What are the responsibilities and job description for the Medical Assistant (MA) position at Haak u Health?
INTRODUCTION
This position is located at Haak’u Health Center, Clinical Services Department, Acoma Pueblo, NM. The incumbent serves under the general supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) with oversight from the Deputy Chief Nurse Executive (DCNE), coordinating care between urgent and outpatient care teams.
Medical Assistants in New Mexico are unlicensed personnel who may perform clinical tasks only when delegated by a licensed physician and performed under appropriate supervision. This authority is derived from the New Mexico Medical Practice Act (NMSA §61-6-17) and New Mexico Administrative Code (16.10.13 NMAC). Medical Assistants do not practice independently and may not perform functions that constitute the practice of medicine or nursing.
AAAHC standards require organizations to ensure that tasks delegated to unlicensed personnel are within state law, supported by documented training and competency validation, and appropriately supervised. Clinical assessment, triage, medication decision-making, and emergency response must be performed by licensed clinical staff.
Under physician delegation, documented training, and on-site supervision, Medical Assistants in New Mexico may perform the following:
- Room patients and manage clinic flow
- Obtain and document vital signs
- Collect non-interpretive patient histories and chief complaints
- Perform medication reconciliation (verification only)
- Prepare patients for examinations and procedures
- Assist providers during examinations and procedures
- Perform CLIA-waived point-of-care testing when trained and competency-validated
- Administer routine intramuscular or subcutaneous injections when ordered and delegated
- Administer vaccines under standing orders or direct provider orders
- Provide basic post-visit instructions as directed by a provider or RN
- Perform venipuncture and capillary blood flow
- Perform task-based, not diagnostic, medication administration
Medical Assistants may administer medications and vaccines only when all the following conditions are met:
- A licensed provider has ordered the medication or vaccine
- The task is specifically delegated
- The MA has documented training and demonstrated competency
- A licensed provider is on-site and available for supervision
*Guidelines of medications and injections that may be administered by MAs in this clinic are attached to this position description*
Medical Assistants in New Mexico are prohibited from performing the following functions:
- Independent clinical assessments or triage
- Interpretation of symptoms, diagnostic results, or abnormal vital signs
- Making medication decisions including dose, route, timing, or titration
- Prescribing, ordering, or dispensing medications
- Administering IV medications or managing infusions
- Administering moderate or deep sedation
- Performing telephone triage requiring clinical judgment
- Providing independent patient education requiring nursing judgment
- Independently responding to medical emergencies
- Delegating tasks to other staff
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
Completion and active Medical Assistant Certification
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
All delegated Medical Assistant duties require:
- Physician supervision in accordance with New Mexico law
- Initial and ongoing competency validation
- Clear policies outlining escalation to an RN or licensed provider
- Immediate reporting of abnormal findings to licensed clinical staff
The supervising provider retains responsibility and accountability for all delegated tasks.
The incumbent is guided by HHC statements and national practice guidelines. These directives, guidelines, and policies require interpretation and adaption to rural setting when indicated.
Guidelines for medications and injections that may be administered by MAs in this clinic are attached to this policy.
SCOPE AND EFFECT
Medical Assistants in New Mexico perform delegated clinical tasks under the supervision of a licensed physician. They do not independently assess, diagnose, prescribe, or make clinical decisions. Medication and vaccine administration is permitted only under provider order, delegation, documented training, and appropriate supervision, in compliance with New Mexico law and AAAHC standards.
The incumbent’s duties and responsibilities cross all clinical care provider organizational lines throughout the healthcare facility and include frequent contacts with care providers in other service units, and with contract providers and other community agencies.
Contacts are with patients, families, and a wide range of interdisciplinary healthcare professional and administrative staff, including physicians, nurses, discharge planners, social workers, pharmacists, physical therapists, nutritionists, business office staff, PRC staff, and others. These contacts are made within the healthcare facility and at other service units, vendors, and with other public and private sector providers.
Contacts are for the purpose of providing continuity care services. Contacts are to coordinate, plan, and facilitate patient evaluation and treatment of referrals, and provide training to PRC staff.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Work requires walking, standing, bending, and safely assisting in patient care weight using assistive devices. Work also includes computer work, requiring the incumbent to sit at the desk/worksite and to use vision, dexterity, and listening skills to provide timely data entry for promotion of continuity of care in an often-stressful environment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work is performed in a patient care setting, on nursing units, or during interdisciplinary workgroup activities with varying conditions of noise level, temperature, and illumination. The work may require travel to local providers of services and occasionally may require travel to tribal locations. Must possess and maintain a current and valid state driver’s license.