Medical Assistant/Cardiology

Cardiology Department Medical Assistant

SouthCoast Health is looking for a full-time medical assistant for our cardiology department. Responsible for assisting providers with patient care, clerical, and organizational tasks. Responsible for patient flow, appointment scheduling, and chart management. Provides information to patients so they may fully utilize and benefit from the clinic services. Conveys a positive image of clinic.

Essential job responsibilities include:

• Creating a caring and healing environment that keeps the patient and family at the center of care throughout their experience at SouthCoast Health.
• Controlling the patient flow in the clinic for the providers. Coordinating with co-workers to ensure all necessary clinical services are provided on date of service. Emphasis placed on excellent patient satisfaction.
• Preparing patient charts for the appointment by reviewing and gathering all relevant information from a patient's medical record, including past medical history, current medications, lab results, imaging studies, and recent progress notes, to ensure the healthcare provider has a complete picture of the patient's health status before adding new information during an upcoming appointment or procedure and ensure that the chart is complete in Electronic Health Record (EHR) before closing.
• Preparing the patients for examinations and/or special procedures. Obtaining and recording vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, respirations, pain, and temperature). Interviewing patients to identify current medical needs and relevant patient history. Reconciles medications at every visit. Documents findings in medical records.
• Documenting patient care observation and activities according to professional standards and procedures.
• Performing clinical duties as assigned by Nurse or Provider. Assisting Provider with examination of patient, treatment, special tests, and procedures.
• Assisting patients in setting self-management goals that support healthy behaviors.
• Actively monitoring and maintaining information regarding patients who have been referred to other healthcare providers, ensuring timely follow-up to track their progress and treatment status.
• Generating report/list and proactively reminding patients/families of preventative services that are needed such as flu shot, wellness screenings, labs, etc.
• Updating the patient plans of care and documenting care coordination/interventions while integrating quality initiative measurements to demonstrate results and show quality improvement in patients care.
• Managing boxes in EHR of outstanding tasks, alerts, or pending actions related to patient care timely and accurately.
• Assisting with patient inquiries/concerns regarding medical care, medication instructions, and prescription call-ins in a prompt, courteous, and efficient manner.
• Performing EKGs as ordered by providers.
• Promoting wellness by providing patient education materials, communicating physicians' advice and instructions on how to self-manage care.

Requirements:

Education hired prior to September 1, 2008:

High school graduate or equivalent required. General medical knowledge and medical terminology acquired through formal education. Prefer graduate of an accredited training program with proper certification in medical terminology.

Education hired after September 1, 2008:

High school graduate or equivalent required.

1. Graduate of an accredited Medical Assisting training program or
2. Medical Assistant in the military (DD214), or
3. EMT-A or paramedic is required.

An exception may be granted to individuals that have not attended an accredited training program but do have (i) a national certification in medical assisting and (ii) a minimum of 2 years of medical assisting experience. Such exception may only occur following (i) a thorough evaluation of the individual's experience; training/education; skills and qualifications, (ii) a determination by the Director of Nursing that such individual has the requisite skills and knowledge to perform as a Medical Assistant and (iii) written approval from two Executive Committee members.

Experience hired prior to September 1, 2008:

If not a graduate of an accredited Medical Assisting training program, minimum of 1 year required in medical assistance experience in a Physician's office or other clinical facility required.

Experience hired after September 1, 2008:

One year working as a medical assistant with experience in a Physician's office or other clinical facility recommended but not required.

The employee must pass initial clinical skills competencies and initial and annual medication proficiency exam (with an 80% or better). Maintains current BLS/CPR certification.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of health care field.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.

Skills:

• Skill in performing assistance tasks appropriately.
• Skill in communication, tact, and customer service.
• Skill in use of computer.

Abilities:

• Ability to exercise professionalism in dealing with all levels of personnel, patients, and patients' families.
• Ability to communicate clearly.
• Ability to learn and retain information regarding patient care procedures.
• Ability to complete tasks as directed by provider and nursing staff.
• Ability to demonstrate compassion and caring in dealing with others.
• Ability to deal with many tasks at one time with flexibility.

Environment & Conditions:

• Primarily clinical setting.
• May be subject to infectious materials through the collection or handling of body fluids (i.e., blood, urine, sputum), caring for patients with highly infectious/contagious diseases.
• Initial Hepatitis B screening and initial and annual TB screening/testing is required.
• Occasional stress due to workload pressure.

Physical/Mental Demands:

• Requires standing and walking for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Frequently required to talk, hear, eye/hand coordination as well as keyboarding.
• Occasionally stooping, lifting, grasping, pushing/pulling and grip strength.

HIPAA:

This position should have full access to information in a patient's medical record, to provide quality patient care. Patient information is to be held strictly confidential. Patient information will not be used or disclosed for any purpose other than the performance of job responsibilities and duties. Access to a user's own medical record and/or family members medical records is strictly prohibited unless related to job responsibilities.

Americans With Disability Act Statement:

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job functions either unaided or with assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined on a case-by-case basis.