Alabama Administrative Code
Title 610 - ALABAMA BOARD OF NURSING
Chapter 610-X-14 - MEDICATION ASSISTANT, CERTIFIED (MAC)
Section 610-X-14-.01 - Definitions

(1) Abandonment: Acceptance of a patient assignment, thus establishing a medication assistant, certified-patient relationship, and then ending the medication assistant, certified-patient relationship without giving reasonable notice to supervisory personnel so that others can make arrangements for continuation of care.

(2) Accountability: The state of being answerable or responsible for action.

(3) Application(s): Form(s) and process(es) for applicants seeking permits by examination, endorsement, reinstatement, or renewal.

(4) Dual Relationship: Any time a MAC interacts with a patient outside the MAC-patient relationship.

(5) Endorsement: The process of application for and method of permit approval for a medication assistant, certified originally licensed/permit as a MAC in a jurisdiction other than Alabama.

(6) Fine: A monetary penalty imposed by the Board.

(7) Hospital: A facility described in Code of Ala. 1975, Section 22-21-20(1), other than a health maintenance organization, which has an organized medical staff, or which employs the services of a medical director who is a physician licensed to practice medicine in Alabama. The term hospital shall not include the private offices of physicians or dentists, whether in individual, group, registered corporation, or registered association practice.

(8) Lapsed permit: Failure of a MAC to renew a permit; does not require examination for reinstatement, unless the permit is in lapsed status for more than two (years).

(9) Legally Authorized Prescriber: Healthcare professional who is authorized by law to prescribe medications or other treatment modalities.

(10) Letter of Admonishment: A letter from the Board that addresses the areas of concern over the reported conduct and notifies the Medication Assistant, Certified or applicant for a permit that the case has been closed without discipline.

(11) Letter of Closure: A letter from the Board that notifies the Medication Assistant, Certified or applicant for a permit that the case has been closed without discipline.

(12) May: Power, privilege, or right retained by the Board.

(13) May not: Prohibition.

(14) Medication Assistant, Certified(MAC): A Medication Assistant, Certified through a Board approved program and the Medication Assistant Certification Exam (MACE) may perform limited medication administration tasks in a licensed healthcare facility other than a mental health residential community program or K-12 grade school program.

(15) Medication Assistant, Certified (MAC) Assignment:

The assignment by a licensed nurse of medication administration duties to a MAC.

(16) Negligent: Failure to exercise the care required by the applicable standard of care.

(17) Permit: Board approval to practice as a Medication Assistant, Certified (MAC). The MAC receives authorization to practice as a MAC from the Board through an approved permit.

(18) Primary Source Verification: Verification provided directly to the Board by the entity that is the original source of the document of educational credentials, certification, and/or permit or an approved primary source organization recognized by the Board.

(19) Professional Boundary: Behavior of the MAC in maintaining a therapeutic relationship with a patient for the patient's benefit, rather than behavior that shifts the focus to the MAC.

(20) Reprimand: A formal censure by the Board.

(21) Responsibility: The charge to do something that is expected performance.

(22) Revocation: The withdrawal of the permit by Board action.

(23) Shall: Duty, requirement, or condition.

(24) Standard Precautions: Recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to minimize the risk of transmission of pathogens.

(25) Supervision, Direct: Responsible licensed nurse is physically present in the facility and readily accessible to designate or prescribe a course of action or to give procedural guidance, direction, and periodic evaluation. Direct supervision by a licensed nurse is required for medication assistants, certified.

(26) Suspension: The temporary withdrawal of the permit by Board action.

(27) Unencumbered permit: An active permit that has no current stipulations, conditions, or limitations.

(28) Verification: The process of verifying original or current permit in Alabama. The verification process shall be defined by the Board.

(29) Voluntary Surrender: The voluntary relinquishment of a permit that has the force and effect of revocation.

(30) Willful: Commission of an act or omission when the Medication Assistant, Certified or applicant knows or reasonably should know that the act or omission violates the Chapter 21 of Title 34 of the Code of Ala. 1975.

(31) Board-approved Medication Assistant Education Program: a program approved by the Board to administer educational preparation for MACs. The Board may develop guidelines for programmatic maintenance of approval and administration or educational preparation for MACs.