Medical Assistant - TMCH Cancer Center Craycroft

About the role

Provides clerical assistance and basic patient care under the direction of the Registered Nurse, Program Director, and/or Medical Director. Assists in the delivery of primary health care and patient care management under the direct guidance of a physician.

Responsibilities

• Formulates and implements accurate and timely care.
• Takes vital signs, weighs patients, and collects routine urine, stool, and sputum specimens; draws blood from patients and returns test tubes to the laboratory.
• Performs dressing changes and treatments using aseptic technique.
• Discontinues IV lines and performs EKGs.
• Routinely checks expiration dates and ensures all medications are properly stored and expired drugs are properly disposed of.
• Obtains prior authorizations, manages referrals, assists with the scheduling of procedures, and performs other related tasks to assist the physician and patient.
• Calls patients regarding test results, follow-up appointment visits, and missed appointments.
• Schedules patient visits and assists with their medical needs.
• Cleans and prepares rooms between procedures and discharges; monitors and restocks supplies.
• Opens sterile supplies and sets up for procedures.
• Charts observations and vital signs on assigned patients in legible, accurate, and appropriate format following hospital and unit procedures.
• Applies restraints as directed by nurse, per hospital policy.
• Promotes a safe therapeutic environment that allows for the delivery of high quality patient care.
• Notifies appropriate personnel of equipment malfunctions and repairs needed.
• Participates in the orientation of new program personnel and in the ongoing in-service education of the team; participates in ongoing staff education.
• Escorts patients to and from the exam room, takes vital signs and notes reason for visit.
• Documents all clinical interactions with patients and signs documentation.
• Posts information to records; maintains files and records; inputs and retrieves data utilizing knowledge of various computer software packages.
• Transcribes orders; schedules appointments.
• Operates a personal computer, calculator, FAX machine, copy machine or related office machinery in performing assigned duties.
• Processes patient charges as required.
• Takes care of the body after death.
• For TMC Wound and Hyperbaric oxygen Clinic, TMC Integrative Pain Specialists, or TMC Infusion clinic: Administers injectable non-controlled substance medication (excluding intravenous administration) and the application of topical medications following TMC's medication administration policy.
• Witnesses the RN completing a patient pill count.
• Reviews discharge instructions and related discharge teaching with the patient and documents this in the patient record.
• Transcribes and verifies patient completed admission intake forms into the EMR: prior to arrival (PTA) medications, history, allergies, pain level, screening questions, OB gyn status, vitals, Opioid risk Tool/CAGE, blood, urine, saliva drug screen testing/transcribes results, and enters discharge instructions.
• Completes consent forms.
• For sedation procedures documents: the pre-op checklist, physician-led Time Out checklist, and vitals.
• Absolutely assists the physician during procedures that do not require sedation but may require fluoroscopy: Actively participates in a physician-led pre-procedure "time out" for all invasive procedures.
• Under the direction of the physician, appropriately prep and hold medication vials while the provider draws up medication to administer to a patient during a sterile procedure.
• For TMC Inpatient and Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation: Under the supervision and oversight of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Medical Director and/or Manager, and in compliance with Tucson Medical Center Policies and Procedures, AACVPR, and Medicare guidelines, the Medical Assistant provides the following in addition to the tasks mentioned above:
• Performs new patient and daily patient intakes including: vital signs, weighing of patients and collecting patient’s medical history and current medication regimen, completion of consent forms and patient data entry.
• Provides oversight of patient care for Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase III and Phase IV programs including exercise sessions and EKG monitoring.
• Maintains Hand Hygiene, PPE and GG audits per TMC policies and regulations.
• Develops and maintains necessary records and files for efficient operation and data retrieval.
• Records meeting minutes through the use of shorthand or rapid long-hand to maintain accurate record of decisions.
• Schedules and maintains departmental calendar of events and assists with management of employee schedule.
• Assumes responsibility for assigned areas of products to purchase and ensure timely delivery on requested items, for example office supplies and maintenance items.
• For TMC Imaging Services: Under the supervision of department leadership, the Medical Assistant provides the following in addition to the tasks mentioned above:
• Assists imaging and nursing staff in pre and post procedure room preparation by obtaining necessary supplies and assisting patients as necessary.
• Ensures procedure rooms are stocked appropriately.
• Adheres to all radiation safety policies.
• Escorts patients back to the patient exam rooms, takes patient history; may assist with patient treatment to include peripheral IV insertion, IV discontinuation, and Point of Care Testing (POCT) if necessary.
• Adheres to TMC organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies and standards.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Six (6) months of medical assistance experience.
• Written proof of completion of recognized Medical Assistant course.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of patient care protocols and practices.
• Knowledge of general patient care practice, methods and regulations.
• Knowledge of patient privacy regulations.
• Ability to attend to patients with care and attention to needs.
• Ability to assist with more complex patient care programs.
• Ability to recognize a patient in distress and follow directions to get assistance.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to listen and accurately interpret others' communication or instructions to take appropriate action.
• Ability to speak effectively in front of doctors, nurses, staff and the general public.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.