GAP Year Medical Assistant Internship

About the role

As a Gap Year Medical Assistant at MASS LUNG & ALLERGY (MLA), you will gain invaluable experience in a physician office setting focusing on pulmonology. Our physicians and leadership hold faculty appointments at UMass Memorial and are excited to help educate future physicians. In this role, you will perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with an emphasis on quality of care and customer service. You must work collaboratively with all clinical services staff to support direct patient services, exhibiting flexibility and a "can-do" attitude. Patient services are the key priority, requiring you to serve as a point of contact with other internal and external departments to foster an environment that promotes patient comfort and trust. The position must exemplify the core values and mission of the organization, always exercising utmost discretion, diplomacy, and tact in patient and staff interactions.

Responsibilities

• Prepares for patient appointments by reviewing and updating patient records prior to the appointment, including checking for updates of recent test results, lab results, compliance reports, and correspondence.
• Provides initial medical screening:
  • Greets patients and directs them to the appropriate exam room.
  • Confirms patient identity by asking name and date of birth.
  • Checks weight, height, temperature, blood pressure, respirations, and heart rate.
  • Verifies allergies and reconciles medication lists.
  • For new patients, provides the physician with imaging discs if available and ensures imaging was completed prior to the appointment.
  • Documents date of last flu and pneumonia vaccination accurately in the medical chart according to generally accepted medical standards.
  • Documents Epworth Scoring in the chart as needed.
• Appropriately prepares the patient for the visit and alerts the physician when the patient is ready to be seen.
• When the physician is unavailable, keeps the patient updated on the status of their appointment and assists with rescheduling or scheduling follow-ups as necessary.
• Instructs patients on general clinic policies, patients' rights, and responsibilities as needed.
• Assists the physician or nurse during patient examinations according to generally accepted medical standards, practicing universal precautions and established safety protocols.
• Facilitates communication between the provider(s) and patient as needed.
• Performs clinical duties following patient evaluation as recommended by the provider, including:
  • Teaching patients the proper use of inhalers, nebulizers, and other durable medical equipment.
  • Oximetry trending, Alpha 1 testing, dispensing samples, and administering immunizations.
  • Ordering labs and diagnostic imaging, administering nebulizer treatments, and transporting patients.
  • Triaging sick calls and walk-in patients.
  • Performing office spirometry and Feno if available, and administering PPD.
• Maintains exam rooms according to protocols:
  • Cleans rooms between patient exams to ensure comfort and compliance with infection control standards.
  • Ensures all necessary supplies are stocked.
• Completes clinical administrative work as assigned by the clinical manager.
• Performs general clerical duties in support of patient services, including:
  • Answering phones, distributing fax logs, registering and scheduling new patients, and checking in patients as needed.
• Attends staff and medical meetings as required.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills for taking patients' medical histories, understanding instructions, and accurately documenting medical information.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients and staff while demonstrating diplomacy and tact.
• Beginner to intermediate computing and phone skills.
• Willingness to work past the end of shift to ensure patient care and safety.
• Flexibility in regard to job duties and assignments, including a willingness to travel to necessary office locations.
• Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a high-stress, fast-moving environment.
• Culturally sensitive with demonstrated effectiveness working with ethnically diverse populations.
• Working knowledge of "Universal Precautions" and professionalism in all interactions.
• Thorough understanding of confidentiality and non-disclosure according to HIPAA standards.
• Valid Massachusetts Driver's License, insurance, and ability to travel as required.

Education and Experience

• College graduates (graduating May 2026 or earlier) required.
• Familiarity with the community/service area.
• Previous experience in a medical office setting is highly desirable.