RECENTLY, the Guam Legislature found that there are no local statutes regulating the practice of Medical Assistants in the clinics, hospitals, or nursing homes on-island. This means that theoretically, any Tom, Dick or Dirty Harry could work in these healthcare institutions. In many clinics and even at the Guam Memorial Hospital, Medical Assistants have historically been trained on the job usually by personnel who are under-supported and untrained in medical education activities.

Last week, Guam Community College faculty members went before the Guam Legislature Committee on Health to support legislation to establish the minimum training requirements for Guam's Medical Assistants. The health educators from GCC had expected the island physicians to rally in support of this effort because it ostensibly reduces professional nursing expenses and enhances the quality of island healthcare services. In addition, local statute would be created to formalize this medical career path for island students. Most importantly, the legislation was intended to provide the citizens of Guam with an added level of safety by ensuring that local Medical Assistants have a minimum level of training and competency.

Medical Assistants are healthcare workers who assume a wide range of roles in physician offices, ambulatory healthcare centers, and clinical laboratories. Ideally, a Medical Assistant is proficient in a multitude of administrative and clinical tasks.

Medical Assistants are trained to obtain and record patient history; accurately measure vital signs; prepare patient for and assist with procedures, treatments, and minor office surgeries; organize and maintain patient's medical record; and schedule and manage medical appointments.

Medical Assistants are also trained to perform capillary and venipuncture; administer vaccine immunizations; obtain specimens for microbiological testing; perform electrocardiography; and accurately conduct office urine and blood diagnostic laboratory tests.

Medical Assistants are also trained to perform bookkeeping procedures such as preparing a bank deposit; posting entries on a day sheet; performing accounts receivable procedures; and performing billing and collection procedures.

The Guam Community College has an accredited Medical Assistant Program that was started in 1995 and received national accreditation in 2003. The GCC program graduates 18 students every year with either a one-year certificate or a two-year associate science degree.

The GCC program emphasizes competency in professional communications including proper telephone communication techniques. GCC students learn to identify and respond to issues of patient confidentiality; perform proper medical documentation; and appropriately deliver patient instruction. GCC students are taught to provide instruction for health maintenance and disease prevention; perform inventory of medical supplies and equipment; perform routine maintenance of administrative and clinical equipment; and utilize computer software to maintain office systems.

Prior to graduation, GCC Medical Assistant students participate in a supervised, unpaid externship of at least 160 contact hours in an ambulatory healthcare setting performing administrative and clinical procedures. The program ensures that the externship experience and instruction of students are meaningful and parallel in content and concept with the material presented in lecture and laboratory sessions. Sites are selected so that each student is afforded a variety of experiences, while at the same time all students are provided consistent learning opportunities.

The primary purpose of this Act is to protect the public against unlawful practices by uncertified persons holding themselves out as persons trained and authorized to perform the duty and responsibility of a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) on Guam. In their outcry against the regulation of Medical Assistants, some of Guam's physicians may be too concerned about their fiscal bottom line rather than on the best interests of their patients.