Medical Assistants - Review Your Pharmacology Questions Here

We Know the Feeling!

You want to be the best medical assistant you can be but drug names, medical terms, Roman numerals and abbreviations on prescription pads and medicine bottle labels won't always stick to your memory.

What You Need to Know about Medications... Right Away!!!

Medications and controlled substances in a medical office are subject to certain laws and must be safeguarded at all times. As a medical assistant you are legally responsible for adhering to these regulations associated with handling, administering, disposal and safe-keeping of medications within their scope of practice. Start your Free Pharmacology Review for medical assistants right now.

True or False?
Do Medical Assistants Need to Know Drugs?

Do medical assistants REALLY have to know the forms of drugs, their uses, strength and how they are prescribed? Isn't that the doctor's job?

True. Prescribing medications is the doctor's job; however, medical assistants are expected to be familiar with the most common forms of medications. Generally, this means basic knowledge of     
      brand and generic name and usual dosages typically ordered in the medical office where they work.

If You Don't Know You Might Be Opening Yourself Up to Errors...

Those who dispense and administer medications must be able to read and understand written prescription and medication orders and possess a solid understanding of the conditions under which certain drugs may, or may not be prescribed (i.e. pregnancy, breast-feeding, allergies, side-effects and risks).

 Remember: A good medical assistant vocational training program includes pharmacology classes, since it is so essential to the job. Most doctors require it as a prerequisite when they fill positions on the clinical floors in their practice.

CONSUMER ALERT 

Buying drugs online may be illegal! Federal law prohibits buying controlled substances such as narcotic pain relievers (e.g., OxyContin®, Vicodin ®), sedatives (e.g., Valium®, Xanax®, Ambien®), stimulants (e.g., phentermine, phendimetrazine, Adderall®, Ritalin®) and anabolic steroids (e.g., Winstrol®, Equipoise®) without a valid prescription from a doctor.

This means there must be a bona fide doctor-patient relationship, which by most state laws requires a physical examination to receive a prescription. Prescriptions written by "cyber doctors" relying on online questionnaires are not legitimate under the law.

Buying controlled substances online without a valid prescription may be punishable by imprisonment under Federal law. It is a felony to import drugs into the United States and ship to a non-DEA registrant. To report illegal prescription drug sales and/or rogue pharmacies operating on the Internet call the anonymous Pharmaceutical Drug Abuse Hotline: 1-877-RxAbuse (1-877-792-2873). More info at: DEA Website