...Case Study Andre J. Hopp HCS/335 September 24, 2013 Frieda Taylor Case Study Today’s health care system is larger and busier than ever. Increased demand for services coupled with a limited number of providers, creates unique demands on an already strained system. Medical practices rely heavily on staff members to perform a myriad of function, both clinical and administrative. Occasionally, staff members may be asked by either physician or patients to perform duties that fall outside their scope of practice. Should an unqualified employee choose to operate outside his or her scope of practice, they run the risk of committing both negligent and criminal acts. In the case study of Jerry McCall, an office assistant with limited medical training, one sees a clear case of negligent and criminal conduct. The case study presents a scenario where an office assistant in a private physician’s office is asked by a patient to authorize a prescription for a Schedule III controlled medication. Additional information reveals that he is currently the only person in the office. Although Jerry is a Licensed Practical Nurse and medical assistant, his training does not permit him to prescribe medications of any type. Medications may only by prescribed by licensed providers who hold a valid registration with the Drug Enforcement Administration. This is typically limited to physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. There does however, exist a situation win which it...
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...Ethics Case Study Ranacia Alford HCS/335 Ruby Wesley Shadow In order to make ethical decisions in the medical office setting, everyone should have a clear understanding of their role in the practice. Knowing the scope of their work allows employees to perform their jobs better and to keep from making mistakes that could reflect badly on the liable provider. In the case study that will be discussed, Jerry, the office assistant, is asked to refill a prescription for Valium, a controlled substance, without the doctor’s presence or authorization based on the word of the patient. Does Jerry’s Medical Training Qualify Him to Issue This Refill Order? Why or Why Not? According to the case study, Jerry’s job title is Office Assistant. He has professional training as a medical assistant and a licensed practical nurse. Technically, Jerry’s medical training does qualify him to refill this order. Unfortunately, his current job title disqualifies since the doctor has neither authorized this prescription nor hired him as a nurse. Since Valium is a controlled substance and the patient stated that the doctor calls it in from time to time, there likely are no refills at the pharmacy, thus Jerry would be calling in a new prescription which is completed outside of the scope of his position. Would It Make A Difference If the Medication Was For Controlling High Blood Pressure That the Patient Critically Needs on a Daily Basis? Why or Why Not? As previously stated, Jerry’s current position does...
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...An Ethical Case Study: Jerry McCall Heather Sewell HCS335 November 4, 2013 Susan Kajfasz An Ethical Case Study: Jerry McCall The Jerry McCall case study involves a health care worker who is a medical assistant and LPN and b faces a legal and ethical decision when a patient insists on a prescription of Valium while Jerry is in the office alone. Jerry must decide how to provide the patient with what he needs while maintaining the law and his ethical values. Jerry McCall, although he received professional training as a medical assistant and an LPN, is not qualified to refill a prescription for a patient. According to New York State Law, LPNs are not allowed to work independently. The law “requires LPNs to practice under the direction of a registered professional nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, dentist, physician assistant, specialist assistant, podiatrist, or midwife” (Office of the Professions, n.d.). Jerry is aware of the rules and regulations concerning prescriptions and should not be intimidated by a pushy patient. Rules and laws are in place to protect both patients from injury and health care workers from malpractice. The law covers all medications because a patient can have an adverse reaction to even a common medication which is why all prescriptions must be ordered by licensed professionals. It does not matter whether the patient requests a daily medication such as a blood pressure medication or Valium as in Jerry’s case. The only legal way that...
