Medical Assistant
Job Summary
The Medical Assistant is a professional multi-skilled person dedicated to assisting in all aspects of medical practice under the direct supervision and responsibility of a physician. This practitioner assists with patient care management and executes administrative and clinical procedures. Competence in the field also requires that a medical assistant adhere to ethical and legal standards of professional practice, recognize, and respond to emergencies and demonstrate professional characteristics.
Clinical Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision and responsibility of a licensed physician, a medical assistant may undertake the following duties:
- Perform clinical procedures to include:
- Performing aseptic procedures
- Taking vital signs
- Preparing patients for the physician’s care
- Performing venipunctures and non-intravenous injections
- Observing and reporting patients signs or symptoms
- Administering basic first aid
- Assisting with patient examinations or treatments.
- Operating office medical equipment
- Collecting routine laboratory specimens as directed by the physician.
- Administering medication as directed by the physician (Exception: medications requiring dosage calculation)
- Performing basic laboratory procedures.
- Performing office procedures including all general administrative duties required by the physician.
If a licensed physician is not on-site, a medical assistant is prohibited from performing the following:
- Nursing activities that include the use of the nursing process and require the special knowledge, nursing judgment or skills of a registered or practical nurse, including:
- The initial nursing assessment or any subsequent assessments
- Prohibited from completing Review of Systems in the EMR
- Prohibited from performing injections (medication and/or vaccines)
- Prohibited from administering medication(s)
Medical Assistant
- Prohibited from performing aseptic procedures including wound care, dressing changes, etc.
- The determination of the nursing diagnosis or interpretations of nursing assessments
- Establishment of the nursing care goals and development of the plan of care
- Evaluation of progress in relationship to the plan of care
- Those activities for which the unlicensed assistive personnel has not demonstrated competence
Additional Position Expectations and Responsibilities
- Act as first level contact for the providers and support staff in trouble shooting issues.
- Ensure patients are properly check-in for clinical visits via Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Ensure patients are properly checked-out after every clinical visit and depart with required paperwork
- Schedule patients appointments following company protocol.
- Ensures patient documentation is fully completed and recorded via the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Ensures that external third-party documentation (i.e., labs, reports, consultations) are collected and sent to scan as appropriate.
- Expected to complete 48-hour chart check and contacts patient/referral providers if further information is needed
- Expected to answer phones, check and returns voicemail messages in a timely manner.
- Expected to respond to all correspondence and tasks (via letter, email, fax) in a timely manner
- Expected to have knowledge of standard (universal) precautions
- Expected to be able to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos
- Expected to be proficient in all computer software utilized for patient care
- Expected to participate as part of a multi-disciplinary team, within the scope of practice to provide patient care and other patient need in a safe, timely manner
- Expected to complete all necessary documentation, department logs and reports
- Expected to keep unit clean, restock rooms as needed, and assist with ordering supplies
- Expected to communicate effectively with all members of the patient care team
- Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
- Completion of Medical Assistant training is required
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate is required
- Must have good written and verbal communication skills
- Computer knowledge
Preferred Qualifications
- At least one year of related work experience
- Certification by the American Association of Medical Assistants
- Registered by the American Medical Technologists
- Bilingual (English-Spanish or English-Haitian Creole) a plus
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk or view a computer screen for extended periods of time
- Ability to use hands and fingers to handle or feel
- Ability to reach with hands or arms
- Ability to perform repetitive hand and wrist motions for extended periods of time
- Ability to effectively talk and listen to patients
Relationship Reporting
- Reports to the Clinical Manager
