Who is primarily responsible for ordering tests and procedures?

The responsibility for ordering tests and procedures primarily falls to healthcare providers. This group encompasses physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, all of whom have the necessary training and authority to make clinical decisions regarding patient care. They assess patients' conditions, determine the need for diagnostic tests, and interpret the results to make informed treatment decisions.

Medical assistants, while essential in supporting healthcare providers and managing office tasks such as preparing patients for exams and handling paperwork, do not have the scope of practice to order tests themselves. Similarly, nurses may assist with certain aspects of patient assessment and care but typically do not have the authority to prescribe tests independent of a healthcare provider's orders. Office administrators focus on the management and operational aspects of a healthcare facility and do not engage in clinical decision-making or test ordering.