Job Description
We are looking for a Medical Assistant who performs clinical and administrative duties in a clinical setting under the supervision of a physician/provider and/or a registered nurse. Duties may include venipuncture, medication and vaccine administration, measurement and documentation of vital signs and assisting providers with patient exams and telephone and clerical support. Position may float to other sites/locations within the system.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Goal Alignment: Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and adheres to department policies, procedures, and quality and safety standards. Complies with governmental regulations and accreditation standards.
- Provider Support: Assists providers with patient preparation for examinations, minor office procedures, and patient education. Supports the clinical care team to ensure optimal patient flow; manages variable patient volume throughout the workday. Provides clerical support and serves as backup for the Patient Services Coordinator.
- Clinical Preparation: Participates in daily team huddles. Screens all patients for preventative care needs, ongoing support, barriers to care, safety concerns, and fall risks. Conducts surveillance for transitions of care or follow-up tasks such as retrieval of documents associated with referrals/testing.
- Patient Coaching: Conducts motivational interviews, including patient screening and coaching on disease management and motivation to change. Identifies potential behavioral health needs using appropriate screening tools and notifies providers of findings.
- Safety & Quality: Reports actual and potential problems concerning patients and families using established reporting protocols. Participates in performance improvement initiatives to improve care quality and safety.
- Regulatory Compliance: Maintains and audits temperature logs, ensures medication supplies are current, and maintains emergency equipment to ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory standards.
- Population Management: Engages patients in self-management support and health goal setting. Captures information that leads to health care improvement activities.
- Clinical Testing: Performs selected patient and laboratory testing (e.g., Point of Care Testing, TB skin testing, EKG, PFTs, vision/hearing testing). Removes sutures/staples after provider examination and order. Documents all activities in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
- Documentation: Accurately documents clinically related activities and performs required follow-ups (e.g., pap smears, Pb levels, HIV, mammograms, and STDs). Collects and processes specimens and completes requisitions.
- Patient Assistance: Provides escort for patients and provides chaperoning for patients per policy.
- Infection Prevention: Performs light cleaning during clinic hours, cleans equipment, updates maintenance records, and manages drug and medical supply inventories.
- Telephone Screening: Gathers information from patients via telephone to determine appropriate disposition based on established protocols.
- Advanced Clinical Tasks: Under onsite provider supervision, may insert intravenous catheters for IV therapy. Under direct supervision, may insert/remove urinary catheters and administer oral drugs or injections (intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular). Performs phlebotomy.
- Administrative Tasks: Utilizes the EMR to propose medication refills for provider approval. Completes requisitions for tests and contacts insurance companies for pre-authorizations and specialty referrals.
- Flexibility: Floats to other sites/locations within the system as appropriate.
- Professional Development: Attends scheduled meetings and training classes (Safety, Infection Control, OSHA, CLIA, BLS).
- Core Values: Demonstrates behavior consistent with the DHCS Health mission, SPIRIT values, and patient care philosophy.
Minimal Qualifications Education
- High School Diploma or GED required.
- Completion of an accredited Medical Assistant program preferred.
Experience
- Less than 1 year (minimum 6 months) experience in an ambulatory care medical office or equivalent required. (Externship at MedStar Health may substitute for the 6-month requirement).
- For Cardiology offices: 6 months experience in an ambulatory care medical office OR a Bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology/science OR completion of a cardiac technician course.
- Prior experience as a medical assistant preferred.
Licenses and Certifications
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA-AAMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) within 1 year of hire required.
- CPR/BLS for healthcare providers (AHA or American Red Cross) within 90 days of hire required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Clinical competency as verified within the 90-day orientation period.
- Excellent customer service and patient interaction skills.
- Basic computer skills preferred.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $20.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
