Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) AMCA Practice Exam

Which of the following tasks cannot be handled by a Medical Assistant?

1. Scheduling patient appointments

2. Taking vital signs

3. Patient requesting medical advice

4. Preparing exam rooms

The correct answer is: Patient requesting medical advice

A Medical Assistant typically has a defined scope of practice, which includes administrative tasks and clinical duties. While scheduling appointments, taking vital signs, and preparing exam rooms are well within the responsibilities of a Medical Assistant, providing medical advice falls outside their scope. When patients seek medical advice, they require guidance that is usually reserved for licensed healthcare providers like physicians or nurse practitioners. Medical Assistants are trained to assist in clinical settings and support patient care, but they do not hold the legal authority or medical expertise to diagnose conditions or prescribe treatment options. Therefore, handling patient requests for medical advice could put both the assistant and the patient at risk, as it may lead to misinformation or inadequate care. Thus, this task is not appropriate for a Medical Assistant to undertake.