Medical Assistant I

Job Description

Job Description

SUPERVISOR: Clinical Supervisor 

POSITIONS SUPERVISED: None

DEPARTMENT: 000142

STATUS: Non-Exempt

Revised: 05/06/2021

$19.29 - $25.08 Hourly | Midpoint $22.19

Placement within the range is based on relevant experience, qualifications, demonstrated competencies, and internal equity.

Esperanza Health Center offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; paid time off; retirement contributions; and other benefits designed to support employee well-being and professional growth.

SUMMARY : The Medical Assistant performs a wide variety of roles in support of the clinicians and in the provision of safe and whole person care. The Medical Assistant prepares adults and children for exams and assists adult practitioners, pediatricians, obstetricians, gynecologists and HIV care providers in caring for patients. The Medical Assistant addresses the needs of walk-in and call-in patients in the back desk and triage areas, performs phlebotomy, tends to orderliness and stocking of exam rooms, hubs and labs, assists supervisors with specific tasks, and nurtures spiritual growth of team members and patients. Medical Assistants are assigned to the various roles above based on the needs of Esperanza Health Center and the skill set of the individual Medical Assistant.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Responsible for Clinical Team Functions:

1. Arrive on-time to devotions, prayer groups, and departmental/all-staff meetings at 8:30am and to clinical huddle meetings.
2. Keep walkie-talkie on person at all times.
3. Promptly acknowledges all walkie-talkie communications.
4. Check Esperanza G-mail messages several times a day. Read communications promptly and responds promptly, as requested. 
5. Remain available in hub unless duties require otherwise.
6. Keep hub desk, exam rooms and team common areas neat, organized and well stocked.
7. Willingly assist provider and CA as needed.
8. Work with CA to maintain efficient patient flow.
9. Give a complete face-to-face report to covering MA before lunch and to Late MA before leaving.
10. Work harmoniously and willingly with other hubs to redistribute patients when a hub is falling behind due to a heavy schedule of patients. 
11. Sign up for late shifts and Saturday shifts as needed to cover the clinic. Perform Late MA duties as specified by the Late Nurse Checklist and Saturday MA duties thoroughly and efficiently.

2. Responsible to prepare patients for exams and to assist practitioners

1. Prepare pediatric patients according to protocol titled, “Pediatric Preparation Guidelines”.
2. Prepare adult patients according to protocol titled, “Adult Patient Prep for Visit”.
3. Prepare gyn patients according to protocols including, Annual Gyn visit with Pap, Colposcopy, Endometrial Biopsy, LEEP, Placement or removal of contraceptive devices. 
4. Prepare Obstetric patients according to protocol titled, “Prenatal Care Guidelines for MAs”.
5. Perform procedures according to protocols including: Audiogram, Vital Signs, Ear Lavage, EKG, Nebulizer treatments, Orthostatic BP, Oxygen administration, Peak Flow assessments, Vision Screening, etc.
6. Provide patients/parents with all appropriate forms according to age, problem list and purpose of visit including; Anticipatory Guidance Handouts, Patient Education Handouts, Vaccine Information Sheets, Developmental and Behavioral Screening tools, etc.
7. Administer vaccines and PPDs as ordered by provider.
8. Assist provider with gynecological exams and clean exam room and equipment afterwards according to protocols. 
9. Perform In-House, Point of Care, lab procedures according to protocols including; Urine dipstick, finger-stick hemoglobin, finger-stick glucose, urine pregnancy, Hemoccult Stool for Occult Blood, Rapid Strep, etc. Perform and document controls accurately and according to protocols for these tests. 
10. Prepare lab requisitions and specimens for send out to outside labs. Be familiar with Medicare ABN protocols and notify clinicians of ordered tests with ABN notices.
11. Prepare Self Pay Worksheets according to protocols for Labs, Vaccines, and Mammograms and insure that copies are sent to appropriate departments. 
12. Monitor and document refrigerator and freezer temps and notify supervisor immediate of any temps that are out of the appropriate range. 

3. Responsible for care of exam rooms between patient visits and at the end of each exam session:

1. Remove, clean and disinfect/sterilize dirty equipment according to protocols.
2. Clean and disinfectant surfaces if spills occur (i.e. urine, blood, emesis, sputum). 
3. Organize, clean and disinfect exam rooms at the end of the day including: sinks, counters, exam tables and supply cabinets. Empty trash cans throughout the day if needed.
4. Restock medical supplies at end of each session.
5. Restock and organize forms and flow sheets in hub files.
6. Replace full sharps containers and red trash and dispose of them according to protocols.
7. When supplies are running low, notify assistant supervisor in a timely fashion so new supplies can be ordered.
8. Clean, package and sterilize metal surgical equipment.
9. Run weekly controls on autoclave and maintain log book of all autoclave procedures. 

4. Responsible to assist in organization of storage areas: 

a) Store supplies in appropriate location.

b) Maintain storage areas in orderly fashion.

