Medical Assistant

HORIZON VASCULAR SPECIALISTS: Medical Assistant Job Description (Procedure centric)

Medical Assistant Job Purpose: Promotes and restores patients' health by assisting in the clinical process; collaborating with physicians, nurses and multidisciplinary team members; providing physical and psychological support to patients and family members. Non-exempt status

Fundamental Job Duties:

Reports to the Clinical Manager

•Identifies and assists with patient care requirements throughout the office/procedure experience.

•Establishes a compassionate environment by providing support to patients and families.

•Promotes patient's independence through teaching guided by physician or nurse; help patient and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills; answering questions.

•Helps to resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.

•Maintains safe and clean working environment. Maintain medical supplies and equipment.

•Follows infection-control requirements ensuring patient and team member safety.

•Documents all patient care and history in patient EMR noting any new updates.

•Maintains continuity among teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.

•Notifying proper personnel of supply issues or needs, equipment conditions and office needs.

•Maintains clinical supplies inventory by checking stock; anticipating needed supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.

•Maintains a cooperative relationship among team members by communicating information; responding to requests; building rapport; participating in problem-solving methods.

Detailed description

Physician Office hours

• Assist with Physician office hours pm. Support lead office MA.
• EHR present to include complete and up-to-date medical and surgical history.
• Proper appointment scheduled with ultrasound testing, if needed.
• Operative reports and ultrasound test results present.
• All required Labs, Pathology, CTs, MRI reports, H&P, consultation notes etc. available.
• Have any documents requiring physician signatures available.
• Assure proper appointment time, patient arrival, communicate with front desk staff.
• Communicate with ultrasound techs for proper direction of patient during office experience.
• Direct patient to the exam rooms with a greeting and introductions.
• Briefly check health history, allergies, and medications for any updates and completeness.
• Inquire about patient current condition, obtain vital signs.
• Remove any wound dressings.
• Ask patient to change into shorts if appropriate.
• Give physician brief patient history and chief complaint.
• Accompany physician into room with patient as needed
• Ensure completeness of patient chart.
• Give all signed ultrasound reports to DVL staff to scan, unsigned reports into Signature file.
• Scan any posting slips into Y drive and place into Patient Docs.
• Create a telephone encounter for each posting slip and assign to the appropriate personnel.
• Store posting slips for future reference.
• Scan any documents that have not been scanned into the Y drive.
• Clean exam rooms and instruments, restock exam rooms and supply areas.
• Sort, fax, scan items from completed Signature folder as appropriate

Venous Procedures

• Assist with Vein procedures pm.
• Gather supplies for the day's procedures.
• Adjust thermostat to appropriate temperature, set up procedure room.
• Ensure proper functioning of equipment.
• Open sterile supplies, prepare medications and set up procedures as directed and according to the schedule.
• Set up procedures before or between cases as time allows.
• Coordinate with ultrasound techs to bring patient into procedure room.
• Instruct them to change into shorts and sit on table.
• Explain procedure and answer questions/reassure.
• Complete appropriate procedure forms and scan as appropriate.
• Verify consent.
• Assist ultrasound tech in preparation of patient, notify physician.
• Monitor patient response and explain procedure as needed.
• Notify physician of any patient status change.
• Have catheter and extra supplies available.
• Remain in the procedure room with patient and physician.
• Assist putting on patient's support stocking, assure patients well-being.
• Discharge patient, escort to waiting area.
• Clean room/cart/bed prepare for the next procedure. Check and restock supplies. Report any supply needs

Daily as needed

*Assist as appropriate with lunch/breaks to other Clinical/Procedural staff members as directed.

Angiogram Procedures

• Prepare the procedure room, equipment and C-arm with the technician.
• Assist nurse and technician with procedure supplies and preparation of procedure room.
• Assist nurse to prepare the patient for procedure.
• Assist with passing sterile supplies to technician as instructed. Verify before opening.
• Enter supply usage into eCW Inventory sales system.
• Assist physician and nurse in providing for patient safety.
• Prioritize patient and staff needs during the procedure. Assist with any emergency care needs as directed.
• Help to transport patient to recovery, assist in/provide recovery care as directed.
• Assist in preparing the procedure room for the next procedure/day.
• Clean and assist with room turn over between cases.

Recovery/Pre-operative Care

• Admit and prepare patient for procedures following established policies providing instruction and education.
• Assist to provide recovery care of patient dependent upon type of procedure performed and as required by physician following established policies and procedures.
• Provide for patient and family needs as appropriate. Administer appropriate care following orders as requested by physicians and delegating staff.
• Documentation of events, and care provided.
• Remain with patient and nurse until patient discharge.
• Discharge patient providing appropriate education and schedule follow-up appointments when appropriate. Verify understanding with patient and/or family member of instruction.
• Communicate with nurse, team members and physician of on-going patient care needs. Prepare preoperative/recovery area for the next day.
• Count controlled substances with nurse at the end of the day, notifying Supervisor of any discrepancies or supply needs.
• Assist with and react appropriately to any emergency care needs of patient, work with entire team to manage patient care.
• Perform any delegated task fro RN/Physician within scope of practice.
• Process telephone encounters, prioritizing for urgent needs.
• Perform follow up calls within 1-2 days post procedure.
• Prepare charts and assist with preoperative confirmation phone calls. Research and obtain patient records as needed from outside facilities.
• Answer and assist with any direct patient phone calls. Use clinical judgement for prioritization.
• Notify and assist DVL staff with postoperative ultrasound scanning.
• Train other MA staff in preoperative and postoperative procedures.

Telephone Encounter

• Give your name and ask how you may assist them.
• Get patient's full name, date of birth, call-back information.
• Create a telephone encounter recording patient needs, questions or concerns.
• Guide/instruct patient in self care as appropriate.
• Request instruction/orders from physician to assist patient as appropriate.
• Document in full detail the events of the call in the telephone encounter.
• Follow up with patients and doctors as needed to complete and address the encounter.
• Process patient requests as appropriate.
• Process any telephone encounter throughout the day as available.

Supplies

• Assign supplies used for patient care into eCW Inventory Management Module.
• Participate in quarterly Inventory count.
• Notify proper personnel for supply needs or issues.
• Unpack supplies when received, check packing slip for completeness, notify correct personnel if there are discrepancies.
• Organize and restock clinical departments as needed.

Requirements for the position:

• Medical Assistant Certification or other applicable certification.
• Active and valid CPR Certification.
• 1-2 Years' Experience in Vascular or related medical field as a medical assistant or equivalent Ability to routinely lift 25-50 lbs. overhead.
• Ability to occasionally push and pull 50-751bs of weight on wheels
• Ability to seldom buddy-assisted lift patients weighing 2001bs or less.
• Able to bend and stand for an extended period of time.
• No aversion to blood or other bodily fluids.
• Fine motor coordination required for handling needles, medications, and other delicate instruments.
• Proficiency with electronic records keeping system(s)
• Ability to respond within your scope of practice to various emergencies and delegation.
• Reliable transportation.