Medical Assistant I

About the Role

Supports practitioner and clinical team to accomplish proactive patient management as delegated by and under indirect supervision of clinic nursing supervisor, and with direction from charge nurse, staff nurse, or practitioner. Performs a variety of technical, clerical, reception, and patient care duties assisting practitioners and other members of the health care team in providing high-quality patient care.

Responsibilities

• Interacts with patients, families, customers, and other members of the health care team in a courteous and professional manner.
• Obtains, identifies, and records vital signs, prevention data, medications, chief complaints, and other pertinent information.
• Demonstrates and applies critical thinking skills.
• Observes, records, and reports pertinent patient symptoms, reactions, condition changes, and information; immediately identifies and reports to RN or practitioner all adverse observations, reactions, conditions, or emergency situations.
• Uses data systems to identify and pend orders for prevention and screening services.
• Provides for physical and emotional comfort and safety of patients.
• Accepts orders from practitioners for treatments and procedures conducted in the unit within scope of work and competencies.
• Transcribes patient-specific data into the electronic system using practitioner-generated ICD-9 and CPT codes for billing, coding, and clinical data reporting.
• Anticipates providers' needs during patient procedures and adjusts to changes in procedures, assignments, or workload as directed.
• Serves as a member of the health care team, performing efficiently and remaining calm in emergency patient care/clinic situations.
• Prepares room and instruments for use during exams or procedures.
• Assists practitioners or RNs with a wide variety of patient care procedures and tests.
• Collects, labels, and processes specimens as required by the practitioner and in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Performs point-of-care laboratory tests as authorized by policy and delegated by the nursing supervisor.
• Reviews written instructions/educational materials with patients and families regarding preparation and/or follow-up for diagnostic tests, medical procedures, surgeries, and treatments.
• Coordinates efforts with the nursing supervisor, staff, and other departments to maintain standards of patient care.
• Assists practitioners with medication administration as ordered and delegated, following established guidelines and policies.
• Applies and removes dressings, pads, and Unna boots as ordered by the practitioner and under direct supervision.
• Packs wounds under personal supervision of a practitioner or RN.
• Applies and instructs patients in the use of pre-manufactured splints, braces, and other orthotic devices using pre-printed instructions.
• Manufactures and applies orthotic inserts and posterior fiberglass night splints as ordered by the practitioner and under direct supervision.
• Assists practitioners by setting up sterile and unsterile fields and assisting with routine and minor surgical procedures.
• Identifies, draws up, and labels medications on sterile and unsterile fields for immediate verification and administration by the practitioner.
• Assists practitioners with highly specialized procedures (e.g., medicine administration, office-based surgical procedures, splint manufacture, chain of custody urine collection).
• Respects patients' rights to privacy, dignity, and safety, providing emotional support as appropriate.
• Documents patient care interactions and activities following clinic standards.
• Ensures equipment is available and in clean, safe, and operable condition; reports malfunctions and needs for maintenance.
• Maintains and promotes a clean, safe, and well-equipped environment for patients, family members, and staff.
• Reviews, compiles, documents, and prepares paper or online clinical records for clinical encounters.
• Retrieves and delivers mail for practitioners and healthcare team members.
• Informs practitioners of diagnostic results, patient cancellations, postponements, and no-shows.
• Assists patients and family members with non-clinical complaints or inquiries, referring clinically related issues to the nursing supervisor.
• Receives and transfers telephone calls, providing information on service-related questions and relaying messages.
• Arranges patient appointments based on severity level and type of procedure.
• Processes referrals as directed and assists with daily and procedure/operating room schedules.
• Prepares and administers monthly calendars and practitioner schedules, coordinating with other departments.
• Assists in meeting organizational standards by gathering documents for practitioner notes and orders.
• Directs patients to the business office for financial concerns.
• Ensures the office, exam rooms, and storage areas are adequately stocked with supplies.
• Represents, attends, and participates in staff meetings and interdepartmental committees to address concerns and improve patient care.
• Orders, inventories, and maintains records of supplies, prioritizing and coordinating daily workflow.
• Participates in projects as requested and adheres to organizational, departmental, and clinic-specific standards.
• Assists with the orientation of new clinic personnel, acting as a preceptor/trainer for non-clinical procedures.
• Provides training and in-services to existing staff on medical assisting-related topics within the scope of practice.
• Collaborates with the nursing supervisor to develop operational strategies and recommends improvements.

Requirements

• Minimum three (3) months of Kaiser Permanente medical assistant experience.
• Graduate of a post-high school medical assisting program with 200 hours of clinical externship or military medical specialist training; or equivalent combination of education and experience (fully qualified RN or LPN may be considered as equivalent).
• Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association.
• Completion of Part One of the Pharmacology course, Calling Prescriptions to Outside Pharmacies, taken in HealthStream with proof of transcript and competency checklist.
• Completion of Part Two of the Pharmacology course, Medication Administration for Medical Assistants, taken in HealthStream with proof of transcript and Medication Administration competency completed.