Medical Assistant

About the Role

The Medical Assistant performs clinical and administrative duties in an ambulatory care setting under the supervision of a physician/provider and/or a registered nurse. Duties may include venipuncture, medication and vaccine administration, measurement and documentation of vital signs, assisting providers with patient exams, and telephone and clerical support. This position may float to other sites/locations within the system.

Key Responsibilities

• Contributes to departmental goals, adheres to policies, procedures, quality, and safety standards. Complies with governmental regulations and accreditation standards.
• Assists providers with patient preparation for examinations, minor office procedures, and with patient examination and education. Supports the clinical care team to ensure optimal patient flow, managing variable patient volume. Provides clerical support and serves as backup for other team members as needed.
• Participates in daily team huddles to review and prepare for scheduled patient visits. Screens all patients for preventative care needs, ongoing support, barriers to care, safety concerns, and potential fall risk. Conducts surveillance for transitions of care, urgent/emergent care, or follow-up tasks.
• Conducts motivational interviews including patient screening and/or coaching on disease management, ability, motivation to change, learning care needs, and community outreach. Identifies potential behavioral health needs using appropriate screening tools and notifies the provider.
• Reports actual and potential problems concerning patients, families, and associates using established reporting protocols. Participates in performance improvement initiatives.
• Ensures ongoing compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and quality/safety standards by maintaining and auditing temperature logs, ensuring medication supplies are current/unexpired, checking and maintaining emergency equipment, and keeping the area free of clutter.
• Participates in population management activities, engaging patients in self-management support, care/health goal setting, pre-visit planning, and capturing information for healthcare improvement activities.
• Performs selected patient and laboratory testing, including Point of Care Testing, tuberculosis skin testing, electrocardiography, pulmonary function tests, and vision and hearing testing. Removes sutures/staples after provider examination and appropriate order. Documents these activities in the EMR.
• Documents clinically related activities accurately in the EMR. Performs required patient follow-up for pap smears, Pb levels, HIV, mammograms, and STDs. Collects and processes specimens, completes requisitions, and documents in logbooks or applicable forms.
• Provides escort for patients and assists with patient discharge activities. Provides chaperoning for patients per policy.
• Fulfills infection prevention and environmental responsibilities, including light cleaning and cleaning of equipment. Updates records of scheduled equipment maintenance and manages drug and medical supply inventories.
• Provides telephone screening services to gather patient information, determine appropriate disposition, and document per established protocols.
• Under onsite provider supervision, may insert intravenous catheters for physician-initiated IV fluid therapy or intravenous medication administration. Under direct onsite physician supervision, may insert, remove, and monitor urinary catheters, and prepare and administer oral drugs and injections (intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular). May perform phlebotomy.
• Utilizes the EMR to propose patient medication refills for provider approval. Completes requisitions for tests. Contacts insurance companies for pre-authorizations for patient medications and specialty referrals.
• Floats to other sites/locations within the system as appropriate and performs all duties at multiple sites.
• Attends scheduled meetings, including staff meetings and training classes for safety, infection control, OSHA, CLIA, BLS, and others as required.
• Demonstrates behavior consistent with MedStar Health mission, vision, goals, SPIRIT values, objectives, and patient care philosophy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• EMR (Electronic Medical Record)
• CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (includes BLS and NRP) for healthcare providers from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross
• Point of Care Testing
• Tuberculosis skin testing
• Electrocardiography
• Pulmonary function tests
• Vision and hearing testing
• Phlebotomy
• Intravenous catheter insertion
• Urinary catheter insertion/removal/monitoring
• Intradermal injections
• Subcutaneous injections
• Intramuscular injections
• Microsoft Office Suite (implied by "Basic computer skills")

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED or equivalent
• Completion of an accredited Medical Assistant program (preferred)
• Less than 1 year (6 months) experience working in an ambulatory care medical office or equivalent (required)
• Externship in a medical or ambulatory health setting (strongly preferred)
• Completed externship program at Medstar Health may be substituted for the 6 months experience (preferred)
• For Cardiology offices only: 6 months experience working in an ambulatory care medical office or equivalent, OR Bachelor's degree in exercise physiology/science or related major, OR successful completion of a cardiac technician course (preferred)
• Prior experience as a Medical Assistant (preferred)
• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) - AAMA within 1 Year (required) OR Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) - American Medical Technologists within 12 months of hire (required)
• CPR - Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (includes BLS and NRP) for healthcare providers from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross within 90 Days (required)
• Additional unit/specialty certifications may vary by department or business unit.
• Clinical competency as verified within 90-day orientation period and annually thereafter.
• Excellent customer service/patient interaction skills.
• Basic computer skills (preferred)