Medical Assistant – Adult Infusion Services

Number of Openings: 2

Employment Duration: 3 months (w/ potential for extension)

Department: Adult Infusion Center

This position offers the opportunity to work in the clinic and infusion areas within a thriving community cancer practice.

Under supervision of the Administrative Nurse, guided by policies and procedures of Ambulatory Services, and in collaboration with the Clinical Nursing Staff, the Medical Assistant assists in the delivery of care to patients in multiple Cancer Center ambulatory group practices. This position supports Cancer Services, Ambulatory Services, and the Infusion Unit.

Work includes a variety of personal care and nursing procedures, including assuring positive care outcomes. The Medical Assistant performs assigned patient care and laboratory procedures in support of specialty care services provided to patients within the practices and is required to learn and assist in all Cancer Center specialty practices. This position requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Key Responsibilities:

• Validate and document patient-reported information.
• Obtain, report, and document vital signs, height, weight, pain screening, and chief complaints.
• Follow established safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Document use of interpreters as appropriate and work with interpreting services to facilitate participation in medical appointments in person, by video, or by phone.
• Assist with medication reconciliation by helping patients update their medication lists.
• Assist nurses, providers, and patients in preparation for exams and procedures.
• Perform sterile processing procedures in the outpatient clinic, such as Cidex OPA, and maintain appropriate logs.
• Assist with complex medical procedures such as laser procedures, TRUS, colposcopy, anoscopy, and IRC after successful completion of appropriate competencies.
• Act as a chaperone as needed for medical providers.
• Float throughout Cancer Center Adult Infusion Services.
• Transport patients as directed and ensure their safety.
• Monitor patient flow in and out of the clinic.
• Obtain specimens and perform simple Point of Care Testing as directed, including QA/QC, EKGs, and AccuChek.
• Obtain specimens and perform simple laboratory procedures in accordance with policies and procedures for specimen handling and processing.
• Participate in updating mandatory logs, including temperature, disaster cabinet, and crash cart logs.
• Offer patients juice, blankets, and other care items during visits and order patient care amenities as inventory gets low.
• Assist clinical staff in warming towels and blankets as necessary.
• Complete referrals to other providers as ordered by the physician.
• Obtain authorizations from insurers for medications.
• Perform clinical activities accurately and in a timely manner.
• Assist physician staff in writing and sending patient communications.
• Comply with Ambulatory Services and Medical Center policies and procedures for infection control, safety, administrative practice, and clinical practice, including activities mandated by JCAHO/Title 22.
• Complete annual competency testing.
• Ensure medication cabinets remain locked at all times.
• Collaborate with members of the practice team to coordinate patient care.
• Demonstrate courtesy, common sense, and follow-through in telephone communications while maintaining Medical Center Telephone Standards.
• Uphold Medical Center House Standards to ensure a professional and helpful working environment.
• Notify providers of patient delays and service issues and advocate for patients to help facilitate provider punctuality.
• Communicate provider delays to the front office team and make regular announcements to the waiting room as needed when delays exceed 30 minutes.
• Share pertinent information and observations with other health team members.
• Identify and communicate problems to nursing staff or the appropriate supervisor.
• Offer suggestions for improvements in clinic and practice operations.
• Work with supervisors and colleagues to respond to patient care needs through improved procedures and administrative systems.
• Assist patients with issues and complaints using conflict management skills.
• Coordinate care and resolve patient care issues using Mercury Messaging phones.
• Utilize the Electronic Health Record (APEX) within the Hospital Assistant scope of practice, including documenting vital signs, height, weight, pain scale, chief complaint, history, patient-reported medications and allergies, and Point of Care Test results.
• Order and sign POCT with signed protocol.
• Enter and pend scripted orders from providers.
• Open Medication Refill Encounters, telephone encounters, and staff messages.
• Schedule laboratory, radiology, and other testing with a written order from a provider.
• Maintain clean, well-stocked exam rooms, hub rooms, and laboratory areas, including ordering and maintaining supplies and maintaining lab equipment.
• Review laboratory result logs and print results for providers as requested.
• Obtain insurance authorizations for medications, procedures, and film or slide reviews.
• Maintain biohazard and chemotherapy waste bins to ensure removal from the Infusion Center daily and/or when bins are full.
• Schedule complex procedures and coordinate services for patients.
• Assign Hospital Assistant lunches and ensure clinic coverage.
• Maintain supply standards as directed by nursing staff or the appropriate supervisor.
• Follow infection control procedures and Ambulatory Services policies for cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing equipment.
• Participate in quality improvement and customer service initiatives, including wait-time studies and procedure outcome data collection.
• Demonstrate service excellence in accordance with UCSF Medical Center standards and expectations for communication and behavior.
• Maintain privacy, confidentiality, and security of Protected Health Information and other sensitive information.
• Maintain neat, orderly, and clutter-free work areas and report unsafe conditions or broken equipment.
• Protect the physical environment and equipment from damage and theft.
• Perform other duties related to patient care activities as required.