Final answer:
Medical Staff Associates are responsible for reviewing donor health histories, confirming team roles, and ensuring proper procedure protocols. They also face challenges such as work overload and privacy concerns with health records. MLAs process samples and, while they may not need a degree, require clinical training.
Step-by-step explanation:
The responsibilities of a Medical Staff Associate, particularly in the Health history Instruction area, include reviewing and interpreting the donor's responses to health history questions. These professionals confirm that each team member has been introduced and understands their role. They ensure the patient's identity, surgical site, and procedure are confirmed, and they review anticipated critical events along with the surgeon, anesthesia, and nursing staff.
Challenges that medical staff may face include work overload, heavy physical work, concerns over patient health including dealing with death, and interpersonal problems with other medical staff. In addition, proposing policy questions regarding the confidentiality veracity and accessibility of health records is crucial. This involves addressing the balance between the costs of treatments, patient quality of life, and privacy risks.
Medical laboratory assistants (MLA), who often do not require a degree, are tasked with processing samples and conducting routine assignments in the lab. Clinical training is emphasized for MLAs due to the technical and sensitive nature of their assignments.