Medical Assistant

The Medical Assistant performs high-quality specimen collection and provides essential support to daily laboratory operations. This role is responsible for accurately obtaining and processing blood specimens, maintaining specimen integrity throughout collection and handling, performing point-of-care testing, and ensuring proper documentation within the electronic health record.

Working under the direction of the Department Director, the Medical Assistant maintains specimen integrity, supports quality assurance and regulatory compliance activities, and assists with inventory and supply management. This position requires strong technical proficiency in phlebotomy, adherence to patient safety standards, and a commitment to delivering respectful, patient-centered care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Obtains blood specimens by performing venipuncture or finger sticks; assists nursing staff with patients that are difficult sticks; performs bedside testing, reports results to Nurses, and records results in the facilities electronic health record.
2. Responsible for ongoing competencies and education of the staff for Point of Care testing. 
3. Responsible for driving a vehicle or golf cart to the hospital to obtain supplies, transporting specimens, following up and/or locating results. Maintain supply inventory in cost effective manner. Run controls on new lot numbers and incoming shipments of point-of-care testing products.
4. Maintains specimen integrity by using aseptic technique, following department procedures. Tracks collected specimens by initialing, dating, and noting times of collections.
5. Initiates quality-control measures and monitors work quality for compliance with laboratory standards. Completes special projects like surveys, statistical reports, studies, and research.
6. Maintains all QC on instruments and uses Quality Assurance data to monitor standards and outliers according to the department standards. Maintains the expiration dates on all reagents, tubes, and cartridges.
7. Performs advanced or specialized tests and other related laboratory techniques. May duplicate work of others to confirm test results. Re-evaluates methodology, makes recommended changes, and assists in test interpretation. Determines if further testing should be done on blood samples or if tests should be repeated.
8. Ensures all pathology and culture reports are completed, scanned in the electronic health record and faxed to the ordering physician. Correctly interpret lab results, understands when to question results, and takes appropriate action. Understands when results need to be communicated immediately to the caregiver.
9. Other duties and projects as needed.

• Education & Training:
  • High School diploma or equivalent required.
  • Associate degree in Laboratory Science, Medical Laboratory Technology, Allied Health, or a related field preferred.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 2 years of experience in a clinical laboratory, phlebotomy, or related healthcare setting performing similar functions required. 
  • Experience in a moderate complexity laboratory preferred.
• Licensure/Certification/Registration:
  • BLS certification required
  • One of the following is required:
    • 1. Current Phlebotomy Technician certification (PBT, CPT, or equivalent) 
    • 2. Current Medical Assistant certification (CMA, RMA, CCMA) with demonstrated phlebotomy competency
• Key Skills:
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new software systems. Hands-on experience with electronic medical record (EMR) platforms (CPSI, Epic, and Cerner).
  • Demonstrates strong communication, organizational, time-management, and customer service skills.
  • Effectively organizes, prioritizes, and coordinates a variety of tasks and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Fosters meaningful connections among patients, families, caregivers, and colleagues, supporting a collaborative environment and contributing to the delivery of high-quality care.
  • Maintains strict adherence to patient confidentiality standards and privacy regulations.
  • Actively listens to understand the needs of both internal and external stakeholders and consistently interacts with others in a respectful and professional manner.
  • Familiarity with state and federal regulations.