Description

SUMMARY: The Certified Medical Assistant assists the provider in providing clinical care to the patient. The MA performs a variety of duties to include clinical, administrative and laboratory functions. This job includes a very large amount of patient contact. This position will work with a diverse population of patients to include Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric, Prenatal.

PRIMARY DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care/Administrative Duties:

• Initiate’s retrieval of patient’s chart and NCIR and/or outside medical records when applicable
• Calls and assists patient from waiting area to patient room and directs patients throughout their visit including exiting the patient
• Takes patient vital signs and documents performs POCT as appropriate, (HGB, glucose, UA, icons, HIV)
• Demonstrates the ability to accurately provide appropriate care according to the patient’s age and diagnoses (i.e. Prenatal, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult and Geriatric)
• Uses standing orders and check-in procedures to expedite patient visit
• Contributes to optimal efficiency and productivity of the clinical care team by anticipating needs of patient, nursing staff and provider during the medical visit
• Documents clinical activities in a timely, legible, comprehensive, and accurate manner
• Implements nurse’s instructions and provider’s orders effectively and in a timely manner
• Coordinate’s referral appointments for patients per provider order, and tracks referral progress
• Reviews encounter form and directs patient to other members of interdisciplinary team
• Addresses needs of patients by completing forms accurately and thoroughly.
• Performs or assists with documentation of lab results and collecting data.
• Participates in population management with other members of the care team.
• Review’s provider appointments the day before visit to anticipate patient and provider needs.
• Provides clinical assistance via telephone under the direction and supervision or providers and nurses.
• Completes view all protocols as well as completes PHQ9 and GDS screening
• Completes vision and hearing.
• Phone notes per MNHC guideline
• Other clinical and administrative duties as assigned and within scope of practice.
• Initiate’s evaluations of patient complaint/concerns or needs, documenting appropriately for nursing assessment.
• Responds quickly and performs proficiently and precisely during crises and emergency situations and notifies appropriate medical staff.
• Schedules patient’s follow-up appointment for return visit.
• Provides glucometer teaching
• Completes monofilament testing
• Fluoride Application
• Assists with the training of non-certified medical assistants and medical assistant trainees.

Quality Control/Safety:

• Monitor’s environment to ensure safety (i.e., EKG machine, BP machine, lamps, scales)
• Follows protocol for the reporting of equipment malfunctions, safety hazards and incidents promptly to appropriate person.
• Consistently follows all safety policies and procedures. 
• Utilizes Personal Protective Equipment appropriately
• Cleans and prepares instruments. Set-up of supplies and equipment in patient rooms.
• Labels, packages, and disposes of specimens per lab protocol.
• Uses two patient identifiers prior to all procedures and prior to patient check-in.
• Cleans/disinfects examination rooms according to OSHA guidelines. 
• Performs POCT and Quality control, accurate documentation of laboratory procedures.
• Restocks exam rooms and checks expiration dates on all supplies. 
• Inspects equipment to ensure its proper functioning (i.e., EKG machine, BP machine, lamps, scales)
• Prepares instruments for sterilization and maintains proper quality control measures for safe usage and ensures its proper functioning. 

Procedure Execution:

• Ensures sterilization and instrument availability.
• Prepares and sets-up supplies and equipment in examination or treatment room.
• Set-up/assists in performing sterile procedures, treatments, and tests using skilled technique and following all prescribed safety measures.
• Performs injections according to MNHC policy and safe practices.
• Performs phlebotomy according to MNHC policy and safe practices, processes specimens appropriately.
• Places and reads PPD skin test and documents
• Performs eye irrigation
• Performs ear irrigation
• Performs EKGs
• Performs NSTs

Patient Education:

• Provides appropriate education materials to patient (VIS, Fever Dosage Sheets, CVS, etc.)
• Explains procedures, treatments, medication usage as appropriate.
• Documents teaching and patient/family response to such in the patient medical record.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Customer Service (Internal and External Customers)

• Demonstrates concern for the rights, privacy and confidentiality of patients and others.
• Understands the urgency of customer needs and responds quickly.

• Treats all patients in accordance with the Patient’s Bill of Rights
• Considers the impact on patients, visitors and peers when acting and carrying out one’s own job tasks.
• Anticipates the needs of patients, visitors, providers and peers and assists them in a helpful, positive manner.
• Seeks to solve problems for patients and their families and helps and encouragement to others.
• Communicates with patients/families, visitors, and coworkers in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Demonstrates effective communication recognizing diversity among age groups, cultures, and educational levels.

Teamwork

• Consistently works in a positive and cooperative manner with other employees in and outside of departmental unit.
• As an active member of the care team, sharing observe and contribute to the patient care plan.
• Values and incorporates the contributions of people from diverse backgrounds; demonstrates respect for the opinions and ideas of others.
• Share’s information and own expertise with others to enable them to accomplish goals and objectives.
• Seeks out opportunities to help rather than waiting to be asked.
• Assists other team members in the performance of their assignment.
• Performs job duties effectively when floating to other clinical areas as needed.

