Currently Medical Assistance are not able to administer medication. All medications must be administered by a qualified provider.

📚 Resources Needed

• The supervising physician's specific written or standing medication order

• Patient-specific medication documentation and the ordered medication

• The medication vial, prepared syringe, and applicable administration supplies

• Current MA training documentation required by CCR, Title 16, section 1366.1

• Physician instructions when the MA is supervised by a mid-level provider

✅ Before You Start

• Confirm a licensed physician or another appropriately licensed person is physically present in the treatment facility.

• Confirm the supervising physician specifically authorized the medication or technical supportive service.

• Verify that the MA has completed the training required for the planned route or procedure.

• Do not proceed until the correct medication, product, amount, dosage, patient, order, route, and required supervision have been confirmed.

🚀 Tips & Tricks

• Keep the written or standing order, medication, vial, syringe, and patient record together during verification.

• Use a clear stop point before every administration so licensed personnel can verify the medication and dosage.

📘 Instructions

Step 1: Confirm Authorization Supervision And Onsite Presence

• Before every medication administration by an MA, a licensed physician or another appropriately licensed person must verify the correct medication and dosage.

• The supervising physician must specifically authorize every medication administered by an MA through a specific written or standing order prepared by the supervising physician.

• A physician or licensed person must be onsite whenever unlicensed staff administer medication or perform any procedure, including a blood draw.

• The supervising physician or another appropriately licensed person must authorize every technical supportive service performed by the MA and be physically present in the treatment facility while the procedure is performed.

• When an MA is supervised by a mid-level provider, written instructions from the physician must be in place.

Step 2: Prepare And Verify Injectable Medication

• Unlicensed staff must prepare each injectable medication according to the doctor's order.

• Before each administration, present the vial and prepared syringe to the physician or other appropriately licensed person.

• The licensed person must verify the correct product and amount before the MA administers the medication.

Step 3: Follow Permitted Injection Routes And Anesthetic Restrictions

• An MA may inject medications, including scheduled drugs, only when the medication has been pre-verified and the injection is intradermal, intramuscular, or subcutaneous, as provided in 16 CCR 1366(b)(1).

• Anesthetic agents are the exception and may not be administered by an MA. Section 1366 and Business and Professions Code section 2069 do not authorize an MA to administer any anesthetic agent.

• MAs may not administer anesthetics, including local anesthetic agents such as Rocephin hydrated with Xylocaine.

Step 4: Handle Medication Samples Correctly

• An MA may not remove medication from the sample cabinet. Only the physician or mid-level provider may remove the proper medication and place the samples in a bag.

• The provider must explain drug usage to the patient before the MA hands the medication to the patient.

• After that explanation, an MA may hand the patient properly labeled and pre-packaged prescription drugs, excluding controlled substances, when ordered by a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife.

• The patient's name must be affixed to the package.

• The physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse midwife must verify the correct medication and dosage for that specific patient.

Step 5: Verify Required MA Training

• Before administering medication by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, performing intradermal skin tests, or performing venipuncture to withdraw blood, the MA must complete at least the minimum training hours established in CCR, Title 16, section 1366.1.

• Training must continue for the duration required for the MA to demonstrate competency to the supervising physician or licensed personnel and must include no less than the required minimums.

• Complete at least 10 clock hours of training in administering injections and performing skin tests.

• Complete at least 10 clock hours of training in venipuncture and skin puncture for withdrawing blood.

• Complete at least 10 clock hours of training in administering medication by inhalation.

Step 6: Follow IV And Anesthesia Prohibitions

• An MA may not place an intravenous needle or start or disconnect an intravenous infusion tube.

• An MA may not administer medication or injections into an intravenous line.

• An MA may not administer anesthesia.

🛠 Troubleshooting

Licensed Personnel Are Not Physically Present

Do not administer the medication or perform the procedure. Wait until the required physician or appropriately licensed person is onsite and the service is authorized.

The Medication Or Dosage Has Not Been Verified

Stop before administration and present the medication, vial, and syringe to the physician or appropriately licensed person for verification of the correct product, amount, and dosage.

The Medication Contains An Anesthetic Agent

Do not administer it. MAs cannot administer anesthetic agents, including local anesthetics such as Rocephin hydrated with Xylocaine.

The MA Lacks Required Training Documentation

Do not perform the injection, skin test, venipuncture, skin puncture, or inhalation-medication task until the required training is completed and documented.

✅ Completion Check

• The supervising physician specifically authorized the medication through a specific written or standing order.

• Required licensed personnel are onsite and physically present in the treatment facility.

• Before each administration, the correct medication, product, amount, and dosage were verified by a licensed physician or appropriately licensed person.

• The MA used only an authorized intradermal, intramuscular, or subcutaneous injection route and did not administer any anesthetic or IV medication.

• Medication samples were removed only by the physician or mid-level provider, properly labeled and pre-packaged, excluded controlled substances, included the patient's name, and were verified for that patient after the provider explained drug usage.

• The MA's training meets the applicable CCR minimums: 10 clock hours for injections and skin tests, 10 for venipuncture and skin puncture, and 10 for inhaled medication.