Medical Assistant

Description

Summary: It is the Medical Assistant’s responsibly to support and assist providers and nursing staff deliver optimal patient care. This person helps coordinate patient flow, provides basic health and wellness education, and is instrumental in ensuring patients feel at ease in the office. Position will require interoffice travel to Mountain Laurel service sites.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Patient Care

• 1. Participates in daily pre-visit planning, ensuring protocols are addressed and responded to.
  2. Provides direct patient care, which includes:
• Documenting the patient’s past medical, family, and social history
• Obtains vital signs and the reason for visit
• Clarifies current medication regimen
• Review and update drug allergies
• Ensures all ordered tests/specialist reports are in chart
  1. Following Mountain Laurel Medical Center’s standing order policy, places lab orders, diagnostic testing, and internal/external referrals, as requested by provider.
  2. Obtains appropriate behavioral health and self-assessments including, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment screening tools.
  3. Performs CLIA waived testing including, but not limited to: urinalysis, lead testing, rapid strep, influenza, pregnancy tests, fingerstick lipid panel and hemoglobin A1c.
  4. Responsible for preparing and assisting provider with examinations and minor office procedures, EKGs, hearing and vision screenings, nebulizer treatments, dressing changes, and suture removal.
  5. Assists with collection and prepare laboratory specimens including, pap smears, HPV, STD testing, and wet mounts.  
  6. Provides health education information to patients during their appointment and address any patient concerns, within scope of practice.
  7. Maintains a clean and orderly appearance by organizing, cleaning, and preparing exam rooms, treatment rooms, supply closets, and nurses’ station.

1. Communications

1. 1. Communicates effectively with patients, families, and other health care providers, both verbally and in writing.
   2. Provides excellent patient centered customer service, while being friendly and courteous to all employees and patients; can handle multiple tasks at once and has the ability to compassionately and empathetically care for patients.
   3. Provides clerical support by answering multi-line phones, documenting messages, assisting with patient forms, advising of test results, and communicating any other clinical information as directed by the provider, while always maintaining confidentiality. 
   4. Supports nursing staff by responding to patient care telephone calls, reviewing lab and test results, and communicating advice to patients under provider direction and/or established standing orders.
   5. Assists in maintaining supply of clinical inventory and equipment and notifies supervisor if supplies/equipment is missing or broken.  

1. Injections/Medication Management

1. 1. Under supervision of provider, prepare and dispense medications, authorizes medication refills, and submits prescriptions to pharmacies.
   2. Prepares and administers intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SQ), and intradermal (ID) injections.

1. Upholds the Code of Ethics and mission of Mountain Laurel Medical Center in a manner consistent with the core values of respect, accountability, integrity, teamwork, continuous improvement, and patient-centered care.

1. Maintains working knowledge of insurance coverage specifications as it relates to patient care. Has the ability to distinguish the differences in coverage, charges and co-pays; uses that knowledge to determine appropriate services.

1. Performs other duties as requested by supervisor or clinical leadership team.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are a representation of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. This position routinely deals with sensitive and confidential information requiring the utmost privacy and confidentiality.

Education and Experience:

High school graduation or equivalent is required.  Candidate must be Certified/Registered by NHA, ARMA, AAMA, or have 3 years of experience in medical related setting.  Current proof of certification/registration required.  A combination of education and experience in a medical setting may be considered until certification/registration is obtained; candidate must be able to obtain certification/registration within 6 months of hire.  Experience with Electronic Medical Records, medical terminology and phlebotomy is preferred. Current CPR certification is required.

Computer Literacy:

Knowledge of basic computer software and the willingness and ability to learn electronic medical records software.

Work Record:

A demonstrated work record showing good attendance, punctuality, dependability and the ability to work well with supervisors and coworkers as part of a team effort is essential.  A medical office setting is an environment that requires the ability to relate to all types of people while always maintaining a professional demeanor.

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals is essential. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence, and the ability to speak effectively to patients, co-workers and the public at large is paramount.

Reasoning Ability:

Must be able to demonstrate the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Team Work:

An essential element is the ability to work and interact effectively and positively with other staff members to build and enhance teamwork in a patient centered team based model of care and in the overall MLMC organization; team engagement is a must to be successful in this position.

Sensitivity to the Needs of Special Populations:

Must be able to demonstrate an understanding and sensitivity to cultural differences and needs of MLMC patients and be able to respond appropriately to all people regardless of race, ethnicity, language, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, economic standing, etc.

Understanding of HealthCare laws and Regulations:

Must have the ability to follow HIPAA guidelines as well as an understanding of policies and procedures regarding medical records put in place by the Federal Government.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to drive, sit and stand for long periods of time, handle considerable paperwork, operate computers, lift up to 15 pound boxes of supplies, and assist patients who may have limited mobility.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in a typical, outpatient clinic environment and possibly at locations outside the office. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.