Changing factors in the health care environment, such as shortages in the primary care workforce, have prompted organizations to look at expanding the traditional role of medical assistants (MAs). Potential new roles for MAs include health coach, panel manager, pharmacy technician, interpreter, and referral coordinator. With these expanded roles come considerations related to scope of practice, such as which services MAs are legally allowed to provide.

With funding from the Hitachi Foundation, the UCSF Center for Health Professions studied how 14 health care organizations approached expanding the roles of MAs to provide career enhancement opportunities while improving patient outcomes and organizational efficiency.

For example, West County Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Guerneville, California, and the surrounding area, has recently implemented a program that expands the role of MAs to include panel management activities, such as ordering labs and tracking immunizations.

Learn about the national review of MA expansion models, scope of practice issues, and West County’s approach. Hear from:

• Catherine Dower, health policy and law director, UCSF Center for the Health Professions
• Sheena Toledo, agency medical assistant supervisor, West County Health Centers
• Dana Valley, associate director of quality management, West County Health Centers

A recording of the webinar and the presentation slides are available below.