Medical Assistant - Gastrointestinal Clinic - Stoneham, MA

Medical Assistant Position

Graduate of an accredited medical assistant program.

Under general supervision of licensed personnel, the Medical Assistant (MA) is responsible for continuous, efficient and smooth patient flow in the outpatient/ambulatory setting. The MA is the patient liaison through both clinical and administrative responsibilities. This position plays an important role in the hospital's revenue cycle process, clinical operations, and patient experience. The MA 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.

This combined position is designed for clinics where cross-trained MA's are required to perform both administrative and clinical duties on a regular basis to ensure operational efficiency.

Principal Duties and Essential Functions

Assists in Direct/Indirect Patient Care

• Exercises a high degree of customer service in all interactions with patients, internal and external customers.
• Escorts patient to exam room and prepares patient for provider visit. This may include pediatric, adult, geriatric patients. Checks to ensure patient comfort, privacy, and safety.
• Determines fall risk according to policy and procedure for ambulatory clinics and implements appropriate measures to ensure patient's safety.
• Prepares exam room for each patient in accordance with needs of patient's visit.
• Controls and monitors patient flow to maximize efficient use of providers and exam rooms. 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.
• Performs and records vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height and weight).
• Records patient's stated level of pain.
• Reviews list of medications with patient
• Assists and/or chaperones providers/nursing with physical exams, treatments and procedures as necessary.
• Provides a safe, comfortable, and clean environment for patients and families. Uses proper techniques and procedures for hazardous waste disposal, universal precautions and for body mechanics. Maintains clinic rooms according to Infection Prevention's policy "Cleaning Schedule for Hospital Equipment in Ambulatory Clinics".
• 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.
• Notifies provider of patient requests for referrals and prescription renewals.
• Specimen collection: where appropriate, and as governed by clinic protocols, performs collection of specimens and/or ensures the necessary supplies and equipment are ready for the provider to use during the visit.
• Performs Point of Care Testing (POC) as ordered including Urine dips, HCG testing, Strep A, HGB A1C, and glucose testing. Performs daily/monthly quality assurance for POC as outlined in hospital policy and procedures. Maintains yearly competency per hospital policy.
• Assists provider, patient and patient's family with admitting patient into the hospital. Makes out clothing list and facilitates smooth transition to inpatient unit.
• Monitors supply inventory for clinic and orders supplies as needed. Maintains equipment.
• Stocks, maintains and rotates supplies in clinic rooms daily according to clinic demands. Monitors expiration dates.
• May be required to perform phlebotomy. Participation in the Tufts Medical Center Phlebotomy class required. Completion and passing of national phlebotomy certification exam strongly advised.
• Participates in unit specific quality improvement projects i.e. hand washing audits, time-outs, refrigerator/medication logs, daily/monthly code cart checks.
• Active participant in unit meetings.

Administrative Support

• Greats and checks-in patients; verifies patient demographics and insurance information
• Assesses need for interpreter services, schedules and utilizes accordingly.
• Takes an active role in monitoring patient flow and communicating delays to patients and providers
• Answers telephone calls. Takes accurate and timely messages and documents in patient's electronic medical record. Forwards messages appropriately.
• Schedules patient appointments, including follow-up appointments, internal and external testing and labs, surgical booking and coordination.
• Assists with scheduling template creation and changes.
• Assists with revenue cycle clearance, including registration accuracy, referral management and insurance verification.
• Collects co-payments according to policy and procedure
• Assists with billing charge entry and reconciliation
• Processes and tracks referrals and prior authorizations as requested/ordered by provider.
• Provides general clerical support for team of providers as needed. Includes faxing, filing, mailing correspondence, copying, ordering supplies, calendar management and mail distribution.
• Ensures outside paperwork is scanned into patient's electronic medical record.

Job Requirements

A. Job Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to participate in, and complete, the Medical Assistance's Competency Based Orientation Program.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail required. Ability to prioritize work and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to work independently and accurately with excellent follow-through.
• Computer literacy required including familiarity with MS Office, E-mail and automated scheduling software and the ability to navigate through hospital-based computer systems. Experience with electronic medical records systems (ECW) preferred.
• Ability to read, write and spell in English to ensure accurate message taking and data entry.
• Knowledge of business math, ability to make calculations and analytical skills required.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to use universal precautions.
• Knowledge of patient handling required.
• Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential patient information according to HIPPA.
• Bilingual skills preferred.

B. Education:

• Level of knowledge generally obtained through a High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Specialized certificate demonstrating knowledge and ability obtained through the completion of an accredited Medical Assistant Training program by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

C. Experience:

• One to two years of medical assistant experience, preferred

D: Licenses, certifications, etc.:

• CPR, Health Care Provider, required.
• Phlebotomy Certification, preferred

Age Specific Competencies

Possesses and applies the 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

Provide age specific communication

Working Conditions/Physical Demands

• Works in an outpatient/ambulatory clinic setting.
• Work requires frequent standing and walking 80% of the workday.
• Some lifting, pushing or pulling required.
• Occasional stress and pressure caused by multiple simultaneous demands.
• Exposed to various body fluids along with exposure to infectious disease and sharps.
• Occasional requests to change work areas to cover another priority area to meet patient needs.
• Frequent contact with patients, families, visitors, nurses and other department staff.