Description

SUMMARY

This position combines administrative front desk abilities and medical assistant responsibilities.

Schedules appointments, checks patients in and out, gives information to callers, and otherwise relieves officials of clerical work and administrative and fiscal detail by performing the following duties.

The medical assistant performs a variety of clinical support functions to facilitate the smooth flow of operations. As an integral member of the patient care team, has a special role in working closely with the providers in their relationship with the patient. Provides a variety of clinical skills appropriate to the age of the patients served. Works closely with medical providers and other departments to ensure that the goals of the HealthCenter mission are accomplished.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Administrative:

Answers telephone calls to schedule appointments and gives information to callers or routes call to appropriate official and places outgoing calls.
Provides check-out for Pediatric patients, schedules follow-up appointments, and assists with referral appointments when needed.
Greets visitors, ascertains nature of business, and conducts visitors to employer or appropriate person.
Distributes appropriate medical forms to clients for documentation.
Composes and types routine correspondence.
Attends department staff meetings, Health Center staff meetings and any required trainings related to job performance.
Perform other job duties as assigned.

C linical Support: provides routine patient care services

Interviews patients to obtain information concerning medical history or other pertinent information.
Complete relevant reports and client records, documenting all information in accordance with established requirements.
Assists in the maintenance of standard inventory systems.
Assists in the maintenance of comprehensive community resource file and adequate supplies of client education material.
Attends all assigned orientation training, in-service education and staff meetings.
Aid other clinic staff on any tasks necessary to clinic functioning, actions, telephone encounters.
Consults with provider other specialists concerning treatment plan and amends plan as directed.
Performs non-direct patient care activities such as performing supply inventory and stocks medical supplies in exam rooms. Performs inventory of paper supplies and patient forms.
Translates for providers according to translator standards.
Assists in keeping nursing station and clinic neat and clean, and other duties as assigned.
Maintains infection control practice at all times, especially with patients requiring isolation/reverse precautions. Maintains universal precautions in handling blood/body fluids. Maintains TB precautions according to clinic policy.

Other Responsibilities include but not limited to:

1. Making sure that all laboratory data is received and all results are entered in the laboratory logbook. Medical Assistant is responsible for giving the RN and/or Providers all abnormal laboratory results.

2. Maintains and organizes Laboratory areas, in charge of laboratory logs include: HCG, UA, HGB, UA control, monthly UA controls and Refrigerator logs.

3. Phlebotomy skills

Other duties may be assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications: Provides the knowledge, skill and/or ability required to successfully complete the essential duties and responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education: Graduate of an approved medical assisting program required. Completion of training in reproductive health counseling and laboratory procedures, including phlebotomy preferred.

Language Skills: Bilingual/Bicultural preferred.

Experience: At least one year in an ambulatory or outpatient setting is desirable; weekends and evenings required

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations: Recent Medical Assisting and CPR certification required, Phlebotomy

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee's physical effort may require the ability to stand, walk frequently, use hands, reach with arms or hands, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee may be asked to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds

Work Environment: The physical environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate. The duties of this job may subject the employee to exposure to occupational risks such as contagious disease or potential contamination with infected bodily fluids. Universal precautions and techniques are included in the orientation program and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.

Other Responsibilities include but not limited to:

2. Maintains and calls for all Referrals needed for patients and ensures that patients follow up with their appointments, maintains referral log book and informs RN and/or Providers of any occurrences out of the ordinary.

3. Maintains and organizes Laboratory areas, in charge of laboratory logs include: HCG, UA, HGB, UA control, monthly UA controls and Refrigerator logs.

4. Maintains all supplies including ordering medications, supply and makes sure all stock is available.

5. Works closely with Nurse Practitioner during the clinical hours, assures flow of patient care.

Other duties may be assigned

Education: Graduate of an approved medical assisting program required. Completion of training in reproductive health counseling and laboratory procedures, including phlebotomy preferred.

Language Skills: Bilingual/Bicultural strongly preferred.

Experience: At least one year in an ambulatory or outpatient setting is desirable.

Reasoning Ability:

Must be able to deal sensitively with staff and patients of diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.

Judgment:

Performs assessment and procedures using sound clinical judgment and effective decision-making. Evaluates and modifies patient's plan of care in response to their changing needs. Assesses patient's ability to learn an appropriate teaching plan. Understands and helps to translate patient rights and rights around confidential services for minors. Encourages the patient to be actively involved in family planning decision-making and HIV/STI prevention, in support of the nursing philosophy and concept of self-care.

Intervenes, interviews, assesses, and triages, patients under the guidance of a nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician in order to determine urgency of problems and concerns. Is aware of and utilizes accepted clinical telephone concepts and practices. Communicates pertinent information to medical providers, clinic nurses, and support staff. Facilitates appropriate, professional and calm manner.

Identifies any potential risks to patients or visitor or staff. Maintains patient and family dignity and confidentiality at all times.

Independent Action:

Independently performs the essential duties and skills noted above under the supervision of the clinic manager, nurse practitioner, and physician. Is aware of and utilizes resources in the clinic, health center organization, and community to assist in the care and support of clinic patients.

Accountability:

Maintains accountability for her/his own safe and consistent clinical practice. Delivers care in an ethically, as well as fiscally responsible manner. Maintains patient confidentiality at all times. Implements the philosophy and mission statement of the nursing department and the organization. Participates constructively in the annual evaluation of the annual job performance.

Interrelationships:

Serves as an active participant with other members of the health care team. Effectively and openly communicates with the multi-disciplinary team, other health care professionals and agencies. Participates in open communication with the department manager. Maintains a collaborative work relationship with peers. Resolves conflicts between oneself and co-workers. Gives and receives feedback.

Professional Behavior and Development:

Attends and actively participates in staff meetings. Reads staff meeting minutes. Assists in orienting new staff members and teaching medical assistant students. Remains flexible in meeting the changing needs of the department or clinic. Recognizes own stresses, which effect behavior and assumes responsibility to modify or eliminate them. Assumes responsibility for continuing education and advanced schooling. Participates in open communication with the clinic manager. Promotes a cohesive work environment by looking beyond individual assignments to the needs of the department and health center as a whole. Remains flexible with meeting the changing needs and expectations of the department. Recognizes own stress, which effects behavior and assumes responsibility to modify or eliminate such stress.

Manual and Visual Skills:

Accurately performs the various psychomotor skills required for a family planning counselor, such as assisting clinical providers with collection of laboratory samples, patient education, appropriate chart documentation, and other skills.

Physical Environment:

The physical environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the environment is usually moderate.

Physical Effort:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee's physical effort may require the ability to stand, walk frequently, use hands, reach with arms or hands, climb, or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee may be asked to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Occupational Risks:

The duties of this job may subject the employee to exposure to occupational risks such as contagious disease or potential contamination with infected bodily fluids. Universal precautions and techniques are included in the orientation program and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.

Character of Supervision:

The medical assistant is provided supervision of all nursing activities delegated to her or him by a qualified licensed nurse. The degree of supervision required shall be determined by the nurse after an evaluation of appropriate factors involved, such as the stability of the patient/client; the training and capability of the medical assistant to whom the nursing task is delegated, and the nature of the nursing task being delegated. Technical, clinical, consultative, and administrative support is provided.

Scope of Vision:

This job has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

CERTIFICATES

Recent Medical Assisting Certificate or equivalent is preferred

Current CPR certification