Medical Assistant - Outpatient Psychiatry

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on providing medical and clinical support services to patients. In addition, this role focuses performing the following duties: Prepares patient rooms, escorts patients to rooms, takes vitals and documents patient information; assists physicians with procedures and educates patients on specimen collection. Performs clerical or administrative duties in support of clinical operations. A clinical technologist role that has specialized knowledge or skills gained through a combination of vocational education, training, and experience. This role will be most commonly applied to patient care and/or scientific/laboratory jobs. An experienced level role requiring basic knowledge of job procedures and tools obtained through work experience and requiring vocational or technical education.  Works under moderate supervision, works through problems of a routine nature, but may at times require interpretation or deviation from standard procedures and communicates information that requires some explanation or interpretation.

Job Overview 

Under general supervision of licensed personnel, this position is responsible for continuous, efficient and smooth patient flow in the outpatient/ambulatory setting.  The position is a patient liaison through both clinical and administrative responsibilities.  Plays an important role in the revenue cycle process, clinical operations, and patient experience. Responds to hourly variations in patient volume, clinician and room availability to continually maximize efficient use of space and resources in the clinic; identifies and provides necessary clinical and administrative preparation pertaining to patient care according to protocols; assists with patient care as warranted and within their scope of practice.  May administer immunizations per clinic needs.   

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or equivalent.

2. Obtain Medical Assistant National Certification Attestation issued by a governing body (AAMA, AMCA, AMT, NCCT, or NHA).

3. Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification OR Obtain within three (3) months.

4. 0 – Less than Two (2) years of Medical Assistant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Two (2) years of Medical Assistant experience.

2. Bilingual.

3. Experience with electronic medical record systems.

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

1. Controls and monitors patient flow to maximize efficient use of providers and exam rooms. Communicates delays to patients and providers. Responds to variations in patient volume, provider ability, and resources (e.g. early arrivals, no shows, providers who are absent, etc.) by making continual adjustments in room utilization and assignment.  

2. Prepares medical record for patient visit, confirming accuracy with patient identifiers, entering chief complaint and social history. This may require interviewing the patient to obtain data. 

3. Exercises a high degree of customer service in all interactions with patients, internal and external customers.

4. Provides a safe, comfortable, and clean environment for patients and families. 

5. Escorts patient to exam room and prepares patient for provider visit.  This may include pediatric, adult, or geriatric patients.  Checks to ensure patient comfort, privacy, and safety.  

6. Ensures patient and personal safety.  Completes a fall risk assessment.  May sit with a patient who needs monitoring.   

7. Prepares exam room for each patient in accordance with needs of patient’s visit.  

8. Assists and/or chaperones providers/nursing with physical exams, treatments and procedures as necessary.   

9. Performs and records vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation, height and weight), records patient’s stated level of pain, and reviews list of medications with patient.  

10. Performs collection of specimens and/or ensures the necessary supplies and equipment are ready for the provider to use during the visit. 

11. Performs Point of Care Testing (POC) as ordered including but not limited to Urine dips, HCG testing, Strep A, HGB A1C, and glucose testing.

12. Performs quality control checks on equipment.

13. Assists in arranging for diagnostic testing and surgical procedures under direction of the nurse or physician.    

14. Assists with patient billing by ensuring CPT codes, diagnosis codes and all supplies and procedures are indicated on charting. 

15. Ensures outside paperwork is scanned into patient’s electronic medical record.

16. Processes and tracks referrals and prior authorizations as requested/ordered by provider. Notifies provider of patient requests for referrals and prescription renewals. 

17. Stocks, maintains and rotates medical supplies in clinic rooms daily according to clinic demands.  Monitors expiration dates. Monitors medical supply inventory for clinic and orders medical supplies as needed. 

18. Participates in unit specific quality improvement projects i.e. hand washing audits, time-outs, refrigerator/medication logs, daily/monthly code cart checks. 

19. Provides administrative support which may include coordinating interpreter services, answering telephone calls, taking accurate messages, forwarding messages, and faxing. 

20. May administer immunizations as needed.

21. May be asked to cover satellite locations.

Physical Requirements:

1. Occasional lifting of 30-35 pounds and turning of patients.

2. Prolonged standing and walking.

3. Occasional twisting, bending, reaching, pushing/pulling, sitting, kneeling, and squatting.

4. Exposure to infectious disease and possible carcinogenic chemicals.

5. Exposure of blood-borne pathogens.

6. Requires fine manual dexterity to lift and maneuver patients.

7. Requires visual and aural acuity necessary to monitor patient care.

Skills & Abilities: 

1. Demonstrates organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to prioritize work and complete tasks in a timely manner. 

2. Works independently and accurately with excellent follow-through. 

3. Basic to moderate computer skills including documents, spreadsheets, e-mail and automated scheduling software and the ability to navigate through electronic medical record systems. 

4. Ability to read, write and spell in English to ensure accurate message taking and documentation. 

5. Good interpersonal skills.  

6. Knowledge and ability to use universal precautions and knowledge of patient handling. 

7. Knowledge of EPIC.

8. Skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to patients throughout the life span, with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process. This includes: Knowledge of growth and development; Ability to interpret age specific data and response to care; and Provide age specific communication. 

9. Maintains sensitive and confidential patient information according to HIPAA. 

10. Capability to make decisions to ensure patient safety and promote quality patient care.

At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.

The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.

Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.

Pay Range:

$23.00 - $26.91

based on full-time equivalent