Direct Patient Care Jobs (NOW HIRING)

JOB DESCRIPTION: Medical Assistant - Direct Patient Care Support Team

REPORTS TO: Site Administrator

DEFINITION OF POSITION: As a Medical Assistant in our Direct Patient Care Support Team, you will help to support licensed medical providers in a fast-paced environment, delivering care to patients in the office setting while operating within the MA scope of practice under their supervision. The Medical Assistant is responsible for a variety of patient care, technical, and clerical functions. The Medical Assistant is responsible for the clinic's patient flow by assisting members of the patient care team and providing a broad range of health care services. The Medical Assistant may also be involved in the training and guidance of clinical staff. As a member of the patient care team, the Medical Assistant is also aware of the psychosocial needs of patients and families.

DIRECT PATIENT CARE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide patient care under the supervision of a physician, NP, PA, or registered nurse, relative to the patient's age-specific needs and under various conditions.
2. Actively engage in your training as a medical assistant to the assigned licensed professionals and ancillary staff.
3. Periodically perform patient check-in, including obtaining and recording vital signs, height, weight, chief complaint, brief relevant history, including pain status, allergies, current medication, patient preferred pharmacy, and any other pertinent information for specific age groups. Prepare patient for examination/procedure, as appropriate. This function is typically handled by the Rooming MA; however, this position will be responsible for periodically supporting this function.
4. Administer medications and immunizations orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intradermally, and by inhalation as ordered by the provider, asking for assistance from RN or provider if unfamiliar with medication or procedure.
5. Alert RN and/or provider of patient's/family's questions or issues related to medication administration when outside the provided prescribed protocols.
6. Review medical records for up-to-date problem list, including patient-reported medication and allergies and diagnoses that are documented by physicians or providers.
7. Understand that the stress of illness may alter patient behavior and ability to follow through on the plan of health care; interact with respect, including situations where the patient and/or family display anger or distress.
8. Provide support and comfort to patients and families during clinic visits and procedures as needed, including chaperoning during sensitive examinations.
9. Promote patient welfare and independence by communicating through words and actions, and understanding of patients' reactions to the healthcare environment.
10. Participate in patient education by providing standardized, structured written/verbal information to patients regarding procedures, preparation for diagnostic tests, and chronic disease conditions as instructed by RN/MD.
11. Refer patients who require further teaching interventions to an RN or provider.
12. Provide emergency care to patients when necessary, using basic life support and automated defibrillator equipment, maintaining basic CPR certification.
13. Assist the provider with procedures, including those requiring aseptic and sterile technique.
14. As applicable to department operations, maintains competency and performs standardized phlebotomy procedures, basic specimen processing, and limited waived testing as delegated.
15. Assist with quality measures, including maintenance and recording of required daily equipment checks, CLIA requirements, and calibration of equipment as needed in clinics where this is required.
16. Document complete and accurate patient observations, care, and outcomes of interventions in the electronic medical record.
17. Document any telephone communication involving a patient in the EHR.
18. Document any activities engaging with patients with chronic conditions in accordance with the Chronic Care Management Codes.
19. Contribute to individual patient care planning.
20. Relay information from the patient to the Provider.
21. Index documents in the patient's electronic record as needed.
22. Communicate the need for additional records that would support patient treatment to medical records or obtain them directly when accessible through IHDE.
23. Track incoming results for lab, radiology, pathology, and procedures on all office visits and endoscopy procedures performed at a hospital or MEC/BEC /CCEC.
24. Assist physician in providing hospital services as needed with obtaining additional records ( lab/x-ray reports, hospital notes, referral information, etc.), setting up follow-up appointments, or other outpatient workups as requested by the provider.
25. Manage prescription refills for patients not requiring prior authorization. Communicate with the physician for refill approval. Communicate with patients when an Office Visit is required before refills can be completed.
26. Perform Recall tasks for future ordered office visits, lab, and radiology on a routine basis per policy and procedure
27. Manage and assist with Licensed Nurses and Providers' inboxes for result notifications and messages.
28. Contact the patient by phone or letter regarding normal results and recall appointments.
29. Place Health Maintenance based on provider recommendation post-procedure.
30. Fill out all FMLA and Short-term Disability forms, among other forms requested by patients.
31. Answer and respond to patient inquiries via IGA's current communication systems.
32. Bring concerns to your lead regarding tasks you are not comfortable or confident performing.

TEAM MEMBER OBJECTIVE:

Participate in the review of the clinic's needs.
Comply with patient satisfaction, customer service, and ambulatory care standards. Demonstrates respect for IGA policies for security, privacy, and confidentiality while using IGA equipment. Follows personnel policies within the IGA personnel manual
Maintain HIPAA compliance (patient privacy). Adhere to National Patient Safety goals.
Assist with quality improvement projects such as communication of waits and delays, chart audits.
Assist in updating Medical Assistant training materials. Participate in the orientation of new staff.
May float to other clinics as needed for operational needs.
Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the computer for all aspects of patient care and documentation, including electronic medical records, other healthcare applications used, and Microsoft Office.
Assist with keeping the staff lounge neat.
Utilizes Microsoft Outlook email for all non-patient correspondence.
Immediately report any network, hardware, or software malfunction to the IT Officer or Supervisor.
Complete all required competencies and maintain skill level.
Recognize the need for continuous learning by attending staff development programs and workshops.
Serve on task forces/committees as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of medical terminology
Demonstrated customer-first attitude and philosophy
Ability to learn computer and application skills as applicable to role
Ability to interact with and work around people
Ability to make judgments in demanding situations
Ability to react to frequent changes in duties and volume of work
Effective oral and written communication skills
Ability to listen empathetically
Ability to logically organize details
Ability to manage multiple concurrent activities
Knowledge of interpersonal communications in a complex organization
Commitment to respectful patient and family-centered care
Commitment to respectful treatment of all colleagues
Commitment to patient privacy
Commitment to patient safety

QUALIFICATIONS:

Registered Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant, Certified Clinic Medical Assistant, or graduate of an accredited medical assistant program.
Maintains Basic Life Support certification

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Full Range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients
Requires working under stressful conditions and requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
Exposure to communicable diseases and/or bodily fluids
Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards.
Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lb.

POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO BLOOD AND BODILY FLUIDS: (Please check appropriate category below)

X Category 1 - Performs tasks which involve exposure to blood, body fluid, or tissue.
_ Category 2 - Performs tasks which involve no exposure to blood, body fluid, or tissue, but may perform unplanned Category 1 tasks.
_ Category 3 - Performs tasks that involve NO exposure to blood, body fluid, or tissue