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I just ran across something saying someone could not participate in MU due to being caught up in Medical Assistant issues. I have been told by one of the local for profit colleges our Medical Assistants have to be certified. I never saw anything in our previous MU submissions detailing this. Any thoughts or insights?

This was added as a part of Stage 2 and it only applies to Orders. Actually, it allows you to do more than before. Here is a copy of Core 1: CPOE for Medication Orders
Previously, only ?licensed health care professionals? were allowed to enter orders for it to count towards Meaningful Use. Now, they are allowing "credentialed Medical Assistants" enter orders and count for Meaningful Use. So MA's are allowed to send orders now.

The provision you are talking about went into effect Jan 1, 2013 and applied to Stage 1 and Stage 2. It will also apply to Stage 3 when it goes into effect.

Wow, the man himself, thanks. Quick follow up question, by definition does medication orders simply mean e-prescribing? Or does it have to go through Orders to toggle on?

You're welcome. It means the Medications List in the Most Recent Encounter Tab at the bottom left hand corner of the screen. Only codified medications count. The non-codified will show up in Italics. Medications added via the Write Scripts/eprescribing will automatically be added to medications list.

Also, if you check the Medication Reconciliation complete for patients transferred into your care, you can knock out Menu item 7 as well. (You first have to check "Transfer of Care into practice" to mark the Reconciliation.)

Thank you again. Seems strange to require additional certification for that particular task. It is not like you have to know the medication to simply copy someone's med list from a referral source.

I think the intent is that there needs to be someone (certified MA,RN,LVN, NP,MD,PA,DO)who can respond to the interactions and alerts when entering or ordering medications.
No use having interaction and allergy alerts if they are not trained to use them :^)

Greg

Yeah,Greg I understand that, but at least in our experience the MA isn't going to be one of those. Seems like for this all you need is a competent adult. After all, if the RN sees an alert for the interaction, I assume they will inform the physician. Am I missing something?

No you are looking for straight logic where only governmental twisted logic applies :^)

Greg