Professional Conduct

• Maintains professional demeanor in all interactions with patients and staff.
• Demonstrates understanding of HIPPA and follows protocol for proper release of information.
• Functions independently and completes assignments with minimal supervision.
• Adapts to changes in the work environment.
• Maintains acceptable attendance record.
• Observes work schedule by being punctual for shift, observing designated break schedule, and not leaving work area while on duty.
• Adheres to all applicable Center and department rules, policies, and procedures.
• Participates in ongoing education, in-services, staff development and meetings.
• Has completed annual training (Bloodborne pathogen, CPR, Safety)
• Responds positively to constructive criticism from peers and supervisors.
• Adheres to Dress Code Policy per Personnel Manual
• Performs general upkeep to ensure patient and work areas are clean, orderly, and aesthetically pleasing.

Efficiency

• Completes work in an organized and timely manner.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities to achieve maximum efficiency.
• Strives to improve center productivity.
• Minimize non-productive time by filling slow periods with activities such as assisting others, professional development and education, organization of work area, housekeeping, etc.
• Organize job functions and work area to effectively complete assignments.
• Manage resources efficiently and works to reduce costs and improve quality.

Quality of Work /Problem Solving

• Demonstrates commitment to excellence by consistently looking for ways to improve and promote quality.
• Identifies problems in a timely manner and assist in developing alternative solutions.
• Contribute to Continuous Quality Improvement activities
• Reports to appropriate person any conflicting cultural values, ethics, or religious beliefs that may impact patient care.
• Consistently evaluates work and evaluate if further steps are needed to meet customer/patient/management expectations.
• Takes initiative and engages in problem-solving within the scope of the job duties.
• Demonstrates sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding questionable findings or concerns.

Care Coordination Functions

• Engages with patients to identify and address barriers that impede health outcomes ·
• Implements and support Care Management interventions per the patient’s care plan or assessed community needs 
• Processes referrals from members of the multidisciplinary team (social work, behavioral health, community resource coordinators, pharmacy, pharmacy technician, care managers) appropriately, accurately, and timely according to established workflows ·
• Schedules home visits and/or practice encounters with patients via phone or correspondence based on referrals
• Documents all interactions with patients/others appropriately in the care management software
• Schedules/verifies appropriate medical appointments for patients as needed
• Coordinates referrals to outside agencies as directed by interdisciplinary team in a timely fashion.
• Provides education to patient/family within scope of practice
• Serves as a liaison among the patient/family, community services, primary providers, specialists, and other care team members to coordinate services
• Maintains appropriate documentation in the Care Management documentation platform, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures
• Provides educational information to care team, patients, family and care givers, about community-based organizations (existing and new) within service area

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skills, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Education:  High School Diploma or GED and completion of a recognized Medical Assistant Program with certification examination completed & passed.

Current/valid License: N/A

Minimum Experience:

• Five years as a Medical Assistant preferred

Required Experience:

• Completion of Medical Assisting Coursework with completed certification exam.
• Participation in an interdisciplinary team
• Prior recent experience in a healthcare setting (within past five (5) years
• May have a combination of both education and experience.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Teamwork and communication skills essential. Treat all patients, co-workers, and managers with courtesy and respect.

MENTAL ABILITIES: Cognitive reasoning. Clear thinking in high-pressure situations. Ability to prioritize and withstand pressure of continual work with variable requirements. Ability to concentrate and maintain accuracy despite frequent interruptions. Critical thinking and organization skills, problem solving, and reasoning capabilities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to speak English fluently. Spanish speaking or another language is a plus.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS: Medical Assistant certification must be maintained while employed.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Extended periods of walking, standing, bending, lifting, pulling, and pushing. Performance of essential duties requires close and distance vision and hearing acuity. Must be able to perform heavy lifting, generally more than 25 pounds. 

Clinical environment with exposure to chemicals, pathogens, and patient body fluids. Requires working under stressful Conditions, and ability to multi-task.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions for this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

MedNorth Health Center provides comprehensive health care services, inside a multi-cultural medical/dental clinic, to all individuals; insured, uninsured, and underinsured. The building is heated in winter and air conditioned in the summer with noise levels of moderate to loud. We serve patients who speak multiple languages and who may need the assistance of an interpreter. In this position one may be subject to exposure to copier toner, correction fluid, bright fluorescent lighting, and continuous personal computer exposure.

This job is a Bloodborne Pathogens risk category III position.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

• The incumbent is expected to attend work daily and to be at work on time.
• The incumbent is expected to be a team player.
• The incumbent is expected to report absences in accordance with personnel policies and procedures.
• The incumbent's work is expected to be accurate, neat, and thorough, and completed on time.
• The incumbent is expected to have a positive attitude, be cooperative, and considerate of others.
• The incumbent is expected to be dependable and is expected to accept responsibility for assignments and duties given.
• The incumbent is expected to dress and act in a professional manner and adhere to all safety standards.
• The incumbent is expected to participate in staff meetings, be courteous and polite with patients and other staff.
• The incumbent is expected to maintain confidentiality.