Certified Senior Medical Assistant - Primary Care (Memorial City)

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

About the role

The Senior Medical Assistant Certified (Sr. MA) functions as an expert with highly competent knowledge in technical and advanced examinations and treatments, communicating appropriately and carrying out delegated medical assistant tasks under the direct supervision of a Physician and/or Registered Nurse for assigned patient populations. This position oversees appropriate scope of practice (e.g., Hand Hygiene Validator, EMR super-user), assists with patient examinations, procedures, diagnostic studies, treatment, and dressing changes, and performs general administrative duties in accordance with CLIA, HIPAA, NCQA, and government standards as well as company policies. The Sr. MA participates in patient care under the direction of a physician and within the scope of a medical assistant, may schedule patient appointments, ensure medical necessity compliance, and verify eligibility for care. The role also independently and expertly performs the duties of preceptor and clinical resource to Medical Assistants, training and orienting others as appropriate.

Qualifications

Education

• High School diploma or equivalent (e.g., GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education)

Experience

• Five years medical assistant experience with highly complex, chronic disease management or in a specialty discipline

Licenses and Certifications

• Required: Certified Medical Assistant through AAMA, NAHP, NCCT, NHA, or Registered Medical Assistant or EMT and BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association
• Preferred: CPT – Certified Phlebotomy Technician (ACA)

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English to perform essential functions, especially regarding patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers with a customer service focus and positive language principles
• Knowledge of medical practice and patient care; ability to assist with examinations, diagnostic and treatment procedures; knowledge of medical equipment and instruments
• Skill in developing and maintaining clinical quality assurance to maintain accurate medical records
• Demonstrates a learning attitude toward solving problems, using good reasoning and judgment
• Provides safe, patient-centered, compassionate, and competent care
• Proficient in computer skills for documentation and work-related purposes
• Completes required continuous training and education, including department-specific requirements; maintains current certifications
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, coworkers, and the public
• Ability to work with peers in a team situation
• Possesses an understanding of the patient population as it relates to the clinical disease process
• Demonstrates advanced assessment competencies appropriate for level of practice

Essential Functions

People

• Role models and promotes a positive work environment that actively assists the interprofessional care team to achieve optimal department results
• Makes contributions to the work effort as a whole by leading and initiating problem resolution within the work unit
• Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance
• Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional health care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data comprehensively
• Teaches peers to critically think by verbally expressing rationale for decisions and follows up consistently
• Facilitates open, professional communication to achieve mutual understanding, role modeling by example
• Independently executes the duties and responsibilities of preceptor, serves as a clinical resource in the department using advanced skills and competencies, guiding and mentoring colleagues’ thought processes to provide optimal patient care
• Provides structured feedback with examples

Service

• Provides care to patients visiting the clinic under the direct supervision of a Physician, Registered Nurse, or clinic leadership
• Completes pre-visit planning workflow prior to visit whenever possible, including completing and/or requesting appropriate documentation
• In collaboration with the provider team, anticipates the needs of the specific patient population
• Communicates with patient, obtains and documents vital signs (pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight, height), chief complaint(s), performs medication review, discusses/reviews medical and social history as appropriate
• Documents in the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR) care administered, all diagnostic measurements, treatments, and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Follows up with patient as appropriate to ensure compliance with recommendations, medications, lab/x-ray results, special visits, PCP visits, dieticians, diabetes educators, etc.
• Ensures patient utilization and activation of MyChart
• Provides care coordination with hospital, ED, consulting physicians, and/or community resources whenever appropriate, including handling patient inquiries
• Role models behaviors and skills, through peer-to-peer accountability, toward improving department score for patient satisfaction

Quality/Safety

• Reports observations, conditions, and problems of patients to the physician and/or nurse
• Recognizes abnormal clinical findings and reports them appropriately
• Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping the safety of the patient in mind
• Accurately performs routine tests on patients such as EKG, rapid strep, urinalysis, and urine pregnancy tests
• Sterilizes instruments and equipment; prepares, cleans, and maintains exam and treatment rooms, as well as supplies and equipment

Finance

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies
• Responsible for stocking exam rooms, taking inventory, and ordering supplies
• Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime
• Role models effective time management and coordinates colleagues to meet the overall demands of the department

Growth/Innovation

• Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance, and outcomes
• Actively participates in professional development and the development of ongoing educational activities at a department-based level
• Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement activities
• Completes and updates My Development plan on an ongoing basis

Supplemental Requirements

Work Attire

• Uniform: Yes
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: No
• Other (department approved): Yes

On-Call

Employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (e.g., Disaster, Severe Weather Events) regardless of selection. On-Call: No

Travel

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area: Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area: No