PDFWAC 246-827-0420

Medical assistant-phlebotomist—Supervision—Requirements for performing arterial invasive procedures and line draws.

(1) The delegating health care practitioner does not need to be present when a medical assistant-phlebotomist is performing capillary or venous procedures to withdraw blood, but must be immediately available for consultation by phone or in person within a reasonable period of time.
(2) A medical assistant-phlebotomist may only perform arterial invasive procedures or line draws after the following education and training is completed and documented. A medical assistant-phlebotomist's training and education must be documented on a checklist, signed by the delegating health care practitioner and the medical assistant-phlebotomist, and placed in the medical assistant-phlebotomist's personnel file. The medical assistant-phlebotomist shall complete:
(a) Education to include anatomy, physiology, concepts of asepsis, and microbiology;
(b) Training to perform arterial invasive procedures for blood withdrawal and line draws, including theory, potential risks, and complications;
(c) Anatomic considerations for performing such functions as arterial puncture, line draws, and use of local anesthetic agents;
(d) Observation of the arterial invasive procedure and line draws; and
(e) Successful demonstration of the arterial invasive procedure and line draws under direct visual supervision of a health care practitioner.
(3) Upon successful completion of the training described in subsection (2) of this section, a medical assistant-phlebotomist may only perform:
(a) Arterial invasive procedures for blood withdrawal while under the immediate supervision of a supervising health care practitioner; and
(b) Line draws if the intravenous fluid is stopped and restarted by a health care practitioner under the immediate supervision of a supervising health care practitioner.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.360 RCW, RCW 43.70.280, and 2012 c 153. WSR 13-12-045, § 246-827-0420, filed 5/31/13, effective 7/1/13.]