5. Responsible to manage back desk functions:

1. Handle a wide variety of tasks including: Requests for prescription refills, Coumadin follow-up calls, Patient requests for forms, pre-authorization and arrangements for DME supplies/equipment, arranging Home Care Services including visiting nurses and blood draws, obtaining records from outside consultants, pre-authorization of medications, etc.
2. Document requests for prescription refills clearly and accurately. Verify dosages as documented in EMR Rx tab and call refills in to pharmacy as ordered by provider, or add pharmacy to patient’s configuration so that provider can send refills electronically.
3. Complete and follow-up on prior authorization forms for medications and durable medical equipment. 
4. Utilize EMR according to protocols, route messages appropriately and apply the appropriate level of priority to messages. 
5. Communicate with patients, laboratories or other caregivers’ offices via phone or letter as requested by MD.

6. Responsible to assist with daily maintenance of in-house laboratory. 

1. Perform daily and weekly lab controls and maintain neat and legible records. Notify supervisor immediately if any controls are out of range or if equipment is not working properly.
2. Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of lab and lab equipment.
3. Order and organize lab supplies and equipment.
4. Maintain OSHA requirements with regards to packing and disposal of bio-hazard waste.

7. Responsible to perform phlebotomy services:

  a) Perform Venipuncture on adults and children:

• Correctly identify patient, verify demographic information, and verify insurance information.
• Make patient feel comfortable by explaining all procedures professionally and respectfully.
• Prepare supplies and provides safe and efficient care.
• Perform venipuncture according to procedure manual.

b) Prepare Lab Specimens for Storage and Transport to Outside Lab:

• Label specimens correctly.
• Prepare serum and plasma specimens correctly.
• Identify and store specimens for room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen transport.
• Store specimen over-night or over-weekends correctly.
• Interface with outside labs regarding STAT or urgent lab pick-ups.

c) Manage Inventory and Organization of Lab Supplies: 

• Complete weekly inventory of lab supplies; submit requisitions to Quest and LabCorp.
• Submit request for any supplies not provided by Quest or LabCorp to Supervisor.
• Manage lab supply inventory for all Quest and LabCorp supplies and insure that expired supplies are returned to the outside labs and are not utilized.
• Perform routine maintenance and cleaning of lab and lab equipment including refrigerator and freezer.
• Maintain lab and lab supplies in a neat and organized fashion.
• Pack Bio-Waste box and prepare it for pick-up every other week and communicate with Bio-Waste Disposal Company as needed.

8. Responsible to collaborate with nurses and clinicians to screen patients in triage:

1. RN’s are responsible for triage assessments and decisions according to the EHC Triage Guidelines. At some sites where triage is staffed with two team members, a RN will work alongside of a Medical Assistant. Medical Assistants will not make independent patient assessments or decisions but will simply collect and document patient information and communicate that information to the RN or clinician for review.  If no RN is working on a given day the Medical Assistants may collect information from the patients and forward it to a clinician for review and instructions. 
2. Patients calling in or walking in with an acute illness or exacerbation of a chronic condition may be placed directly into an open same day walk-in slot if they are available. 
3. When there are no further Same Day slots available , the MA will obtain a history of the patient’s chief complaint and then determine how far the doctor is behind in seeing his scheduled patients. The MA will present this information to the nurse or clinician who will determine if the patient’s needs can be met that day or when an appointment should be scheduled for the patient. 
4. The MA will explain the recommendations to the patient and will assure that the patient understands and is comfortable with the instructions. The MA will notify the nurse or clinician if the patient expresses concerns or discontent with the prescribed plan.

9. Responsible to provide spiritual care:

1. Provide spiritual encouragement to patients as needed and pray with patients as appropriate and with patient’s consent.
2. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ as appropriate with patients who express a desire to learn more about Jesus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED, required.
• MA diploma from an accredited school
• Must be fully bilingual in English and Spanish. 
• Proficiency in basic math including fractions, decimals, multiplication and division.
• A solid record of handling confidential information, as well as demonstrating trustworthiness and honesty in all transactions. 
• Solid interpersonal skills, including handling of difficult people. Must communicate warmth and be able to put people at ease. 
• Ability to remain calm in a chaotic situation.
• Ability to take initiative in communication, being clear and direct, in order to effectively communicate with other staff.
• Demonstrated ability to handle many details and multiple priorities. Must show ability to organize, process, and verify details.
• Demonstrated record of timeliness and reliability in a work setting. 
• Requires the ability to work with adults and children.
• Ability to share Christian faith with others and to provide spiritual encouragement and hope in Christ; ability and willingness to pray with others. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Requires the ability to move around the clinic in a high paced environment for 4 hours at a time.
• Requires the ability to work in a seated position on the phone for 4 hours at a time.
• Requires extensive work on a computer keyboard. 
• Requires work with needles and patient’s bodily fluids.
• Requires the ability to lift and carry 20 pounds.