Medical Assistants - Business and Professions Code Section 2544 Interpretation
Section 2544 states:
An assistant in the office of a physician and surgeon or optometrist acting under
the direct responsibility and supervision of the physician and surgeon or optometrist
may fit prescription lenses. Under the direct responsibility and supervision of
the ophthalmologist or optometrist, an assistant in the office of an ophthalmologist
or optometrist may also do the following:
- Prepare patients for examination.
- Collect preliminary patient data, including taking a patient history.
- Perform simple noninvasive testing of visual acuity, pupils, and ocular motility.
- Perform automated visual field testing.
- Perform ophthalmic photography and digital imaging.
- Perform tonometry
- Perform lensometry.
- Perform nonsubjective auto refraction in connection with subjective refraction procedures
performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
- Administer cycloplegiacs, mydriatics, and topical anesthetics that are not controlled
substances, for ophthalmic purposes.
- Perform pachymetry, keratometry, A scans, B scans, and electrodiagnostic testing.
-- BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTION 2540-2545
Interpretation:
A medical assistant working for an ophthalmologist can also do anything permitted
in the laws and regulations governing medical assistants (Business and Profession
Code section 2069) (16 CCR section 1366).