Patient Care Assistant

Essential Job Responsibilities

Assists supervisor with the management and maintenance of department’s supplies/materials/equipment and logs:


• Refrigerator/Freezer, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), oxygen, eye wash station, emergency medical bag, sample medication and distribution, patient medication and distribution, high alert medication log, sterilization log, Look/Sound Alike medication log

Assists supervisor with daily oversight, purchase orders and inventory of supplies/materials as needed


Assists with the calibration of medical equipment and notifies supervisor of need for repair due to malfunction

Assists with the training of support staff (i.e. Patient Care Assistant, Laboratory Assistants, Receptionist/Medical Clerk)

Maintains effective communication with patients in reference to wait time, patient needs and expectations and patient feedback

Escorts patient to the different areas within the medical office (check-in/out, lab, exam room)


Completes all tasks sent via EHR in the requested timeframe

Ensures compliance with health center’s policies and procedures as it relates to medical examination and infection control of every patient seen

Administrative Duties - Track 1

Ensures proper and timely check-in of patients and prepares patient for medical examination

Assists with the coordination of patient flow

Ensures proper patient identification using a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers as per national patient safety goals requirement

Schedules follow-up appointment for patient

Timely and accurate documentation in patient charts

Receives/sends documents via fax per provider request:


• Medical Record Release Form


Makes phone calls and documents in EHR per provider request

Records pertinent information on forms

Administrative Duties - Track 2

Ensures proper and smooth operational flow as it relates to patient visit (i.e. prioritizes patient flow based on medical needs)

Ensures proper patient identification using a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers as per national patient safety goals requirement

Reviews and documents patient's vital signs in the EHR

Updates and records patient information in the EHR:


• Allergies, reconciles medication list, reviews immunizations, history forms other information as required

Prepares and reviews next day’s patient schedule & care requirements to maintain patient flow

Assists with the completion of forms as needed:


• Women Infant Children (WIC), Pre-operative Surgical, Work Excusal/Return to Work and Proof of Pregnancy

Ensures proper Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Depression screening for risk of suicide of every new patient


Clinical Duties - Track 1

Collects and accurately documents patients’ vital signs in the EHR (i.e. height, weight, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximeter and pain level)

Reports abnormal findings to the Registered Nurse and/or Medical Provider

Prepares venipuncture forms

Prepares Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) forms as required and informs patient of any costs associated with lab draw

Prepares and completes lab orders/requisition

Ensures proper collection, labeling and processing of all specimens using a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers prior to drawing blood

Assists Medical Providers with medical procedures/testing by performing:


• Electrocardiogram (EKG’s), vision and hearing test, diabetic, foot/monofilament test, fall risk assessment (65 & over), waived testing, results documentation & log Maintenance (blood glucose, A1C, strep, urine dipstick, urinalysis, pregnancy, Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test (iFOBT), influenza A&B)

Reviews visit summary with patient upon discharge by provider

Ensures proper processing and specimens are securely enclosed for transport to lab

Clinical Duties - Track 2

Maintains infection control per policy and department procedures

Prepares rooms for clinical examination and patient procedures as directed

Ensures materials/supplies/equipment are fully stocked and available

Assists Medical Providers with procedures/testing and ensures proper documentation in medical record:


• Pap smear, colposcopy, biopsy, vaginal cultures, pelvic/breast exam, male exam, incision and drainage, throat cultures, nebulizer treatments and other procedures as indicated by the provider

Obtains and reviews medical records of all diagnostic/lab reports

Collects, transports, disinfects and prepares instruments for sterilization process in accordance with policy and procedure.

Performs high-level disinfection (HLD) and sterilization of instruments, as assigned and as per manufacturer's guidelines

Ensures the following are entered in patients’ EHR:


• Chief complaint, history of present illness, problem list, health reminders, patient history, social history, family history, medical/surgical history, and assesses for recent hospitalizations

Performs PHQ-9 Depression screening

Places orders per standing orders for the following:


• Laboratory testing, vaccines and/or injections, referrals and updates status of any open referrals, new medication and/or medication refills

Ensures proper ICD-10 coding/charges per diagnosis as per medical providers instructions

Enters Uniform Data System (UDS) & HEDIS measures.

Enters self-management goals and plan of care


Provides accurate and timely documentation within the same day of intervention and enters other information as requested by provider

Quality Assurance/Compliance

Ensures examination rooms are in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Joint Commission (JC) standards

Ensures proper documentation/logging and disposal of medication into the hazardous/black box


Receives training and undergoes competency assessments based on evidence-based guidelines and manufacturer's instructions for use

Safety/Cleanliness

Ensures cleanliness of clinic area and examination rooms

Reports any cleaning or safety observations to the Registered Nurse and/or Office Manager

Maintains agency guidelines relating to safety, outreach and confidentiality

Ensures proper hand washing according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines

Maintains and follows infection control standards and Universal Precautions as per policy and procedure

Provides feedback observations on risk management/safety assessments in work area to Registered Nurse and/or Office Manager

Understands and appropriately acts upon assigned role in Emergency Code System

Understands and performs assigned role in Agency Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)

Culture of Service: 3 C’s

Compassion

• Greets internal or external customers (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) with courtesy, making eye contact, responding with a proper tone and nonverbal language.

• Listens to the internal or external customer (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) attentively, reassuring and understanding of the request and providing appropriate options or resolutions.

Competency

• Provides services required by following established protocols and when needed, procure additional help to answer questions to ensure appropriate services are delivered

Commitment

• Takes initiative and anticipates internal or external customer needs by engaging them in the process and following up as needed

• Prioritize internal or external customer (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) requests to ensure the prompt and effective response is provided

Safety

Ensures proper handwashing according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Understands and appropriately acts upon the assigned role in Emergency Code System.

Understands and performs assigned roles in the organization’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

Contact Responsibility

The responsibility for internal external contacts (i.e. deal with people in a respectful, sensitive and professional manner) is frequent and important

Physical Requirements

This work requires the following physical and sensory activities: constant talking in person, talking on the phone, hearing/ visual acuity and exposure to blood borne pathogens and hazardous materials. Frequent, walking, standing, sitting and bending. Work is performed in office and laboratory setting.


Other

Participates in health center developmental activities as requested.

Other duties as assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer


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