36-9B-1      Medical assistant defined.
36-9B-2      Duties.
36-9B-3      Registration required.
36-9B-4      Application for registration--Renewal--Fees.
36-9B-5      Registration by Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.
36-9B-6      Out-of-state applicant.
36-9B-7      Promulgation of rules for application and registration.
36-9B-8      Revocation or suspension of registration.
36-9B-9      Hospital privileges.

     36-9B-1.   Medical assistant defined. For the purposes of this chapter, a medical assistant is a professional multiskilled person who assists in all aspects of medical practice under the responsibility and direct supervision of a person licensed to practice medicine in the State of South Dakota. A medical assistant assists with patient care management, executes administrative and clinical procedures, and performs managerial and supervisory functions over unlicensed personnel.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 1.

     36-9B-2.   Duties. A medical assistant under the responsibility and direct supervision of a person licensed to practice medicine in the State of South Dakota may perform the following duties:

             (1)      Performing clinical procedures to include:

             (a)      Performing aseptic procedures;

             (b)      Taking vital signs;

             (c)      Preparing patients for examination;

             (d)      Phlebotomous blood withdrawal and nonintravenous injections; and

             (e)      Observing and reporting patients' signs or symptoms;

             (2)      Administering basic first aid;

             (3)      Assisting with patient examinations or treatment;

             (4)      Operating office medical equipment;

             (5)      Collecting routine laboratory specimens;

             (6)      Administering medications by unit dosage;

             (7)      Performing basic laboratory procedures; and

             (8)      Performing office procedures including all general administrative duties.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 2.

     36-9B-3.   Registration required. No person may practice as a medical assistant unless that person is registered with the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners pursuant to this chapter.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 3.

     36-9B-4.   Application for registration--Renewal--Fees. A medical assistant seeking registration under this chapter shall complete an application prescribed by the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. The application shall be submitted to the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. A registration fee, not to exceed ten dollars, shall accompany the application and shall be paid to the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. The fee shall be set by the board by rule promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26.

     The registration shall be renewed biennially by payment of a fee, not to exceed five dollars. The fee shall be set by the board by rule promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26. A registration not renewed by December thirty-first of the year of expiration lapses.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 4; SL 2008, ch 191, § 23; SL 2018, ch 229, § 1.

     36-9B-5.   Registration by Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. The Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners shall register a medical assistant following the submission of an application by an applicant for registration who has graduated from an accredited school or a school which meets standards similar to an accredited school and has met other qualifications established by the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 5; SL 2018, ch 229, § 2.

     36-9B-6.   Out-of-state applicant. The Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners may register an applicant from outside the state whose education and training are substantially the same as that received from an approved school in this state and who meets the other qualifications established by the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 6; SL 2018, ch 229, § 3.

     36-9B-7.   Promulgation of rules for application and registration. The Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners may adopt rules for medical assistants in the following areas:

             (1)      Contents of applications;

             (2)      Qualifications of applicants;

             (3)      Approval of schools other than those which are accredited;

             (4)      Renewal of registration; and

             (5)      Registration.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 7; SL 2018, ch 229, § 4.

     36-9B-8.   Revocation or suspension of registration. The registration of a medical assistant may be revoked or suspended upon violation of the provisions of § 36-4-30. The proceedings for suspension or revocation of a registration may be initiated by the Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. All proceedings concerning the revocation or suspension of a registration shall conform to contested case procedure provided in chapter 1-26.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 8; SL 2018, ch 229, § 5.

     36-9B-9.   Hospital privileges. Nothing in this chapter permits a medical assistant to provide services in a hospital licensed pursuant to chapter 34-12 unless the hospital has specifically granted such privileges.

Source: SL 1991, ch 304, § 9.