Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant
Pay rate up to $22/hr

Job Summary:
Under the general supervision of the designated supervisor (depending on the location) and in collaboration with a clinical overseer, where applicable, the Medical Assistant is responsible for assisting in the delivery of high-quality and safe clinical care.
S/he will assist with patient care and operational flow by performing clerical and clinical duties as needed within the scope of their training and applicable to the kind of practice and patient population.
As the Medical Assistant, I will organize work to enhance patient satisfaction and provider efficiency.
S/he will collaborate with providers for daily needs/schedule coordination, by reviewing provider schedules and anticipating patient, provider, and appointment needs at the time of the patient visit, keep visits running on time, communicate delays with patients, manage same-day schedule additions, ensure exam rooms are properly supplied and provide support for patient forms completion.
The Medical Assistant I is responsible for following and sustaining all workflows, standard work, policies, and procedures.
The performance of Medical Assistant I in the delivery of empathetic and efficient care and service will have a direct impact on our overall patient satisfaction.
The Medical Assistant works in collaboration with the physician(s), other health care provider(s), and other ambulatory support staff within the department and with other disciplines to deliver patient care.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
I. Clinical Considerations and Decision Making: Ways in which the Medical Assistant comes to understand the problems, issues, or concerns of patients/families, to attend to relevant/critical information, and to respond in concerned and involved ways.
Accountable for providing safe patient care by demonstrating organizational skills that maintain and coordinate the safe delivery of quality care for assigned patients/families.
Participates in a culturally competent plan of care that identifies patient problems, and expected outcomes, and addresses preventative measures.
Delivers care that is specific to the age of the patient
Cares for patients as delegated by the provider, RN, or LPN within the scope of practice and competence.
Contributes information provided by the patient or family for the assessment of health status
Evaluate outcomes of interventions within their scope and follow directions on a modified plan of care

II. Collaborative Relationship: Collaborates, cooperates, and communicates with other healthcare personnel to ensure quality and continuity of care.
Establishes collaborative relationships with nurses, physicians, other colleagues, patients, and families.
Participates in and supports the educational plan for patients and families.

III. Clinical Guidance: The Medical Assistant, within the scope of his/her practice and department-specific skills, is responsible for the nature and quality of care they provide for patients.
Demonstrates appropriate behavior by adhering to unit policies and procedures and practice guidelines specific to the setting.
Demonstrates the ability to provide and maintain patient safety in the environment of care
Demonstrates skills as a responsive and supportive team member.
Demonstrates ability to fulfill a role in regulatory compliance and readiness.

Clinical/Direct patient care: (The procedures performed may vary from practice to practice based on specialties, the department's staffing model, and/or patient population.)
Greets identifies, transports, and/or escorts patients to the exam room.
Accurately obtains all elements of the MA rooming standards. Documents data in Electronic Health Record (EHR.) Reports findings as needed to the provider. Using the Pended Order workflow, pends orders as needed for provider signature.

Prepares patient for examination:
Asks patient for and documents chief complaint, symptoms, and duration of symptoms in EHR
Obtains history and reviews medication list. Ask patients if they need any medication refills and queue refills in EHR.
Documents all drug and other allergies
Documents smoking history
Takes vital signs (Height, Weight, Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respiration, Temperature)
Observe patients, and documents, and report findings to the provider.
Alerts the provider when the patient is ready and communicates pertinent clinical information
Notifies the provider of abnormal vital signs, elevated pain scores, or safety concerns.

Assists the provider with the patient visit and care as required:
Prepares special equipment, instruments, and supplies as needed.
Provides instructions to patients regarding any diagnostic test and procedure after they have been educated by the provider.

Prepares and labels specimens obtained by the Medical Assistant or the provider for transport based on the Labeling Policy. Test specimens as necessary and according to proper procedure. Specimens may include, but are not limited to:
Blood (phlebotomy)
Clean-voided urine
Finger stick blood sugar tests
Stool for occult blood
Rapid strep testing
UCGs (pregnancy tests)
Urine for microalbumin
Glycohemoglobin A1C
Protime
Assists with throat cultures, PAP smears, wound cultures, biopsies, and joint injections
Performs electrocardiograms, spirometries, monofilament testing, vision and hearing testing according to departmental standards
Assists with wound care
Assists with other testing, in accordance with medical assistance training
Assists provider with minor procedures
Documents testing/results per practice protocol
Administers immunizations based on written provider orders (as allowed by the practice license.)
Administers injections based on written provider orders (as allowed by the practice license.)
Performs Phlebotomy procedures (back up to phlebotomist) (drawing of blood, spinning of blood)
Clinical and Quality/Improvement Competency
Meets expectations and maintains competencies of new hire orientation skills checklist, annual competency verification, and participates in education programs provided.
Is alert to Quality Improvement and CQI issues as well as to unsafe working conditions. Notifies manager of concerns. Participates in unit-based QI activities and is familiar with unit measurement data.

Non-clinical/ Indirect patient care:

Pre-visit planning:
Organizes and prioritizes daily work to ensure patient needs are met and provider schedules run efficiently.
Participates in huddles to anticipate, understand, and address the daily needs of our patients and providers to ensure proper workflow
Reviews patient records against quality measures and best practice indicators and advises providers of potential documentation and care gaps
Prepares supportive documentation for scheduled appointments/procedures
Review record for completeness before appointment and update as appropriate
Inserts the required forms per procedure and department protocol
Follows up with patient or specialist to ensure patient care plans since last appointment were followed and results are available for physician review
Confirms that lab and other ancillary tests are performed and results documented

Post-visit work:
Enters charges and reviews patient records for billing accuracy performing quality checks on ICD-10 and CPT codes and other related information in order to streamline the billing process per practice protocols.
Assists the providers with work outside the visit related to managing a panel of patients.
Partners with patients and families in supporting patients' short and long-term goals.
Supports care coordination for identified patients across the continuum in collaboration with provider and community agencies
Performs designated tasks related to tracking test results and may communicate normal lab and imaging test results, either written or verbally as directed by the provider.
Provides and reviews instructions to patients regarding any diagnostic tests and procedures. Provides patient with written education materials and diagnostic prep as needed.
Serves as a liaison with patients, families physicians, case managers, 3rd party payers, et al.
Medical Assistant reviews, manages, and enters registry health data for identified patient populations
Monitors patient progress by utilization of disease specific registries to proactively reach out to patients to meet their health care goals.

Assists in the maintenance of the EMR:
Scans miscellaneous loose reports into the EMR

Ensures exam rooms, supplies, and equipment are maintained/stocked
Prepares equipment and packages to be sent for sterilization following site protocol
Maintains appropriate supplies and linen.
Prepares orders for routine medical supplies. Monitors expiration dates and rotates inventory.
Prepares, cleans, and maintains equipment, addressing issues in a timely manner to ensure the availability of equipment.
Cleans and prepares the exam room and other patient areas between patients.

Communication:
Manages provider InBasket folders per department standards, including lab/test tracking and referrals.
Reviews faxes, letters, forms, etc., and completes as much necessary information within scope before handing it off to the provider.
Receives patient messages and reviews with the provider.

Administrative Support:
Provides backup or periodic administrative assistance to the practice as needed, including but not limited to
Answers provider phone calls and routes to the appropriate person. Takes and documents clear messages, handles requests for information, and researches issues click apply for full job details