Medical Assistant

Brief Description

Summary

Under the direction of a Registered or Licensed Practical Nurse, the Medical Assistant provides direct patient care and assists other healthcare professionals in examining and treating patients. The Medical Assistant is clinically knowledgeable about practices, protocols, and procedures, and paper flow. The Medical Assistant works collaboratively with other disciplines to ensure an integrated approach to patient care and maintains constant communication among the members of the health care team.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct and non-direct patient care based on practical and on-the-job training.
• Greets and escorts patients to assigned room or area.
• Measures vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, oxygen saturation, height and weight and records information on patient chart.
• Prepares the patient for exam.
• Communicates with patients, visitors, and co-workers in a professional and courteous manner.
• Communicates to nursing staff when unable to complete requested task or procedure.
• Assists with selected procedures, such as pap smears, ear irrigation, vision/hearing tests, simple dressing change, 12-lead EKG; specimen collection, including simple wave testing; and CPR. Helps patients resolve simple issues if necessary, and other duties as assigned.
• 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.
• Takes accurate and complete telephone messages for providers and answers calls according to telephone protocols.
• Translates for providers according to translator standards.
• Performs refrigerator temperature with daily checklist.
• Cleans toys with soap and water on a weekly basis.
• Inputs immunization date into the DPH computer daily, as assigned.
• Assists in retrieving medical records if needed.
• 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.

Judgement:

• Uses judgement and common sense to the extent of his/her generic and continuing education experience.
• Prioritizes tasks according to patient and clinic immediate needs.
• Communicates any observed changes in patient’s condition or any abnormal vital signs or appearance or history to the appropriate nurse or provider.
• Identifies any potential risks to patients or visitor or staff.
• Maintains patient and family dignity and confidentiality at all times.

Independent Action and Accountability:

• Works under the direction and supervision of the medical provider, registered or licensed nurse.
• Understands the concept and practice of delegation.
• Remains responsible for the performance of the assigned or delegated activity; carries out those actions or duties which do not require nursing assessment, interpretation, major decision-making and/or judgement during implementation.
• Communicates to the nurse or medical provider if that assigned activity cannot be carried out or accomplished or is beyond the realm of the Medical Assistant’s knowledge base or experience.

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 nurse 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.
• 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.

Manual and Visual Skills:

• Accurately performs the various psychomotor skills such as measurement of vital signs, EKG placement and operation, collection of laboratory samples, crutch measurement, teaching, and escorting patients to exam rooms and assisting patients in and out of wheelchairs, and other skills.

Qualifications

• Current Medical Assistant certificate of completion or valid certified licensure or On the job trained with Validated competencies
• Current BLS/CPR Certificate
• 1+ years’ experience in an ambulatory or outpatient setting is desirable

Physical Requirements

• Frequent standing and walking for up to 80% of the work day or shift.
• Some lifting, pushing or pulling required up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to see and distinguish color.
• Ability to perform CPR (chest compressions).

Work Environment

Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses and other department staff. Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs. Occasional stress and pressure caused by multiple simultaneous demands. May be exposed to various body fluids and/or infectious diseases. Universal precautions and techniques are included in orientation and the availability of protective wear is supported and encouraged when the employee is at risk for exposure.