Full-Time Medical Assistant

Description

Join our mission to provide patient-centered healthcare that is accessible and affordable for all.

About HCHC

HCHC is a non-profit 501(c)3 federally qualified health center, a true universal access medical facility. HCHC brings together an exceptional team of health care providers, a responsive and helpful administrative staff and a supportive Board of Directors to fulfill our mission of providing comprehensive primary care health services to anyone in the community regardless of their financial situation.

Position Summary

Medical Assistants’ (MA) are vital members of the clinical care team that help provide a safe patient care environment, by helping to support activities of the health care team. MAs assist in care delivery along with helping to promote excellence and efficiency in customer service. MA staff have an important role in achieving improved quality of care outcomes and patient volume benchmarks through support of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. MAs at HCHC have a role in assuring that their position supports meeting and maintaining NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition. This is accomplished in part through the team members demonstrating successful professional practices, patient care coordination, ethical accountability, and the preservation of patient and staff confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to and participates in a healthy clinic team culture, by being aware of the different ethnicity and cultural backgrounds of the staff and patients.
• Obtains systematic and pertinent data collection about patient’s health status.
• Understands data regarding patient’s status, that is age-specific, in helping to assist with care that is needed by the clinical team, while knowing who to report escalating concerns to appropriately.   
• Administers routine immunizations, therapeutic injections, medications and skin tests that are ordered and under the direction of the clinical provider and protocol of HCHC. 
• Documents appropriately according to current clinic protocols.
• Performs and documents vital signs, height, weight, allergies, demographics, and counseling and informs the practitioner of any abnormal or emergent vitals.
• Assists with emergencies as needed and demonstrates leadership during events according to current clinic protocols.
• Documents patient medications and complete medication reconciliation in EMR according to the clinics standard of care.
• Performs routine treatments such as inhalation therapy, dressing changes and other procedures within the MA scope of practice as ordered by the provider.
• Performs and assist with nursing visits under the guidance of standing orders.
• Assists providers with clinical procedures in alignment with the MA scope of practice.
• Provides accurate, complete, legible and timely documentation of all clinical procedures and information provided by patient and/or caregivers and records it in the EMR.
• Provides knowledgeable reinforcement of providers’ plan of care.
• Provides information to patients that is clear and accurate, along with ensuring the patient understands the information that is being delivered.
• Practices appropriate telephone etiquette at all times.
• Demonstrates a thorough knowledge of clinical procedures and standing orders.
• Demonstrates proper schedule management by scheduling of routine wellness, follow-up and chronic disease management visits according to current clinic protocols.
• Performs daily and weekly environmental cleanings, restocks exam rooms, and care unit management as required. Performs monthly documented room inspections and removes all expired items.
• Observes the dignity, confidentiality and privacy of patients, and always follows HIPAA guidelines.
• Follows the correct procedures for the handling and disposing of biohazardous infectious waste.
• Complies with all applicable infection control and safety procedures.
• Observes and documents patient's response to medications and/or treatments administered.
• Records information in the patient record appropriate to the severity of the illness or injury.
• Provides educational resources to the patient/family as appropriate.
• Collaborates with partnering organizations including insurance companies and community resources, that are consistent with HIPAA guidelines to communicate patient care needs and to maintain continuity of care as needed or required.
• Precepts health profession students as able, without compromising the quality of patient care or significantly impacting the health center’s productivity.
• Actively engages in quality improvement initiatives and new programs.
• May Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Abilities

• Must demonstrate good internal and external customer service skills.
• As part of the PCMH model of care, the employee will advocate for the patient’s best interest and make recommendations for patient special needs such as: interpreter services, identify barriers to care such as transportation, medication assistance, outreach, and health education; while helping to influence patient’s engagement, and promote a continuum of safety with quality and cost-effective patient care measures.
• Assist in the orientation of new personnel to the office when asked.
• Will obtain ongoing education consistent with level and area of practice.
• Will complete all required yearly competencies.
• Will have the ability to make good judgments in demanding situations.
• Ability to react appropriately to frequent changes in duties and volume of work.

Education and Experience

• Current MA certification, or proof of completing/passing a MA program. 
• Current CPR (BLS) certificate is required and must remain up-to-date.
• Previous experience in a medical office setting is preferred but not required. 

Physical Requirements

• Hearing must be adequate to perform the essential functions of the job such as: auscultating blood pressure, reacting to alarms, and the ability to hear soft voices.
• Speaking must be adequate to perform the essential functions of the job such as: ability to communicate clearly with patients and staff, provide instructions, assist in patient education, and relay clear information to multiple personnel, patients and families.
• Must be able to prioritize, have cognitive reasoning, and the ability to use mathematical calculations for proper drug therapy.
• Provide emergency care to patients when necessary, using basic life support and automated defibrillator equipment.
• This is a moderately active role, which requires the ability to lift or move up to 25 pounds, that consist of bending, squatting, sitting and standing as necessary. Must be able to lift, carry and handle equipment, supplies and other work site materials based on position duty requirements.
• Travel may be required at any time to other HCHC locations depending on patient and clinical needs.