Medical Assistant

Overview

The Medical Assistant is an essential part of a health care team. He or She:a. Assists practitioner in providing patient careb. Interacts with patients, practitioners and other personnelc. Works in partnership with the medical team in patient care delivery d. Instrumental in facilitating patient flow in the practices for optional patient processing and patient satisfactione. Has the essential skills and knowledge to expedite the patient visit process thru registration, intake screening, provider visit and discharge.

Responsibilities

1. Describe responsibility:Establish and maintain positive relationships with patients, visitors, and other employees. Interacts professionally, courteously, and appropriately with patients, visitors and other employees. Behaves in a manner consistent with maintaining and furthering a positive public perception of MLK Health Center Clinics. This includes introducing self by name and title to all patients.

2. Describe responsibility:Contributes to and participates in the Performance/Quality Improvement activities of the assigned department. Contribution and participation may include data collection, analysis, implementation of and compliance with risk management and claims activities, support of and participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams, consistent adherence to the specific rules and regulations of MLK Health Center Clinics (a) Safety and Security Policies, (b) Risk Management: Incident and Occurrence Reporting, (c) Infection Control Policies and Procedures and (d) Patient and Customer Service, and (e) all Corporate Compliance policies and guidelines.

3. Describe responsibility:Prepares the patient for the provider visit including proper identification (according to the NPSG), intake screening of patient, pre-visit planning (if applicable), review of medical record to determine visit requirements such as HEIDS measures that are missing, laboratory and other testing documentation/results.

4. Describe responsibility:Manages the flow of patients for assigned providers and the clinic in general. Monitors the progress of providers and empty rooms. Identifies the next patient scheduled to go into the room based on clinic policy and retrieves that patient from the waiting area using current technology and systems. Introduces self and escorts patient to intake/screening area.

5. Describe responsibility:Patient preparation procedures:a. Cleans room prior to patient entry into roomb. Instructs patient to change into gown (as per providers’ preference and/or scheduled procedure)c. Utilizes two identifiers for patient identificationd. Completes intake questions and documents accordingly e. Sets up suture removal and supplies if necessary

6. Describe responsibility:Assists with patient examination, a. Chaperone as neededb. Assist practitioner in procedures c. Transferring onto and off the exam table

7. Describe responsibility:Assists or performs in the following procedures, when necessary:a. Performs suture removal and Steri-strips (only after training and skills verification) b. Perform minor dressing changesc. Removal of casts (After proper skills training and verification) d. Preparation of specimens for culturee. Application of cast bootsf. Application of braces and supportsg. Minor surgery procedures h. Observation of patient post procedure i. Performs phlebotomy

8. Describe ResponsibilityEscorts patients:a. Into roomb. Out of roomc. To radiologyd. To another department /unit according to the patient follow up or needs

9. Describe ResponsibilityInformation Technology needs:a. Working knowledge of all hospital information management programsb. Ability to navigate EMR, print patient documents including education information

10. Describe ResponsibilityWhen provider is completed with the encounter:a. Assures safe discharge from the clinicb. Interviews patient confirming proper understanding of all discharge instructionsc. Executes discharge instruction plan based on protocols developed by Bronxcare Outpatient Servicesd. Schedules patients’ appointments as orderede. Prepares exam room for next patient including – clean set-up (gown, equipment, etc.), cleaning of exam table (according to Infection Control Guidelines), changing of paper on table, discarding regular, sharps, and medical waste, wiping all counters with approved solutions, and removal of any/all previous patient’s items.

11. Describe ResponsibilityMessages and Phone:a. Follows proper telephone etiquette when answering telephone ensuring courtesy responses and positive communications.b. Answer any telephone that is ringing and unanswered in the clinical area

12. Describe ResponsibilityTraining:a. Participates and completes successfully all training programs assigned by direct supervisor or providersb. Remain current on all policies and procedures related to the department, the hospital and regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission and the Department of Health.

13. Describe ResponsibilityProfessionalism:a. Maintains professional appearance at all times; adheres to MLK Health Center dress code, cell phone use, and professional behaviors. b. Is courtesy, respectful and positive in conversations and interactions.

14. Describe ResponsibilityStandards of Practice:a. Adheres to all BronxCare Health System policies and procedures and Standards of Practiceb. Remains current on all policies and procedures related to the department, the hospital and regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission and the Department of Health.

Qualifications

- Graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant program.

- Certification by the NYS as a Medical Assistant 

- Current BLS certification

- High School or GED

- Graduate of an Accredited Medical Assistant Program 

- Knowledge of EMR systems/programs

- Microsoft Office Suite