Scope of Practice

South Dakota Medical Assistants are governed by the South Dakota Board of Medical Examiners. Below is the Scope of Practice for South Dakota Medical Assistants.

**Effective February 5th, 2018 the registration of Medical Assistants in the State of South Dakota is under the sole jurisdiction of the SD Board of Medical Examiners, no longer the joint jurisdiction of the SDBMOE and the SD Board of Nursing.**

**Effective July 1st, 2021, the licensure of Medical Assistants in the State of South Dakota is no longer required with the SD Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.**

Click here to view the former Scope of Practice

With the legislative change on July 1st, 2021 that removed the requirement for Medical Assistants practicing in the State of South Dakota to register with the SD Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners, there is no longer a specific scope of practice.

The below may be used as a general outline of definitions and duties that Medical Assistants may perform, however it is now the sole responsibility of the facility where the Medical Assistant practices to determine the eligible scope for their employees.

36-9B-1 Medical Assistant Defined.

For the purposes of this chapter, a medical assistant is a professional multi skilled person who assists in all aspects of medical practice under the responsibility and direct supervision of a person licensed to practice medicine in the State of South Dakota. A medical assistant assists with patient care management, executes administrative and clinical procedures, and performs managerial and supervisory functions over unlicensed personnel.

[“Direct supervision” of a medical assistant means supervision of all activities performed by the medical assistant. Should the physician be unable to provide on-site supervision, supervision by a properly supervised physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife shall satisfy the medical assistant act’s direct supervision requirements. SD Joint Boards Definition 06/1994.]

36-9B-2 Duties

A medical assistant under the responsibility and direct supervision of a person licensed to practice medicine in the State of South Dakota may perform the following duties:

1. Performing clinical procedures to include:

a. Performing aseptic procedures

b. Taking vital signs

c. Preparing patients for examination

d. Phlebotomous blood withdrawal and nonintravenous injections

e. Observing and reporting patients' signs or symptoms

2. Administering basic first aid

3. Assisting with patient examinations or treatment

4. Operating office medical equipment

5. Collecting routine laboratory specimens

6. Administering medications by unit dosage

7. Performing basic laboratory procedures

8. Performing office procedures including all general administrative duties

36-9B-9 Hospital privileges

Nothing in this chapter permits a medical assistant to provide services in a hospital licensed pursuant to chapter 34-12 unless the hospital has specifically granted such privileges.

Section 6

20:84:01:01 Definitions. Terms defined in SDCL chapter 36-9B have the same meaning when used in this article. In addition, terms used in this article mean:

(1) "Board," the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners;

(2) "Direct supervision," the physician, physician assistant, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife are physically present or
available by means of electronic communication.

South Dakota Scope of Practice Determinations Relating to Medical Assistant Practice

Administration of Medications:

At the April 8, 2009 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that: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.

At the September 20, 1995 Joint Board Meeting, 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.
At the April 1994 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that MAs:
a) May not administer medications which require calculation of a dose;
b) May only distribute pre-printed information to a patient on medications and inhalers.
At the September 15, 1993 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that MAs:
- May not inject insulin;
- May administer medications by unit dose, which means medication prepared in the exact amount, in an individual packet, for a specific patient.

Patient Education:

At the April 1994 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that MAs may only provide education information to the patient and may not perform health teaching or counseling.
At the September 15, 1993 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that MA scope of practice does not include patient education.

Procedures:

At the April 1994 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that MAs:
- May only perform suprapubic catheterizations involving an established fistula.
- May apply ace bandages and splints to extremities; and
- May not perform irrigations for ostomy/stoma care;
- May Perform EKGs and glucose testing;

Lab Procedures:

In December 1994, in response to a request for clarification, a Joint Board committee determined that a) skin testing performed by intradermal technique, and b) skin testing performed by the scratch technique were appropriate for medical assistants to perform.
In April 1994, a Joint Board committee determined that a MA may report diagnostic lab findings to patients only after appropriate interpretation by the physician.
At the September 15, 1993 Joint Board Meeting, it was determined that MA scope of practice does not include arterial withdrawal of blood, but does include venous withdrawal of blood.

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.

The above information was retrieved from the SD Board of Medical & Osteopathic Examiners website and any links therein relating to the topics included.

CMA and RMA Credentialing

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) are both voluntary, national credentials for the medical assisting profession. The CMA is awarded by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants organization; the RMA is given by the American Medical Technologists.

Assignment and Supervision of Nursing Tasks to Medical Assistants by a Registered Nurse

Approved May 11, 2022

Practice Statement

It is within the scope of a registered nurse (RN), pursuant to SDCL 36-9-3 (7) (11), to assign and supervise nursing tasks to medical assistants in ambulatory or outpatient settings.

Purpose

The following guidelines are intended to promote safe assignments of nursing tasks to medical assistants.

Guidelines

A registered nurse may assign nursing tasks and supervise a medical assistant provided:

• The agency allows a medical assistant to provide nursing services in the practice setting;

• The medical assistant is certified with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT);

• Assigned nursing tasks are consistent with Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) standards, with

the exclusion of IV therapy;

• The medical assistant has demonstrated competency to perform the assigned nursing tasks;

• The supervising registered nurse is readily available either in person or via electronic communication.

For more information click here.