 Joint Board Meeting, discussion was held regarding medical assistant letters of inquiry.  It was determined that: Medical Assistants are permitted to administer medications from either a single or multi dose vial as along as the supervising physician assures appropriate training, competence, and assumes ultimate responsibility for administration of such drugs; and

 

6.  Telephoning of Prescriptions  At the September 20, 1995 Joint Board Meeting, discussion was held regarding medical assistant letters of inquiry.  It was determined that: Medical Assistants are permitted to telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy pursuant to their supervising physician’s written or verbal order.

 

 

7.  Medication Administration   At the April 8, 2009 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that:  Certified Medical Assistants are permitted to administer medications by inhalation route as long as the supervising physician assures appropriate training, competence, and assumes ultimate responsibility for administration of such drugs.