Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant

The Medical Assistant is an essential part of a health care team. He or She:

a. Assists practitioner in providing patient care

b. Interacts with patients, practitioners and other personnel

c. Works in partnership with the medical team in patient care delivery

d. Instrumental in facilitating patient flow in the practices for optimal patient processing and patient satisfaction

e. Has the essential skills and knowledge to expedite the patient visit process thru registration, intake screening, provider visit and discharge.

Responsibilities:

1. Establish and maintain positive relationships with patients, visitors, and other employees. Interacts professionally, courteously, and appropriately with patients, visitors and other employees. Behaves in a manner consistent with maintaining and furthering a positive public perception of BronxCare Clinics. This includes introducing self by name and title to all patients.

2. Contributes to and participates in the Performance/Quality Improvement activities of the assigned department. Contribution and participation may include data collection, analysis, implementation of and compliance with risk management and claims activities, support of and participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams, consistent adherence to the specific rules and regulations of BronxCare Clinics (a) Safety and Security Policies, (b) Risk Management: Incident and Occurrence Reporting, (c) Infection Control Policies and Procedures and (d) Patient and Customer Service, and (e) all Corporate Compliance policies and guidelines.

3. Prepares the patient for the provider visit including proper identification (according to the NPSG), intake screening of patient, pre-visit planning (if applicable), review of medical record to determine visit requirements such as HEIDS measures that are missing, laboratory and other testing documentation/results.

4. Manages the flow of patients for assigned providers and the clinic in general. Monitors the progress of providers and empty rooms. Identifies the next patient scheduled to go into the room based on clinic policy and retrieves that patient from the waiting area using current technology and systems. Introduces self and escorts patient to intake/screening area.

5. Patient preparation procedures:

a. Cleans room prior to patient entry into room

b. Instructs patient to change into gown (as per providers' preference and/or scheduled procedure)

c. Utilizes two identifiers for patient identification

d. Completes intake questions and documents accordingly

e. Sets up suture removal and supplies if necessary

6. Assists with patient examination:

a. Chaperone as needed

b. Assist practitioner in procedures

c. Transferring onto and off the exam table

7. Assists or performs in the following procedures, when necessary:

a. Performs suture removal and Steri-strips (only after training and skills verification)

b. Perform minor dressing changes

c. Removal of casts (After proper skills training and verification)

d. Preparation of specimens for culture

e. Application of cast boots

f. Application of braces and supports

g. Minor surgery procedures

h. Observation of patient post procedure

i. Performs phlebotomy

8. Escorts patients:

a. Into room

b. Out of room

c. To radiology

d. To another department/unit according to the patient follow up or needs

9. Information Technology needs:

a. Working knowledge of all hospital information management programs

b. Ability to navigate EMR, print patient documents including education information

10. When provider is completed with the encounter:

a. Assures safe discharge from the clinic

b. Interviews patient confirming proper understanding of all discharge instructions

c. Executes discharge instruction plan based on protocols developed by BronxCare Outpatient Services

d. Schedules patients' appointments as ordered

e. Prepares exam room for next patient including – clean set-up (gown, equipment, etc.), cleaning of exam table (according to Infection Control Guidelines), changing of paper on table, discarding regular, sharps, and medical waste, wiping all counters with approved solutions, and removal of any/all previous patient's items.

11. Messages and Phone:

a. Follows proper telephone etiquette when answering telephone ensuring courtesy responses and positive communications.

b. Answer any telephone that is ringing and unanswered in the clinical area

12. Training:

a. Participates and completes successfully all training programs assigned by direct supervisor or providers

b. Remain current on all policies and procedures related to the department, the hospital and regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission and the Department of Health.

13. Professionalism:

a. Maintains professional appearance at all times; adheres to BronxCare Health System dress code, cell phone use, and professional behaviors.

b. Is courtesy, respectful and positive in conversations and interactions.

14. Standards of Practice:

a. Adheres to all BronxCare Health System policies and procedures and Standards of Practice

b. Remains current on all policies and procedures related to the department, the hospital and regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission and the Department of Health.

Qualifications:

- Graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant program.

- Certification by the NYS as a Medical Assistant

- Current BLS certification

- High School or GED (Required)

- Graduate of an Accredited Medical Assistant Program

- Knowledge of EMR systems/programs

- Microsoft Office Suite