Certified Medical Assistant - Neurology (45890)

Under the general supervision of the neurologist or assigned physician, the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) serves as a front-line health service technician. Performs basic patient care services and technical tasks. Performs a variety of technical (non-professional medical) and administrative tasks related to the treatment and care of patients in the ambulatory environment. Clinical duties require training and demonstrated competency, while not requiring the knowledge and skills represented by the licensure of full professional nurse education. Duties are performed within the neurology specialty clinic mainly located at Winslow.


Upholds the principles of WIHCC's Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information at all times.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
• Adheres to regulatory standards and related WIHCC/IHS regulations, policies and/or procedures while providing comprehensive, skilled, competent care specific to the age of the patients (adult and geriatric) based on knowledge/skills, scope of practice and the provider's plan of care.
• Reviews charts of assigned patients to determine appropriate services based on patient needs. Participates in pre-visit planning and external record management for scheduled patients. Communicates the patient's needs and recommended treatment to the patient's healthcare team.
• Incorporates and applies protocols in health promotion for well populations as well as treatment interventions for chronic neurologic conditions (i.e. dementia, epilepsy, migraine and other headache disorders, stroke, Parkinson's disease, neuropathic pain, etc.).
• Interviews patients utilizing interview techniques that ensure confidentiality and privacy to appropriately determine plan of care.
• Performs intake procedures by obtaining chief complaint/purpose of visit; vital signs (TPR, B/P), pulse oximetry, height, weight, etc.
• Assesses age- and disease-specific screening protocols (i.e. Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), indicators; medication review; pain assessment; growth/development, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity, nutritional status; BP control, glycemic control, etc.); monitors patient health and general well-being. Documents information/patient care on the patient's PCC ambulatory care record and/or electronic health record.
• Reinforces patient teaching given by the professional medical staff in a collaborative effort to assist patients to achieve self-management health goals, negotiating a brief action plan regarding diet, exercise, taking medication, or other domains of the patient's life.
• Provides comprehensive care to patients; is able to prioritize patient care, procedures, and practices based on the patient's assessment. Administers therapeutic measures in collaboration with the medical plan of care and within scope of practice; informs the patient of prescribed procedures, prepares the patient, and assists during procedures as needed.
• Assists medical providers in positioning the patient; assembling, arranging and draping instruments; and gathering supplies.
• As needed, obtains bacteriologic specimens such as sputum and clean-catch urine specimens. Instructs patients in proper collection of samples and prepares sample for analysis, e.g., labels specimen tubes. Routes requisition order to laboratory and x-ray as needed; files results of various tests.
• Assist with escorting/transporting stable patients to various hospital departments (i.e. laboratory, radiology).
• Reassesses patients as condition warrants, including pre- and post-clinical procedures to evaluate response to treatment, including pain. Collaboratively assesses the patient's perception of the effectiveness of therapy.
• Recognizes urgent/emergent patient and clinical situations; promptly reports subtle changes in the patient's condition including reported critical lab values to RN/NP/MD/PA. Responsible for providing communication (report) to the responsible accepting RN.
• Initiates emergency measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as appropriate to skill level; assists with retrieving necessary emergency medical equipment.
• Participates in and integrates standard regulatory requirements (i.e. quality/infection control, laboratory standards, safety, etc.) in the clinical setting. Shares in the responsibility toward achievement of objectives.
• Operates and monitors equipment (i.e. AED, Electrocardiographs, etc.) demonstrates safe and effective use of equipment and reports malfunctions of equipment; appropriately takes malfunctioning equipment out of service.
• Performs blood glucose testing and records results using a glucometer. Performs other point of care tests as indicated by laboratory policy. Complies with laboratory requirements for glucometer accuracy and record keeping. Reports abnormal/out of range results to the RN/NP/MD/PA.
• Performs vision screening.
• Applies various orthopedic soft goods and splints necessary for the treatment of various orthopedic injuries.
• Administers oral medication and performs subcutaneous and intramuscular injections as defined by WIHCC and regulatory guidelines for preparing and administering medication by Certified Medical Assistants. All medications administered by the CMA must be in unit dose or single dose vial, and must be performed under direct supervision of a physician, Physician's Assistant or Nurse Practitioner.
• Coordinates clinical flow within the neurology clinic. Plans, organizes and allocates/adjusts resources in response to workload and priority changes.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities; communicates improvement plan; provides ongoing review and analysis of effectiveness to identify progress towards goals and opportunities for improvement. Supports improvement projects and objectives.
• Works to ensure the unit is stocked (i.e. medications, supplies, etc.) equipment is checked (i.e. cleaned, equipped for use) and work stations are kept clean and uncluttered.
• Attends all required education and training activities directly related to practice area(s) as necessary to maintain competencies as determined by WIHCC supervisory nursing staff.
• Maintains current professional required certification(s). Seeks professional development and educational activities to develop and maintain standards for clinical competency.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Requires completion of tasks or duties assigned by a supervisor.
• Upholds all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.
• Adheres to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Adheres to WIHCCs Personnel Policies and Procedures, departmental policies, rules, and regulations.
• Interacts in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees, visitors, and vendors.
• Possesses cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Maintains compliance with all Human Resources requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Formal education/training, competency and certification as a Certified Medical Assistant; completion of an approved Medical Assistant training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), or by an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education.
• Maintain current and active Certified Medical Assistant certification (CMA) through successfully passing certification exams from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or Registered Medical Assistant certification (RMA) from American Medical Technologists (AMT), or National Certified Medical Assistant certification (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) is required. Must have demonstrated experience with electronic medical record systems.
• Bilingual skills in English and Navajo language preferred.
• Must maintain a valid unrestricted and insurable driver's license.
• Must successfully pass a background investigation and maintain suitable requirements for a Child Care position. This position is considered as a Child Care position, which requires a satisfactory background check investigation and is subject to the requirements of the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, as amended (henceforth referred as the ICPFVP Act).

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Knowledge of strong work ethics in the workplace.
• Knowledge of basic application of confidentiality.
• Knowledge of duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills, e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of, and sensitivity to, cultural and language differences.
• Ability to be dependable in attendance and job performance.
• Ability to meet attendance, overtime (if necessary), and other reliability requirements of the job.
• Ability to accept and learn from feedback.
• Ability to work as a team member and develop productive and cooperative working relationships with nursing staff and health care providers within the facility as well as healthcare staffs in hospitals and nursing homes, private practices, and law enforcement agencies throughout the community.
• Ability to effectively communicate both in written and verbal.
• Ability to provide exemplary customer service at all times.
• Ability to interact positively with others and possess great interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure.
• Ability to have self-confidence.
• Ability to be a great team player.
• Ability to accept and learn from supervisor/peer critique.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the organization.
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills in handling interactions with hospital staff, other agencies, groups, and patients and families.

Physical Demands:

While performing the essential functions of this position, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects and equipment, reach with hands and arms, and communicate effectively by talking and hearing. The employee frequently must stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and may occasionally use taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.


Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office setting or outdoor work environment with moderate noise levels. Work environment may involve exposure to physical risks, such as blood borne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, or operating potential dangerous equipment, and requires adherence to all safety protocols. Required work schedules may include evening, weekend, overnight shifts, extended hours, or irregular schedules as operational needs dictate.


As required by P.L. 93-638, absolute preference will be given to qualified Navajo applicants. If there is no qualified Navajo applicant, preference will be given to qualified American Indian applicants.