Medical Assistant – Cancer Services

Employment Duration: 4 months (w/ potential for extension)

Department: Cancer Shared Services

Under supervision of a clinical leader, guided by policies and procedures of the Ambulatory Services, and in collaboration with clinic leaders, the Hospital Assistant III assists in the delivery of care to patients in multiple Cancer Center ambulatory group practices. This position supports the various cost centers within the Cancer Center, multiple campuses, and satellite offices. Job duties include a variety of patient-focused tasks, with both clinical and administrative work to be performed. The team member will execute assigned patient care and laboratory procedures and administrative tasks in support of the specialty care services provided to patients within the practices. They are required to learn and be able to assist in all Cancer Center specialty practices.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Support

• Validates and documents patient-reported information.
• Performs routine clinical functions and documents in the patient chart, including, but not limited to, fall risk assessment, vital signs, height, weight, pain screening, and documentation of chief complaints.
• Follows established safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Documents use of an interpreter as appropriate and works with interpreting services to facilitate interpreter participation for medical appointments in person, by video, or by phone.
• Assists with medication reconciliation by helping patients update their medication lists.
• Assists nurses, providers, and patients in preparation for exams and/or procedures.
• Performs sterile processing procedures in the outpatient clinic, such as Cidex OPA, and maintains all appropriate logs.
• Assists with complex medical procedures such as colonoscopy, biopsies, and ultrasounds.
• Successfully completes all appropriate competencies to ensure appropriate training and skills to assist with and set up for procedures.
• Acts as a chaperone as needed for medical providers.
• Transports patients as directed and ensures their safety.
• Monitors patient flow in and out of the clinic.
• Performs simple Point of Care Testing as directed, including QA/QC.
• Obtains specimens and performs simple laboratory procedures conforming to all policies and procedures related to specimen handling and processing.
• Participates in updating mandatory logs, including temperature, disaster cabinet, and crash cart logs.
• Complies with all Ambulatory Services and Medical Center policies and procedures for infection control, safety, administrative, and clinical practice.
• Complies with activities mandated by JCAHO/Title 22.
• Identifies and communicates problems to the team and appropriate supervisor.
• Notifies providers of patient delays and service issues and acts as an advocate for patients to help facilitate provider punctuality in seeing patients according to schedule.
• Maintains clean, well-stocked exam rooms, hub rooms, and lab; responsible for ordering and maintaining supplies.
• Maintains supply standards as directed by nursing staff or appropriate supervisor.

Patient Care Coordination

• Manages clinical team in-basket messaging, staff messages, telephone encounters, and patient communications through the EHR (APEX).
• Collaborates with all members of the practice team in activities to coordinate patient care.
• Coordinates care and resolves patient care issues.
• Works at the check-out station and schedules complex procedures and coordinates services for patients.
• Maintains the fax folder and uploads documents to patient charts as appropriate.
• Prepares patient letters and forms, such as disability paperwork and excuse-from-work documentation.
• Manages external genomic testing workflows.
• Completes referrals to other providers as ordered by the physician.
• Obtains insurance authorizations for medications, procedures, and film or slide review authorizations.
• Assists clinical staff in writing and sending patient communications.
• Demonstrates courtesy, common sense, and follow-through in all telephone communications, maintaining the Medical Center Telephone Standards.
• Answers the phone for practice clinical teams.

Other Responsibilities

• Participates in various QI and Customer Service initiatives, such as wait time studies and outcome data collection from procedures.
• Offers suggestions for change or improvement in clinic/practice operations.
• Assists patients with issues and complaints utilizing conflict management skills.
• Shares pertinent information and observations with other health team members.
• Performs any other duties related to patient care activities as required.

Responsibilities

N/A

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 6 months of recent experience as a Medical Assistant
• Flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Health locations.
• Current American Heart Association CPR Certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with insurance verification, medical record data abstraction, and/or patient financial services strongly preferred.
• Bi-lingual or multi-lingual capability in Spanish, Cantonese, or Russian strongly preferred.
• Experience working in an ambulatory medical setting.