Medical Assistant (Credentialed/Certified) - UI Health, Center for Women's Health

Certified Medical Assistant

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Under the direction of the Physician, performs a variety of clinical and clerical services to support physician practice in an outpatient setting.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• A Certified Medical Assistant typically performs the following duties per healthcare facility protocols (federal, state and university) and specific duties assigned.
• Maintains medical records in Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems, reviews and prepares EHR to ensure completeness prior to patient exam, obtains missing documentation; documents medical visits, observations, and related activities.

Direct Patient Care Tasks

• Assists nursing/medical staff with tasks related to preliminary assessment, education, and documentation of patient condition and the presenting health complaint including:
• Obtaining vital signs and other pertinent health information, i.e. conducts patient screenings during intake process
• Administration of basic tests as by healthcare provider such as EKG, spirometry, pulse oximetry, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), etc.
• Informing the patient of test preparations and directions to diagnostic/treatment areas.
• Obtain specimens by noninvasive techniques, and collect blood specimens via capillary and venipuncture technique.
• Assists medical/nursing staff with tasks or diagnostic/therapeutic procedures appropriate to experience, training and skill level.
• Responds to patient inquires (both in person and by telephone) and relays information to the appropriate clinical staff based on the nature of the inquiry.
• Transports or accompanies patients as directed.
• Documents patient medications for medication reconciliation by history.
• Administers approved injections per appropriate protocol

Indirect Patient Care Tasks

• Under direct supervision of clinical staff and following MD orders, completes requisitions for diagnostic tests/procedures.
• Assists in collection and processing of patient specimens. Performs and documents point of care specimen testing.
• Performs necessary follow-up to obtain laboratory/test results and other pertinent medical record information; records lab data.
• Maintains patient care environment in compliance with safety and infection control requirements including but not limited to ordering, stocking, and monitoring usage of linen, forms and supplies; disposal of soiled and used patient care supplies; sterilization of equipment.
• Performs and documents quality control tests on equipment as appropriate.
• Cleans and sterilizes equipment and maintains appropriate cleaning logs per policy.
• Obtains pre-authorizations and referrals.

Clerical Tasks

• Maintains patient files and medical records; extracts clinical/demographic information as required.
• Schedules patient appointments. Duties and Responsibilities
• Checks patients in and out, requisitions charts/studies, registers patients and activates accounts according to hospital procedures.
• Records lab data.
• Assists other staff with office reception and business support functions.
• Collects cash payments from patients and keeps accurate record of cash collections.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Participates or assists with initiatives to promote effective process design, development and implementation of EHR and other technologies; participates in improvement projects and on assigned committees.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

1. High school graduation or equivalent.
2. Possession of a current/valid certification as a Certified Medical Assistant by an approved certifying board as defined by the employing institution. The approved certifying boards include; American Association of Medical Assistant (AAMA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), National Center for Competency Testing (NCCTI) and/or National Health career Association (NHA).
3. Possession of a current/valid American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support CPR Certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of basic first aid principles, methods, and techniques.
• Knowledge of aseptic and sterilization techniques.
• Demonstrated competency to conduct point of care testing.
• Demonstrated competency in venipuncture techniques.
• Demonstrated competency to perform specialized tests.
• Knowledge of inventory procedures.
• Knowledge of medical records policies, procedures and documentation requirements.
• Skill in telephone communications.
• Skill in communicating with persons from varying cultural and economic backgrounds.
• Ability to recognize needs, physical characteristics, and behavior of a variety of age groups of patients and special needs of patients.
• Knowledge of billing and collection procedures.
• Accuracy and skill in writing medical requisitions for ordered tests.
• Accuracy and skill in taking and recording patients' blood pressure, temperature, respiration, pulse, height, weight and other vital statistics.
• Ability to make decisions based on urgency of the situation and in accordance with work procedures and hospital/clinic policies.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Willingness to, and skilled in, dealing effectively with patients, hospital staff, and other persons from inside or outside hospital/clinic.
• Ability to organize work activities.
• Knowledge of University, Medical Center, Departmental and work unit policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of registration and scheduling requirements; and ability to competently and correctly enter information into manual and automated patient information/management systems.