Medical Assistant Associate

Medical Assistant Associate - Chelsea Surgical Services

This position supports the new Chelsea Surgical Services ACU located at the St. Joseph Mercy Professional Office Building, in Chelsea. This position will support 2 fulltime General Surgeons, a Urology Surgeon and a pre-op service line. The primary function of this position would be Medical Assistant and clerical duties. The position will provide direct patient care, assist with clinical procedures and coordinate patient flow for the 2 homebased General Surgeons and 1 Urology Surgeon operating at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. This position would also support patient appointment scheduling, check in-check out and In-Basket management across all services.

Responsibilities

• Responds to general patient inquiries about clinic operations within their scope of practice.
• Rooms patients (virtually and in person) and performs standard patient intake including taking vitals and other measurements, medical histories, medication reconciliation documentation, form(s) preparation, relevant screenings, following predetermined protocols and other tasks as assigned.
• May obtain medical records and prepare medical information and reports for the appointment (e.g. reviewing Patient Summary Information, updating prescription information, etc.).
• Performs room preparation and turnover task(s) assigned, including managing stretchers and beds where appropriate.
• Medication preparation and/or administration per standing orders or UMHS and Ambulatory Care policies and guidelines, and competency.
• Administers injections and immunizations appropriate per competency and Ambulatory Care policy and guidelines.
• Performs medical laboratory/Point of Care (POC) testing and assists providers per competency or formal training with direct patient care that may include treatments, tests, or procedures.
• Quality Control testing of POC equipment.
• May manage forms and consent (virtual and in person) and provide routine patient instruction forms assigned by the clinic and within their scope of practice.
• Contributes to a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, faculty, and staff by following established procedures, policies, and guidelines.
• Enter orders per policy co-signature required per standing order or Best Practice Alert (BPA).
• Queue and pend medication renewals.
• Take pictures and/or upload media (excluding ophthalmology) according to Ambulatory Care guidelines.
• Observes patient status, report changes, and document accordingly.
• Acts as a chaperone during sensitive exams, diagnostic, and therapeutic treatments, or upon patient request.
• Informs patients of normal test results within their scope of practice
• Documents into MiChart within scope of practice.
• Efficiently and effectively prepares and organizes clinical and procedure rooms with appropriate equipment and supplies.
• Continuously tracks the clinic patient flow, identifies holdups, and notifies patients if the schedule runs behind.
• Cleans, stocks, and organizes clinic spaces (exam and supply rooms).
• Maintains inventory and may manage PAR levels when appropriate.
• Processes forms and in basket messages through MiChart.
• May assist with prescription or procedure prior authorizations within scope of practice.
• Disinfects and maintains equipment between cases according to Instructions for Use, policies, and guidelines; removes equipment not needed for next case and stores it appropriately.
• Transport and prepares surgical instruments for sterile processing.
• Supports orientation and/or shadowing opportunities as assigned.
• Participate in regulatory readiness processes.
• Participation in Daily Management Systems huddles, staff meetings, quality improvement activities, and other Ambulatory Care initiatives as assigned (such as Safety Liaison, MIChart upgrades, or operational meetings)
• Responsible if assigned and trained to vaccine reconciliation including Vaccines for Children (VFC) and all duties associated with this duty.
• Perform other related duties within scope of practice as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Completion of a Medical Assistant program OR current enrollment in, or completion of coursework in a healthcare professional program (e.g., medical school, PA program, nursing program, or related clinical training) OR an equivalent combination of education and experience (1 - 3 years).
• Demonstrated knowledge of clinical workflows, patient care, and basic medical terminology.