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...Diaz Cruz Case Study University of Phoenix Prof. Keegan Physician’s assistants and medical assistants both perform vital acts in a physician’s office. However, both positions differ significantly in scope of practice, ethical and practical duties, responsibilities, and legally authorized extensions. Physician’s assistant duties, scope of practice and the laws applicable to each of these areas varies from state to state. While physician’s assistants perform their duties under the direct supervision of a licensed physician in any area of primary care including surgical and surgical subspecialties, family practice, obstetrics and gynecology, etc. Nevertheless, physician assistants in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have authorization to prescribe medication (Hooker, 2010). Although this policy evolution occurred over the objections of some physician organizations about expanded prescription authority, the reality is that this change is codified (Hooker, 2010). Because of their intermediary placement within spheres of primary care and medicine itself, physician’s assistants are not immune from ethical dilemmas and/or malpractice, negligence and/or liability (PAC, 2011). Physician’s assistant share many duties, responsibilities as their supervising physician, based upon their training, their experience in the practice, ethical duties given the following case study situation. Although medical assistants...
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...Ethics Case Study HCS/335 April 6, 2015 Beryl Keegan Ethics is a very important aspect in someone life either it’s from a professional or personal stand point. With having ethics help individuals with determining whether their action is right or wrong. Interpersonal ethics are essential within any career. Healthcare is a number one profession where ethics is essential, due to the fact you are dealing people from all different type of lifestyles and situations. In this case study, Jerry McCall is Dr.Williams office assistant. He has received professional training in both a medical assistant and LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium and antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. H states Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him supply of Valium when he as to fly. Only Jerry is in the office at this time. Jerry is unable to provide the patient with the medication that he needs for his flight. When prescribing a medication the prescribed practioner is responsible in case the prescription given cause any harm or doesn’t conform in all essential respect the law and regulations."(Federal Register Volume 75, Number 193). Jerry needs to apologize for the inconvience and advise the patient under the penalty...
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...Ethics Case Study Angela Gentile HCS/335 May 21, 2012 Claudia Unrein This paper is on an ethics case study, I will first explain the case study, and address why the person involved is not qualified to refill prescription medication. Also does it matter if the medication is on a daily need bases, and will that person be protected from a lawsuit? All these questions will be answered, so let me give you a little background on the case and some definition that might help you understand the circumstances. “Case Study: Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams’s office assistant. He has received professional training as both a Medical assistant and a LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to the pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time.” (Fremgen (2009) pg.85. Definitions: “CMA, certified medical assistant, duties are grouped into two categories: administrative and clinical. Work in a variety of healthcare settings including physician’s offices, and clinics. Must graduate from an accredited program and pass a national certification exam. “LPN, licensed practical nurse, performs some of the same, but not all, tasks as the registered nurse. Must graduate...
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...Ethics Case Study XXXXXXXXXX HCS/335 May 2, 2011 Beryl Keegan, RN, BSN, MSN/HCE, CCRN, CLNC Ethics Case Study "Jerry McCall is Dr. William's office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and a LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time. What should he do" (Fremgen, 2009, p. 85)? Medical ethics is a subject open to much interpretation and is prone to many grey area's without definite answers. In the case of Jerry McCall, Medical Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse and Office Assistant the rationale, ethical and legal, for not refilling a prescription without physician consent are justified. If Mr. McCall chooses to refill the unauthorized prescription and the patient has an adverse reaction, his employer, Dr. William's can be held legally responsible for the committed tort even though he is personally without fault (Regan & Regan, 2002). Ethical and legal ramifications are at stake; using effective problem-solving methods to assist with decision making can help to avert a problematic outcome. Qualifications Required for Authorizing Prescriptions ...
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...Case Study of Jerry McCall Carolyn Ervin HCS/335 April 13, 2015 Christine Singel This case study is based on Jerry McCall, being Dr. Williams’s office assistant, and being that he has received professional training as a LPN, and a medical assistant. While the assistant is at lunch Jerry is handling all phone calls, but, while Jerry was their one of the doctor’s patients called that needed a refill for Valium, and that is an antidepressant medication. So, happens the patient is needed of a refill right away because he is leaving out of town, and by being a personal friend of Dr. Williams he supply him with small doses of Valium frequently. However, Jerry is the only one in the office. Fremgen Ph.D. (2009), “Jerry is a trained licensed practical nurse, and a medical assistant but, Jerry must follow the law of study that he was trained and licensed.” When you are a medical assistant that do not give you the authority to write any prescriptions but, by Jerry being licensed in another state he cannot write the prescription but, Jerry LPN license can permit him to for certain medication but, he is limited. No, Jerry should not refill the prescription that the patient is requesting because Valium is a controlled substance, and Jerry need to explain to the patient that he is unable to do that request he must talk with Dr. Williams, and that he can call him, and explain the situation, and if Dr. Williams approve the refill then the refill will be filled. Furthermore...
