Medical Assistant

SUMMARY

Assists in examination and treatment of patients under direction of Physician by performing the following duties with a goal to provide superior customer service and clinical care to all patients. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other Duties may be assigned.

• Interview patients, measures vital signs, such as pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight and height, and records information on patient’s charts/EMR.
• Reviews medication and drug allergies with every patient on each visit.
• Prepares and stocks treatment rooms for examination of patients.  Cleans treatment room after each patient. 
• Assist physicians with minor procedures.
• Keeps patients informed to wait times (Patient room should be visited a minimum of every 15-minutes to give update).
• Cleans and sterilizes instruments.
• Inventories medical supplies and materials and lets appropriate person know when supplies need reordered.  Ensures exam rooms are stocked with appropriate supplies. 
• Gives injections or treatments as directed by the physician.
• Casting, splinting and DME as prescribed.
• Effectively place IV’s
• Performs routine laboratory tests, operate x-ray, electrocardiograph (EKG) and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic test or calls medical facility or department to schedule patients for tests.
• Performs secretarial tasks for physicians and calls in prescriptions for patients as directed.
• Schedule all return appointments.  Patients should not leave without being told when to return and given an appointment time/date.  Patients with acute problems should be told to follow up in 2 days if not better. 
• Return patient calls in a timely manner after corresponding with physician.
• Keys data into computer to maintain office and patient records.
• Adheres to time and attendance policy set forth by supervisor.  Provides time off request 1 month in advance.  Doctor excuse is provided in the event a scheduled shift cannot be worked. 
• Follows appropriate chain of command and reports issues directly to clinic manager at appropriate location. 

QUALIFICATIONS

 To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and /or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Medical assistant certificate, or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

• REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems, MULTI-TASK, prioritize job needs, and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

• WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be constructed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Triage Protocol

1. Front desk identifies patient as Appointment, Request, or walk-in.
2. Patient is called to Triage room by Triage Nurse.
   1. What brings you into our office today?
   2. Do you have a regular family doctor? (If a new patient)
   3. (If return patient) Have you been here recently for this problem?  If so who did you see? (Look at Chart chronology for every patient) Attempt to keep patient with physician who has treated problem in past.
3. Determine if Fast Track or Slow Track if patient does not have an appointment.
   1. Fast Track
      1. Allergies
         1. Runny Nose, Watery/Itchy Eyes, Scratchy throat, sneezing
      2. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (under 40)
      3. Sinuses
         1. Nasal congestion, earache, ears stopped up, sinus pressure
      4. URI Symptoms
         1. Cough, Nasal congestion, sore throat, achy body
      5. Rash/Skin Irritation
         1. Abscesses, poison ivy/oak, hives
      6. Bodily Injury – falls, cuts, stitches
         1. Falls on patients >50 years of age, check with doctor.
      7. UTI Symptoms
         1. Low back pain or frequent urination
      8. Back pain (Unless already treated by another doctor)
      9. School/Work physical
      10. Migraines
      11. Eye Irritation
          1. Pink/Red, Swollen eyelids, pain, discharge
   2. If a Fast Track patient requests a doctor not on Fast Track or has been seen by another doctor not of Fast Track that day recently, patient should be kept with that same doctor if possible.
   3. If a non-fast Track patient comes in and requests the doctor on Fast Track, patient should be offered an appointment to come back or told they will need to be worked in with the doctor seeing appointments that day.
   4. Slow Track (Patients who are slow track and do not have an appointment should be given the opportunity to schedule an appointment if wait time is likely to exceed 1 hour.)
      1. Any swelling without injury
      2. Abdominal pain
      3. Dizziness
      4. Fatigue
      5. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (over 40)
      6. Chest pain, tightness

1. Utilize EMR to get Past Medical History, Family History, and Social History (Patient will fill out the form and Triage will verify information and put into computer.)  Information will be reviewed with return patients and any changes from prior visit noted.
2. Medication and Allergies – Fill in for every new patient
   1. Medications (Review at every visit for return patients
   2. Allergies (Review at every visit for return patients)
3. Vital Signs and create flow sheet
   1. Height, Weight, Temp, BP, RR, and Pulse
4. New patients are handed a brochure and given and explanation about MedHelp with emphasis on “We can be your family doctor.”
   1. All patients are told “We appreciate you trusting us with your medical care today.”

Physician Dedicated MA

1.  Review medication list and chief complaint a second time with patient.  Document any changes in EMR.
2. Draw up and administer injections as directed by physician.
3. Prepare work excuses, deliver prescriptions with explanation, and schedule return appointment visits. 
4. Fill out school physical forms, DOT forms, and other similar forms except component that must be completed by physician.
5. Contact all patients who cancel or no show for an appointment in an effort to get them rescheduled.  Document activity in EMR.
6. Contact patients 2 days after office visit if they are NEW or have an acute problem.
7. Return all messages same day even if no answer from physician.
8. Immediately answer patient emergency calls such as allergic reaction and also calls from another physicians office. 
9. Perform these standing orders prior to patient being seen by physician.
   1. Strep test – all patients with a sore throat
   2. UA with mid stream catch – Female UTI
   3. CBC – check with individual physician
   4. Flu test – flu like symptoms
   5. Chest pain – EKG, Chest x-ray, and Cardiac Enzyme
   6. Spirometry – smoker or shortness of breath
   7. Abdominal pain – CBC, Urinalysis, Pregnancy Test (12-55)
   8. Eye problem – vision check and eye tray
   9. Drug Screen – any history of controlled substances
   10. On return patients, check prior office visit and complete any test that physician has ordered at follow up visit. 
10. All patients are told “We appreciate you trusting us with your medical care today.”

Floater

1. Log all test for send out.
2. Perform rapid strep test, flu test, CBC, UA, H. pylori, HCG, Mycoplasma, HGA1C, Micro albumin and other tests available as directed by physician.
3. Ensure smooth patient flow to exam room, lab, x-ray, etc. 
4. Fill in as directed for Medical Assistant to cover for outages and lunches. 
5. All patients are told “We appreciate you trusting us with your medical care today.”