Informed Consent
While enrolled in the Medical Assistant program, students will be learning and practicing direct patient care and will be expected to participate in all clinical skill activities, including invasive procedures. Partial disrobing may be required while practicing and performing certain skills. However, appropriate draping and privacy considerations will be maintained at all times.
As an inherent risk of invasive procedures, students may be exposed to hepatitis, HIV, and other bloodborne or airborne pathogens that may cause injury, disease, or death. Students also may be exposed to latex and may develop an allergic reaction, which may cause injury. By participating in the Medical Assistant program, students freely agree to assume and accept any and all known and unknown risks of injury, harm, loss, death, and disease.
If students have religious, cultural, or medical reasons that prevent them from participating in invasive procedures, they are encouraged to speak with the Department Chair and course instructor.
Occupational Risk
Medical assistants work directly with healthcare providers and patients, with the goal of providing care and ensuring patient safety. They can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments.
As with any healthcare profession, medical assistants are exposed to certain occupational risks or hazards while performing their duties, including the following:
- Exposure to infectious diseases
- Sharps injuries
- Blood-borne pathogens and biological hazards
- Chemical and drug exposure
- Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and performing repetitive tasks
- Latex allergies
- Stress
Nevertheless, there are protections set up by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
As an accredited program, Berkeley College’s Medical Assistant program educates students about the hazards they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.
During their program of study, students enrolled in the Medical Assistant program will be introduced to the Universal Precautions recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Students are expected to follow these recommendations in their contact with all clients/patients while in the laboratory and clinical settings that are applicable to New Jersey laws. It is imperative that students follow all established rules and procedures for their protection and the protection of others.