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...Ethics Case Study JoAnn DiAntonio HCS/335 October 7, 2013 Claudia Unrein Abstract This paper will discuss the ethical dilemmas faced by some health care providers in the performance of their daily tasks. In this paper we will discuss the case of Jerry McCall, an office assistant working for a private physician, Dr. Williams. Jerry is also certified as a medical assistant and an LPN. Jerry receives a phone call from one of Dr. William’s patients while he is covering the telephones for the receptionist. The patient requests a refill for his Valium prescription because he is in the airport waiting for a flight. He is a personal friend of Dr. Williams and tells Jerry he always calls in a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. Jerry is alone in the office at the time of the call (Fremgen, 2009). What can Jerry do? Scope of Practice Although Jerry works as an office assistant, he is also trained as a medical assistant (MA) and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), neither of these positions allow him to issue a refill order for any medication, especially a Level IV controlled substance. In their scope of practice medical assistants are not allowed to independently prescribe medications, give out medication samples, or refill prescription requests except under the direct supervision and order of a physician (Buppert, 2008). Licensed Practical Nurses may not call a prescription, including a prescription to refill or extend a prescription, to a pharmacy that has...
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...Ethics Case Study: Jerry McCall Evanie N Williams HCS/335 December 31, 2013 University Of Phoenix Ethics Case Study It’s important that those who work in the medical field know their scope of practice and keep within their professions guidelines. The following case study will discuss an issue a medical assistant/LPN has encountered during his shift at Dr. Williams’s office and why the assistant must act under his scope of practice. Case: Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams’s office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and a LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium, an antidepressant medication, called in right away to his pharmacy, since he is leaving for the airport in thirty minutes. He says that Dr. Williams is a personal friend and always gives him a small supply of Valium when he has to fly. No one except Jerry is in the office at this time. 1) Dose Jerry’s medical training qualify him to issue this refill order? Why or why not? No, Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to issue refills on the patient’s Valium order. Jerry McCall is both a medical assistant and an LPN (license practical nurse) neither certificate nor license grants the ability to write prescriptions. Medical assistants are unlicensed health care personnel that can only preform non-invasive technical support under the supervision of a licensed...
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...Case Study: Medical Error in Tootsie’s Story In spite of the fact that to err is human, In health care settings there exist a great need to adapt to measures that prevent the occurrence of medical mistakes. Healthcare facilities should continuously employ and improve their structures, processes & outcomes through concepts such as data gathering and analysis. Structure Tootsie’s story tells of a case of the medical error that occurred due to Synthroid overdose. Structurally, I will focus on staffing: making sure that there are sufficient staffs on duty - pharmacist, physicians, nurses, and care coordinators that will execute and ensure Tootsie is receiving accurate and well- documented care. Process I will consider whether how well all...
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...Jerry McCall Ethics Case Study Overview This is an USA pseudo-case diverged from the following Medical and Ethics Textbook case study in Ch. 4 of Medical Law and Ethics that gives insight to medical – ethics and their applications (Fremgen, 2010, p. 85). Jerry McCall is Dr. Williams’s office assistant. He has received professional training as both a medical assistant and an LPN. He is handling all the phone calls while the receptionist is at lunch. A patient calls and says he must have a prescription refill for Valium and that the provider, a friend, calls in the medication prior to any flights. This type of request happens often and in slightly different scenarios, but the outcome should remain the same to avoid ethical and legal issues. This paper will review the case study to help resolve the problem, the ethics involved, and the medical responsibility to refilling a prescription without provider authorization. Qualified Medical Training Understanding the definitions of a licensed practical nurse, LPN, and a medical assistant, MA is the first step to making a factual conclusion for this case study. Support staff to the provider cannot make decisions about medication refills for patients without a direct order from the provider. This action is outside the scope of practice for an LPN or MA. Licensed Practical Nurse An LPN is a role in support of the nurse or RN, a registered Nurse usually in a skilled nursing setting such as a hospital or long-term care facility...
