Medical Assistant

About the role

The Medical Assistant functions as the primary clinical support to physicians and patients who are seen, served, and treated. The role encompasses a wide range of clinical duties, with occasional non-clinical responsibilities to ensure continuity of operations.

Supervision

The Medical Assistant reports directly to the Clinical Manager.

Responsibilities

• Greets patients and directs them to the exam room for the Physician's visit
• Updates or populates patient chart with relevant medical data
• Starts office note in EMR per physician request, and makes available X-Rays, labs, CTs, MRIs, reports, and dictation for Physicians
• Assists Physician with any procedures
• After visit, directs patients to checkout
• Responsible for cleaning and maintenance of instruments and equipment
• Reorders and maintains inventory as necessary
• Fields triage calls from patients; facilitates medication requests; communicates with Physicians regarding patient status; and schedules appointments when needed in the EMR
• Documents in the EMR any pertinent patient communications
• Responds to tasks created in the EMR and is responsible for communicating any patient concern to the appropriate Physician, bringing any relevant data that will guide physician in the decision-making process
• Directs hospital referrals to the appropriate physician on call
• Greets and rooms patients, making them as comfortable as possible
• Verifies medications, allergies, past surgeries, past medical history, and reason for visit; charts in the EMR appropriately
• If a paper chart exists, ensures that all relevant data is gathered from chart and is reflected on the face sheet (chart will be sent for scanning once the visit is complete)
• Obtains vitals, enters into EMR, and starts office note, following protocol for each doctor and being aware of individual preferences
• Ensures reports of films and other diagnostics are in the electronic chart for review with patient during visit; calls up images from websites as necessary
• Provides items Physician needs for exam including scopes, instruments, and other tools
• Assists patient to checkout when necessary
• E-Prescribes medications when directed by physician; facilitates refills when appropriate
• Cleans rooms and removes instruments/exam items after each patient; sets up tray to physician preference
• Ensures there are enough clean instruments in the exam rooms for Physician use
• Autoclaves instruments as necessary; runs and mails in Passport Spore check once a month (if passport fails, notifies supervisor ASAP to have autoclave sent out for repair, then reruns passport upon return)
• Sterilizes scopes
• Cleans rooms and work areas daily, weekly, and monthly according to schedule and restocks; initials cleaning schedule form and keeps up to date
• Answers patient questions or refers to Physician
• Takes triage calls and forms complete note to task or discusses with physician, depending on physician location; calls patient with advice from Physician and E-prescribes pharmacy with orders, or whatever other appropriate action directed by the Physician
• Keeps track of films coming into office; checks to see if patient has an appointment and if written report has been scanned into the EMR yet; locates fax if it hasn't
• Notifies Clinical Manager of any problems with patient care
• Directs computer issues to the Director of Operations and Procurement; directs Greenway problems to the Training Manager
• Keeps files up to date: Biohazard slips for each pickup date in file drawer at nursing station
• Represents the practice when State Health Department does Annual Inspection; walks through with inspector (Health Department only — OSHA or HIPAA: calls supervisor and waits for her to arrive) and shows through rooms with Biohazard containers, Biohazard waste box, and State Biomedical waste plan (64E-16) in OSHA book
• Responds to any other requests from Physicians or management team as appropriate
• Be a team player: looks to see how to assist fellow MAs or front staff during daily operations to ensure a smooth flow of clinic hours
• Always represents the practice and its staff and Physicians in a professional, courteous and respectful manner on or off property

Qualifications

The incumbent must have completed and graduated from a recognized Medical Assistant educational training course or have acquired qualifying skills, as evaluated by the practice, through medical/clinical work experience.

Physical Demands

• Coordination, manual, and physical dexterity sufficient to properly and adequately use various items of medical equipment and office equipment as required of the position or directed by the Clinical Manager
• May involve sitting, standing, bending, and stooping
• Must be able to assist patients in transferring from a wheelchair to an exam room chair, when necessary
• May require travel between offices for support purposes
• Must be capable of lifting up to 25 pounds

Working Conditions

Normal medical office environment, which may involve dealing with a high traffic volume of people and stressful situations requiring the ability to think clearly, respond quickly, and perform multiple tasks simultaneously.