Medical Assistant

Position Summary/Scope of Responsibility

The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics LLC (CAO) is one of the nation’s largest Orthopaedics practices, owned and operated by physicians, with over 60 locations across Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the District of Columbia. With approximately 2,000 employees, working in 28 Divisions, CAO is a growing business with revenues of approximately $250 Million. CAO is committed to be the Orthopaedics provider of choice for our patients; partner of choice for payors and health systems; and employer of choice by attracting and retaining a talented workforce.

The Medical Assistant assists providers with efficient patient flow while maintaining high standards of care and performs a variety of general patient care activities. The Medical Assistant helps to ensure a positive patient experience while performing the analytical, technical and customer service skills necessary to support the care of the patient.

Primary Responsibilities

The incumbent may be asked to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically stated in this description. The duties and responsibilities of the position are to be carried out in a manner that is consistent with the Mission, Core Values and Operating Principles of CAO.

1. Represents CAO and the Practice in a professional and patient-focused manner, with an emphasis on service excellence.
2. Shows patients to examination rooms, procedure rooms or operative rooms and prepares them for the physician.
3. Records patients' medical history, medications, allergies, vital statistics, and information such as test results in medical records.
4. Record patients' medical history, medications, allergies, vital statistics, and information such as test results in medical records.
5. Ensure proper consent forms are obtained prior to preparing a patient for treatment.
6. Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician following safety protocol of right dose, right patient, right route, right drug and noting expiration date.
7. Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, wound care instructions and physicians' instructions to patients.
8. Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing such tasks as giving injections and removing sutures.
9. Under Provider direction, authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
10. Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
11. Keeps exam room supplies stocked, audits and discards expired medications, maintains instruments, and prepares sterilization as required.
12. Maintains all logs and required checks (e.g., refrigerator temperature, expired medications, autoclave, etc.).
13. Keeps equipment operating by following operating instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining supplies, performing preventive maintenance, and notifying manager when unable to resolve matters.
14. Adheres to all CAO and Practice professional standards, policies and procedures, and federal, state, and local requirements. These include but are not limited to safety, attendance, punctuality, personal appearance, and conduct.
15. Secures patient information and maintains patient confidence by completing and safeguarding medical records, completing diagnostic coding, and keeping patient information confidential.
16. Maintains an effective and collaborative working relationship with patients, medical staff, coworkers, and the public.
17. Assists providers with office procedures.
18. Takes telephone messages and provides feedback and answers to patient/physician/surgery center/pharmacy calls.
19. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education& Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Licensed/Certified Medical Assistant, LPN, CNA, or Athletic Trainer.
• CPR for Healthcare Providers certification preferred.
• Experience and proficiency working with computers and electronic medical records.
• One year of experience as a Medical Assistant in a busy physician’s office, or equivalent combination of certification and experience, preferred.
• Working knowledge of medical terminology and coding.

Competencies/Required Skills & Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills, including superior customer service skills and a high level of professionalism.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with excellent self-discipline and patience.
• Required to be proficient in Windows based office technologies (e.g., Word, Excel).
• Must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in the English language.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to sit for long periods of time and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to use appropriate body mechanics when making necessary transfers and helping patients with exercises.
• Requires frequent bending, reaching, repetitive hand movements, standing, walking, squatting, and sitting.
• Some heavy lifting, pushing, and pulling exerted regularly throughout a standard work shift.
• Adequate hearing to perform duties in person and over telephone.
• Requires hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity needed to operate a keyboard, medical equipment, fax machine, scanner, photocopier, and telephone.
• Must be able to communicate clearly to patients in person and over the telephone.
• Visual acuity adequate to perform job duties, including reading materials from printed sources and computer screens.
• Requires exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinical environment.
• Visual acuity adequate to perform job duties, including visual examination of patient, as well as reading materials from printed sources and computer screens.
• Requires potential exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinic environment.