Location: Sierra Care Physicians
Position: Patient Care Coordinator -Medical Assistant (MA)
SUPERVISION RECEIVED FROM: Under medical provider, RN, or LVN direction.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE: Medical assistants are unlicensed and may only perform basic administrative, clerical, and technical supportive services as permitted by law. An unlicensed person may not diagnose, treat, or perform any task that is invasive or requires assessment. The responsibility for the appropriate use of unlicensed persons in health care delivery rests with the physician.
TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time. Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 pounds. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range. Requires the ability to communicate clearly with staff and patients. Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours. Requires exposure to communicable diseases and body fluids.
TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, toxic substances, ionizing radiation, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinic environment.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Under medical provider, RN, or LVN direction, and operating within the scope of practice as a patient care coordinator, provides nursing care for clinic patients following established standards and practices. This includes routine office procedures, testing, and miscellaneous duties indirectly involved in patient care.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: (This list may not include all of the duties assigned.)
1. Provides direct patient care; collect and record accurate patient data; height, weight, temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and chief complaint. Prepares patient for exam or procedure and provides appropriate assistance and resources.
2. Assists provider during procedures, which may include administering treatments, such as irrigation, dressing changes, and specimen collection. Uses knowledge of and practices. sterile technique and universal precautions. Ensures specimens are labeled correctly and are delivered within appropriate time for testing.
3. Ensures accurate medication is administered in the correct form and dosage via immunizations, injections and other oral medications to limits of certification and/or utilizes resources available for medication administration. All immunizations, injections and other oral medications must be verified and signed off by licensed staff.
4. Documents all pertinent information in patient's chart, including information and instructions given to patient or date related to test results, procedures, and medications under physicians' orders.
5. Gives information as authorized by the provider. Answers patient questions that are not related to care.
6. Coordinates patient flow within the clinic and troubleshoots problems, including ensuring emergent patients are able to see provider, and communicating pertinent information to provider. Maintains patient flow for the provider by rooming and taking vitals in a timely manner.
7. Responsible for alerting provider of any potential emergent problems and notifies care provider as necessary. Follows clinic procedures in case of emergency and is knowledgeable and able to perform CPR, and function effectively in a code situation. Performs miscellaneous duties to maintain quality care and efficient patient flow for the clinic. May include maintaining and caring for equipment, ordering and stocking supplies, answering patient calls and scheduling as needed for new, follow-up and consult appointments insuring appropriate forms, authorizations and consents are utilized.
8. Provides emotional support to patients and families that are experiencing difficulty and notifies provider of any special problems or concerns.
9. Assists care providers during procedures, which may include administering immunizations, injections, dressing changes and specimen collections. Uses knowledge of and practices sterile techniques and universal precautions during all procedures.
10. Demonstrates appropriate use of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques in dealing with patients, i.e. direct questions, silence and touch.
11. Uses appropriate tools to communicate with care providers and other staff, i.e. telephone, intercom, In/Out/Action boxes, and EMR computer system.
12. Maintains confidentiality as per HIPPA standards, of all patients, their family, health care providers, and other staff information. Only discusses patient information when pertinent to care and only with appropriate personnel.
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Has basic CPR certificate and recertifies CPR bi-annually. Aware of crash cart location and able to participate in a code CPR by providing basic life support the scope of practice. Aware of and practices infection control techniques in accordance with OSHA standards. Uses universal precautions, utilizes good safety precautions, and is able too implement fire evacuation plan.
Human Relations Skills: Patient relation skills, including ability to inform and instruct. Regular contact with physicians, support staff and other Clinics. Typical Problem Solving Solving problems related to patient flow, using knowledge to answer questions, which arise from patients and ensuring their needs are met. Impact of Error Must be thorough and accurate in all functions. Errors could directly affect patient's health. Substandard performance could affect the practice, patient satisfaction, and organization's reputation. If error occurs employee is responsible to inform provider immediately. Improper care could also result in malpractice lawsuits.
Resource Utilization: Use and knowledge of equipment and supplies with assigned clinic. Uses computer system to access information. Systems and Other Data: Responsible for performing simple and routine medical tasks and procedures under the supervision of a licensed physician in order to assist the provider in delivering quality health care.
PARTICIPATES IN THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY EVENTS: Orientation Injection Training CPR and emergency measures Safety (general, fire disaster and hazards) Training Infection Control Medical Assistants are not allowed to perform the following:
1. Placing the needle or starting and disconnecting the infusion tube of an IV.
2. Administering medications or injections into the IV line.
3. Charting the papillary responses.
4. Inserting a urine catheter.
5. Independently performing telephone triage.
6. Injecting lidocaine as a nerve block or administration of any anesthetic agent. 7. Interpret the results of skin tests, although an MA may measure and describe the test reaction and make a record in the patient's chart.
8. Telephone Triage not legally authorized to interpret data or diagnose symptoms.
QUALIFICATIONS: Graduate of approved MA program or equivalent experience with direct patient contact as an Office Assistant. Current MA Certificate and current CPR certification. Good communication skills, well groomed appearance, courteous, with a pleasant and professional manner. Ability to prioritize and follow through on a variety of situations as necessary.
Please note this position is posted on behalf of our partner practices. This individual will be working at the specific practice that is mentioned in the above details and will not be a direct employee of Aledade, Inc. so will therefore not be eligible for the benefits available to Aledade employees.