Medical Assistant - Hancock Family Medicine

JOB SUMMARY: A nonexempt position responsible for performing a variety of duties depending on whether it is a small clinic, large medical practice, multi-clinic, or a specialty office. They are involved in the clinical care of patients within the clinic, supporting the physicians in every aspect of care, consistent with their credential or license.

JOB SPECIFIC CORE COMPETENCIES:

•  Collect and properly input patient PMH, PSH, Medications, and Allergies in EMR.
•  Clean exam/procedure rooms, instruments, and equipment between patient visits.
•  Check patient vital signs (BP, HR, O2, Temp.).
•  Prescription verifications with physician orders

PREREQUISITE SKILLS:    

• Demonstrated communication skills to effectively communicate with management, providers, and patients.
• Operational knowledge of telephones, fax machines, postage machines, and other office equipment.
• Demonstrated ability in handling patient confidentiality.
• Ability to work with peers in a team situation and create a positive work environment for team members.
• Demonstrate a functional and technical understanding of applicable scheduling and billing software, Intranet and Internet usage, Excel/Word software, E-mail Usage and Web-based applications.  Required to check e-mail daily and use as a source of internal and external communication.  Required to understand and utilize electronic medical record technology.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following list describes the essential duties of this role.  Individuals in this role may not perform these duties, or may perform additional, related duties not listed here.

• Fulfills patient care responsibilities as assigned that may include checking schedules and organizing patient flow; accompanying patients to exam/procedure room; assisting patients as needed with walking transfers, dressing, collecting specimens, preparing for exam, etc.; collecting patient history; performing screenings per provider guidelines; assisting physicians/nurses with various procedures; charting; relaying instructions to patients/families; answering calls, and providing pertinent information.
• Fulfills clerical responsibilities as assigned that may include advising business manager of the need to send medical records, receives medical records that have been requested; obtaining lab/X-ray reports, hospital notes, referral information, etc.; completing forms/requisitions as needed; scheduling appointments; verifying patient demographics; managing and updating charts to ensure that information is complete and filed appropriately.
• Fulfills environmental responsibilities as assigned that may include setting up instruments and equipment per department protocols; cleaning exam/procedure rooms, instruments, and equipment between patient visits to maintain infection control; cleaning sterilizer per scheduled maintenance program and keeping appropriate records; ordering, sorting, storing supplies except for vaccines; and restocking exam/procedure rooms.
• Fulfills organizational responsibilities as assigned including respecting/promoting patient rights; responding appropriately to emergency codes; sharing problems relating to patients and/or staff with immediate supervisor.
• Fulfills clinical medical assisting responsibilities that within scope of practice as described by nurse practice act, which may include medical/surgical asepsis, sterilization, instrument wrapping and autoclaving; checking vital signs ; physical examination preparations; clinical pharmacology; drug administration through various routes including injections; prescription verifications with physician’s orders; minor surgery assists including surgical tray set-up pre/post-surgical care, applying dressings, and suture removal; biohazard waste disposal and monitoring; therapeutic modalities; instructing patients with assistive devices, body mechanics, and home care; laboratory procedures including Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines; quality control methods; CLIA-waived testing; capillary punctures and venipuncture; specimen handling such as urine, throat, vaginal, stool, and sputum; electrocardiography including mounting, emergency triage, and first aid. Medical assistants must adhere to the MA scope of practice in the laboratory.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies

Demonstrates the following competencies:

•  Demonstrates professional/appropriate dress, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and effective written communication skills
•  Understands HIPAA guidelines and regulations, acknowledges patient rights
•  Stands as a patient advocate, with appropriate empathy, resolve and respect in communication and actions with patient and family.  Recognizes opportunity for improvement regarding patient concerns.
•  Demonstrates continual learning, utilizes evidence-based practice to affect change.
•  Cultivates effective partnerships and collaborations with providers
•  Understands IT resources
•  Appropriately delegates to ensure optimal operational workflow

Attitude/Customer Competencies

•  Caring, compassionate, and approachable in all customer contacts
•  Privacy – respects customers’ right to privacy and modesty
•  Confidentiality – maintains customers’ confidentiality
•  Telephone etiquette – speaks so that customers hear a smile
•  Appearance – takes personal ownership in appearance and that of work environment
•  Initiative – takes necessary steps to fix problems immediately
•  Providing Direction and Customer Acknowledgment – provides personalized attention by being courteous, friendly, and helpful when responding to customers’ needs
•  Timely service – recognizes that customers’ time is very valuable; provides them with prompt service
•  Customer information/education – provides customers with the best information needed to make informed choices

Relationship Competencies/Work Group Competencies

•  Demonstrates advocacy, respect and truth telling
•  Demonstrates accountability for own actions
•  Demonstrates ability to respectfully address interpersonal conflicts
•  Takes initiative to help others
•  Demonstrates a learning attitude toward solving problems
•  Demonstrates openness to change and new learning
•  Reports to work on time and has regular attendance
•  Adheres to practice defined dress code
•  Attends Staff meetings 

Ethical Decision-Making

• Respects the needs, expectations and rights of all individuals Advocates the rights of all to a safe environment
•  Uses sensitivity to cultural diversity to guide decision-making 

Performance Improvement

•  Identifies work processes and strives to reduce cost and increase satisfaction
•  Identifies customers and demonstrates understanding of customers’ expectations
•  Actively works to increase satisfaction of all
•  Monitors customers’ satisfaction
•  Takes active role in department process improvement efforts; demonstrates understanding of outcomes 
•  Demonstrates an understanding of responsibilities
•  Demonstrates diagnostic thinking/reasoning
•  Utilizes feedback from peers, supervisor, customers to drive performance and behaviors
•  Prioritizes workplace safety

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE:

• Certification to work in a clinical role providing direct patient care required. 
• LPN must possess active current Indiana licensure. Registered Nurse (RN) not required but possession of active current Indiana licensure. 
• BLS certification thru the American Heart Association (AHA) and TB certification thru the American Lung Association (ALA) preferred.

ADDITIONAL LICENSURE/CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:       

• High school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED).
• Medical Assistants must have graduated from a medical assisting program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) must have active license within the state of Indiana. Registered Nurse (RN) not required but active license within the state of Indiana.
• Other certifications as required by assigned area of work (i.e., ACLS, PALS).

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Three to five years of recent experience working in a medical practice as a certified medical assistant, LPN, or RN. Must be proficient in computer skills, including Microsoft Office (specifically Word and Excel), self-disciplined, energetic, and passionate.
• Should be highly organized and be well-developed in oral and written communication skills.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Mandatory Continuing Education: Customer Service, Fire and Safety, Corporate Compliance (including Confidentiality), Infection Control, and education required by regulatory, accreditation bodies, scope of practice, and/or Hancock Health.

Physical/Environmental Capabilities:

* Frequencies based on DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles) standard frequencies