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...Ethics Case Study Tina Marie Gaddie HCS 335 Edna Wilkerson June 20,2011 Ethics Case Study It is important to understand that in this case, valium is not an anti-depressant because it can actually cause or worsen the patient’s depression. Another issue to understand is that Jerry does not have any authority to provide medical prescriptions. According to medical law and ethics, the doctors or other authorizing people such as PA or LNP must approve all medication refills. What Jerry could do is to call Dr. Williams and inform him on what his client wants because doctors carry their cell phones because they are aware they might be needed in the office at any time. In case, Jerry will get approval from Dr. Williams, then he will go ahead and issue this refill order. In case, he will issue without consultation of Dr. Williams, then he will be in big trouble because it is against medical laws. Does Jerry’s medical training qualify him to issue this refill order? Why or why not? Actually, Jerry’s medical training does not qualify him to issue this refill order because he is not qualified to issue out the valium prescription. Being both assistant medical and LNP, means that he is not qualified to issue refill order. This is because it is not his work but the work of medical doctors who qualify to issue this refill. Even though Jerry may call Dr. Williams, it may be hard to be given prescription because there is what we call informed consent in medical ethics (Hall and Bobinski...
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...Big Buck Big Pharma Case Study Big Bucks, Big Pharma pulls back the curtain on the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry to expose the insidious ways that illness is used, manipulated and in some instances created, for capital gain. Using excerpts from drug company advertisements as well as news reports on the pharmaceutical industry, the documentary raised important questions and presents options for the consumer empowerment. The film examines how direct-to-consumer advertising of medications is a fairly recent innovation that has led to a sharp increase in the sales of prescription drugs. Americans are encouraged to “ask your doctor” for name brand drugs numerous times throughout the day. Doctor’s report that sometimes patients will request a medication they have seen advertised without even knowing what condition or symptoms it is meant to treat. Advertisements in fact provide very little information about prescription drugs. Instead, the drugs are emotionally branded by associating their names with images of happy people, living fulfilling lives, in beautiful settings. Other pharmaceutical advertisements present normal aspects of life as serious medical conditions, leading healthy people to believe that they need unnecessary, and potentially harmful, and prescriptions. Throughout the case study there were several different section: Branding Drugs, Swimming in Pills, Disease Mongering, No Free Lunch, and A Healthier Prescription. In the section Branding Drugs...
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...Neuroenhancement; Stimulants in the Classroom In the current economy, people are competing to earn a decent living; meanwhile, only certain individuals receive a prescription for neuroenhancing medication. An individual receiving Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment is at an advantage compared to an individual with ADHD and no prescription. Neuroenhancing drugs, categorized as stimulants, are most often prescribed to people who’ve been diagnosed with ADHD. Students are the main focus of this research paper because data supports the claim that neuroenhancers are often used to improve performance in the classroom. There are positive and negative results that come from the use of neuroenhancing medication. A qualitative study by Margaret Talbot examines a Harvard student and includes personal insight from an Adderall user that earned a college degree. If a student doesn’t have access to prescribed neuroenhancers, and has a hard time focusing on schoolwork, is the student similar to someone with bad vision and no access glasses? The current situation in our information based economy with a growing need for higher education puts prescribed users of neuroenhancement at an academic advantage over people with similar neurological characteristics and no prescription. Defining the Drug ADHD medication has an intended purpose to improve the ability for the user to focus on a given task. More specifically, “stimulants increase the activity of the sympathetic nervous...
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