Front Desk Medical Assistant

Position SummaryThe Front Desk Medical Assistant (MA) is the first point of contact for patients and visitors in our Cardiology practice. This role requires exceptional customer service, organizational skills, and a strong understanding of medical and cardiology-specific administrative processes. The MA is responsible for efficient patient flow, management of the front office, and may assist with basic clinical tasks as needed, ensuring a professional, caring, and efficient environment for all patients. Key ResponsibilitiesPatient & Visitor Management Greeting & Check-In: Warmly greet and register patients and visitors in a prompt, professional, and friendly manner.Documentation: Accurately verify and update patient demographic, insurance, and medical history information in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.Financial Duties: Collect co-payments, deductibles, and past-due balances. Process payments and prepare daily financial reports.Forms & Consents: Ensure all necessary patient forms (e.g., HIPAA, consent forms, new patient packets) are completed, signed, and properly filed.Check-Out: Schedule follow-up appointments, testing (e.g., echocardiograms, stress tests), and specialist referrals. Provide patients with necessary after-visit summaries and instructions. 2. Administrative & Clerical Support Scheduling: Manage the daily provider schedule, including scheduling, rescheduling, and confirming appointments. Utilize knowledge of cardiology appointment types to ensure proper booking slots.Telecommunications: Manage a multi-line phone system, directing calls, taking detailed messages, and triaging patient calls according to urgency.Insurance & Referrals: Verify patient insurance eligibility and benefits prior to appointments. Obtain and track referrals and prior authorizations for specialty visits or diagnostic testing.Medical Records: Organize, retrieve, and file medical records, lab results, and diagnostic reports, ensuring HIPAA compliance and patient confidentiality at all times.Office Maintenance: Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming reception and waiting area. Monitor and order front office supplies. 3. Basic Clinical & Practice Support (as needed) Act as a backup for the clinical team in times of high volume or staff shortage. Clinical duties may include (but are not limited to):Pre-loading patient charts with relevant labs and test results.Preparing rooms for patient exams.Assisting with the placement of monitors (e.g., Holter or event monitors) and providing patient instructions for use.Triage and relaying clear instructions from the physician to the patient, both in-person and over the phone (e.g., medication adjustments). Qualifications Required Education and Experience High school diploma or GED equivalent.Graduate of an accredited Medical Assistant program or equivalent combination of education and experience in a medical office setting.Minimum of 1-2 years of experience as a Medical Assistant or Medical Receptionist, preferably in a specialty setting. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities EHR/EMR Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency with an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system (e.g., Epic, NextGen, eClinicalWorks).Medical Terminology: Strong working knowledge of general medical and specific cardiology terminology (e.g., EKG, CHF, CAD, ICD, echo).Insurance & Billing: Solid understanding of medical insurance verification, referrals, and collecting co-pays/deductibles.Professionalism: Exceptional communication (written and verbal), interpersonal, and customer service skills.Organization: Proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and manage time effectively in a fast-paced environment with meticulous attention to detail.Compliance: Deep understanding and adherence to HIPAA and patient confidentiality regulations.