Lead Medical Assistant, Bethesda Primary Care

The GW Medical Faculty Associates (MFA) was incorporated in July 2000 as a not-for-profit, physician-led practice group. The organization functioned as an independent organization in support of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Sciences as a multi-specialty physician practice group. The GW MFA has grown to become the largest independent academic physician practice in the Washington, DC metro region with more than 500 physicians and nearly 200 APP providers. In 2018, the MFA bylaws were revised to allow The George Washington University to serve as the sole corporate member while the MFA retained independent 501c3 status. The purpose of the change was to ensure alignment between the MFA and The George Washington University.

MFA physicians provide comprehensive patient care, offering one practice for the whole person with 52 medical and surgical specialties. As members of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, MFA providers are teachers and mentors for medical students, residents, fellows, and researchers preserving the rich tradition of academics, research, and healing. In addition to maintaining a closely integrated alliance with The George Washington University and The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH), separately owned and operated by Universal Health Services (UHS), the GW MFA has active referring relationships with 12 area hospitals.

The GW MFA’s leading healthcare presence in the DC metro region is complemented by a network of community-based practices in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Given its geographic location in central NW Washington, DC, and proximity to more than 175 resident embassies, the MFA continues to evolve its international clinical outreach.

Position Summary

To assist physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, and patients by providing ambulatory medical care services. Responsible for providing medical assistants with daily onsite guidance and ensuring efficient clinic workflow. Acts as a point of contact for scheduling matters. Resolves day-to-day workflow and patient issues. Promptly escalates issues/concerns, as needed, to the manager. Provides input to the manager for performance management/evaluation process for medical assistants and/or medical office assistants.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Other duties may be assigned.

CLINICAL

• Escort patients

• Responsible for successful clinic patient flow, including informing physicians of patients’ arrival and room assignment.

• Rooms patients and accompanies and/or assists them to the exam room in a professional manner.

• Obtains patient vital signs, including height, weight, temperature, and blood pressure. Pulse oximetry, if needed.

• Able to perform using manual equipment and Welch Allen spot vital sign machine and import results to electronic medical records in a timely fashion.

• Assist physicians during examinations and procedures. Includes setting up the exam room and preparing the patient.

• Performs Labs, UA, urine pregnancy, and finger sticks for blood sugars.

• Current in adult CPR/AED

• Able to calculate dosages (demonstrated via passing yearly written medication exam)

• Administer medications (oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, inhalation, rectal, topical) using proper technique – this duty can only be performed after the MA has demonstrated competency to the clinic RN yearly.

• Ensure maintenance is kept with an autoclave.

• May assist with other support activities, including packaging and sterilizing equipment and supplies.

• Maintains patient areas clean and safe.

• Maintains and improves knowledge and expertise through continuous training and annual reviews.

• Must pass all tests in a maximum of two attempts.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Preceptor to new hires.

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Responsible for providing medical assistants with daily onsite guidance and ensuring efficient clinic workflow. Resolves day-to-day workflow and patient-related matters.

• Acts as a point of contact for scheduling matters.

• Promptly escalates issues/concerns, as needed, to the supervisor.

• Provides input to supervisor for performance management/evaluation process for medical assistants and/or medical office assistants.

• Assist with medical assistant assignments with supervisor/management approval.

• Takes inventory of supplies, equipment, and medications.

• Ensures clinical areas are well stocked.

• Ensures expiration dates have not lapsed.

• Communicates problems and concerns to supervisors.

• Attends staff meetings and provides input into the agenda.

• Performs QA

• Orders supplies and medications.

• Able to schedule appointments.

• Able to register patients.

• Communicates problems and concerns to supervisors and provides input to support total quality improvement activities.

COMPUTER SKILLS – IDX/TOUCH WORKS

• Properly import vital signs into the patient's electronic medical record

• Generates accurate simple tasks such as notifying physicians of PPD results, FOB results, etc.

• Able to locate and follow computerized orders.

• Able to appropriately document care and services in the patient's electronic medical record

• Able to correctly complete electronic charges for nurse visits

• Able to pull up schedules and print labels.

• Attend IT training.

• Attend all training classes to maintain computer skills and learn any Touchworks updates.

• Pass all proficiency tests in a maximum of two attempts.

• Superuser

• Performs other work-related duties as requested.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma and graduation from a Medical Assistant school. 

Licensure

• Current and valid certification or registration as a Medical Assistant is required.
• Current basic CPR/AED.

Experience

•  A minimum of 3 years of experience in general patient care (i.e. hospital, physician’s office, or ambulatory care setting). 

Physical Requirements

• Walk, bend, twist, and reach above the shoulder frequently in an office setting.
• Must be able to occasionally lift or carry and frequently push or pull up to 20 lbs. as part of the role
• Regularly exposed to healthcare settings that may require personal protective equipment
• Requires manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, calculator, copier machine, and other equipment.