Medical Assistant, Full-time, EMG-General Surgery, Murphy, NC
About the Role
A certified healthcare provider employed by Erlanger Health is responsible for direct and/or indirect care of patients under the direction of an RN, LPN, physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. The medical assistant assists in the delivery of healthcare in ambulatory areas, participating in a team-based approach to care. Team members are trained to meet the highest level of function for their role as per State guidelines and manage the practice’s patient population. This role also participates in the practice’s quality improvement process and performance evaluation.
Responsibilities
The employee must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served, including principles of growth and development over the life span, and interpret patient data to meet age-specific needs.
Patient Care Responsibilities
- Check schedules and organize patient flow
- Accompany patients to exam/procedure rooms
- Assist patients with walking, transfers, dressing, collecting specimens, and preparing for exams
- Collect patient history and perform screenings per provider guidelines
- Assist providers/nurses with procedures, charting, relaying instructions, and answering calls
Clerical Responsibilities
- Send/receive patient medical records
- Obtain lab/x-ray reports, hospital notes, and referral information
- Complete forms/requisitions as needed
- Schedule appointments and verify insurance coverage and patient demographics
- Manage and update charts, ensuring information is complete and filed appropriately
- Review in-basket messages
Environmental Responsibilities
- Set up instruments and equipment according to department protocols
- Clean exam/procedure rooms, instruments, and equipment between patient visits to maintain infection control
- Run quality controls on equipment and document results
- Maintain logs: refrigerator, sample, and quality control logs
- Order, sort, stock supplies, and restock exam/procedure rooms as needed
Organizational Responsibilities
- Respect and promote patient rights
- Respond appropriately to emergency codes
- Share problems relating to patients and/or staff with the immediate supervisor
Medical Assisting Responsibilities (per State Guidelines/Regulations)
- Aseptic technique and sterilization
- Instrument wrapping/autoclaving
- Vital signs and preparation for physical exams
- Clinical pharmacology, drug administration (PO, injection), and prescription verification with physician orders
- Minor surgery assists, including surgical tray set-up and pre/post-surgical care
- Applying dressings and suture removal
- Biohazard waste disposal and monitoring
- Therapeutic modalities and patient instruction (assistive devices, body mechanics, home care)
- Laboratory procedures, including OSHA guidelines, quality control methods, and CLIA-waived testing
- Capillary punctures/venipunctures and specimen handling (urine, throat, vaginal, stool, sputum)
- Electrocardiography
Requirements
- High School diploma or equivalent (required)
- Completion of an accredited or governed medical assistant program OR military equivalent training OR one year of clinical medical assistant experience within the last 5 years (required)
- BLS certification completed prior to starting and maintained (required)
- Previous medical assistant experience (preferred)
- Phlebotomy skills (preferred)
Qualifications
For Medical Assistants working in areas with DNV Advanced Specific Disease Certification requirements:
- Ortho: 4 hours of education annually
- Stroke: 1 hour of education annually
- Spine: 2 hours of education annually
Location: Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, Murphy, NC