Certified Medical Assistant

SUMMARY:  The Medical Assistant is responsible for assisting in the coordination of healthcare and patient care management by performing nursing functions as approved by Medical Assistant Certification. The Medical Assistant is a part of a team-based approach to deliver care in a planned, efficient and organized manner to include reviewing patient goals for the visit, making referrals to ancillary staff, and providing information about resources and programs available in their community.  The Medical Assistant expected to work with the Medical and Laboratory Directors to improve the quality and efficiency of nursing and lab services; the Medical Assistant will receive supervision from the physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants.

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

• Gives direct nursing care to assigned patients in conformance with nursing techniques and procedures as stated in Policy and Procedure Manual;
• Carries out patient’s plan of care within health center policy, procedures, and legal limitations;
• Carries out proper procedure for basic life support, fire, disaster, and infection control;
• Actively participates in cost containment by conserving supplies and equipment and initiating patient charges;
• Attends required meetings and participates in in-services and continuing education programs to keep current of trends in nursing care;
• Participates in monitoring and evaluating the quality of nursing care provided;
• Implements the outlined plan of care, consistently, effectively to maintain the patient at the highest achievable level of health;
• Works in collaboration with patients’ providers to share information relevant to the patient’s changing plan of care, questions, and seeks clarification of unclear providers orders;
• Adheres to and enforces health center and nursing policies and procedures relating to the safety of patients and employees;
• Recognizes life-threatening situations and responds appropriately;
• Adheres to the delegated criteria of Laboratory, X-ray and Medical Acts policy and procedures;
• Participates in performance and training of OSHA Infection Control and Safety and adheres to the policies and procedures;
• Performs other necessary duties as required to meet the goal of providing primary health care services.
• Performs proficiency testing on laboratory equipment as required by the Medical and Lab Directors;
• Works with patients and clinic healthcare team regarding test availability, collection of specimens, cost effectiveness of tests, etc.;
• Performs quality control procedures on all laboratory equipment in accordance with OSHA, CLIA, CQI and other applicable standards;
• Maintains adequate inventory of laboratory supplies and ensuring that all supplies are viable before use in patient testing;
• Follow proper procedure for providers to receive test results both normal and abnormal;
• Participates in performance of OSHA Infection Control and Safety and adheres to the policies and procedures.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Completion of an approved program of training for Medical Assistants.  Experience in public health and / or outpatient services.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate with patients and family members of various educational, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to apply concepts of basic mathematics and algebra.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to participate in problem solving and implement appropriate steps for problem resolution under the providers supervision.   Ability to carry out a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.  Ability to exercise sound judgement.

COMPETENCY/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

Competency required in the areas of communication, excellent verbal and written skills, and ability to perform duties per age specific nursing / lab protocols. Knowledgeable of Medicare and regulatory and credentialing criteria and standards.  Knowledge of safety standards, spread of organisms, and the adult learning process.  CPR certified.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Registered and/or Certified Medical Assistance

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to operate basic office/medical equipment.  Ability to assess and visually present data.  Ability to deal effectively with stress and to work under pressure.  Word processing and general computer skills. Must be able to perform phlebotomy. 

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical/mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, balance on two feet, stoop, kneel, crouch, or reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move patients of varying weight.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental demands include the ability to learn, adapt to changes, and become proficient quickly, pay close attention to details, courteous and professional behavior, ability to work effectively in stressful working conditions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work 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 work environment is usually moderate.