Medical Assistant - Specialty Services (Chiro) (Certification/Diploma In Medical Assisting)

MISSION

The mission of Ravenswood Family Health Network (RFHN) is to improve the health of the community by providing culturally sensitive, integrated primary and preventative health care to all, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status, and collaborating with community partners to address the social determinants of health.

POSITION Summary

Under general supervision of the Specialty Services Supervisor, operating in a multi-disciplinary team environment, the Specialty Services Medical Assistant has a primary function as a Medical Assistant providing clinical support in the Chiropractic department for the service of patients as member of a care team that includes medical physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, health coaches and other staff. Individual tasks include rooming patients, taking vital signs, verifying chief concerns, obtaining medical histories, collecting specimens for lab tests, anticipating the needs of patients and other team members, documenting all patient interactions in the electronic health record, and other duties as assigned related to the comfort, care, and medical treatment of patients of the clinic.

The secondary function is providing clinical support in the service of patients as a Medical Assistant for Podiatry and Optometry Technician for Optometry services. Individual tasks include rooming patients, taking vital signs, verifying chief concerns, obtaining medical histories, collecting specimens for lab tests, anticipating the needs of patients and other team members, documenting all patient interactions in the electronic health record (EHR), and other duties as assigned related to the comfort, care, and medical treatment of patients of the clinic.

This position is a member of the care team consisting of medical physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, health coaches, and other staff that supports PCMH standards and practices. They will work primarily at the Bay Road, East Palo Alto location, and will be available to provide coverage when deemed necessary by the supervisor, including but not limited to covering for staff shortages, for vacations or sick calls at any of the other RFHN locations.

Duties and Responsibilities

To be performed in accordance with RFHN Policies and Procedures

Medical Assistant Duties

• Prepares electronic record for documenting patient visits.
• Collects vital signs (temperature, BP, pulse, respiration rate, etc.) per protocols.
• Collects and documents chief complaint, screening questions, health histories, medications, and other appropriate information based on the patient's presenting concerns.
• Assists providers during exams and/or medical procedures.
• Follows through on provider's instructions; ensures that all of the patient's needs have been met.
• Performs routine injections.
• Collects and handles laboratory specimens and performs simple lab tests according to standard procedures.
• Completes lab requisitions and vaccine logs, documents lab results, and other paperwork accurately.
• Completes in-basket tasks.
• Completes inventory for medications and medical supplies.
• Collects patient surveys.

Optometry Technician Duties

• Prepares the patient and assists the clinician with exams and procedures when needed.
• Performs pre-testing including but not limited to: auto-refraction, auto-keratometry, and auto-tonometry.
• Takes detailed patient histories, tests visual acuity, stereo acuity, and color vision, measures blood pressure, and performs lensometry.
• Performs frame selection, fittings, orders, adjustments, and repairs of prescription eyewear.
• Performs ocular fundus photography, visual field testing, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Assists in the performance of face to face or telephone triage according to triage protocols, including documentation of work performed; consults with the supervising practitioner and informs the clinician of the advice/ instructions given or actions taken.
• Administers eye drops.
• Initiates specialty referrals including sending necessary provider documentation, imaging and test results.
• Participates in the morning huddle in order to plan care with the clinician for patients on the day's schedule.
• Assumes responsibility for and delegates daily tasks as delineated in "Responsibility for Daily Tasks Summary".

General Specialty Services Duties

• Prepares and cleans the exam rooms, cleans instruments, and stocks rooms in between patient visits.
• Performs end of shift tasks for room closure and equipment.
• Alerts Central Supply or Team leader to needed supplies/equipment as appropriate.
• Reports any safety hazards.
• Follows up on referrals on a monthly basis, consults with referrals staff, and manages EHR database to accurately reflect referrals status of patients.
• Initiates appropriate emergency measures when patients are admitted for urgent care.
• Assures efficient patient flow by ongoing assessment of clinician schedule and working with other staff to minimize patient waiting time, and notifies patients regularly regarding wait times.
• Assists peers and others on the care team to ensure timely, optimum patient care.
• Follows RFHN standards for Standard Precautions when working with potentially infectious materials (blood or body fluids).
• Maintains patient call list to fill cancelled and no-show appointments.
• Schedules patients appropriately.
• Answers incoming phone calls and reviews voicemail messages for the Specialty Services Department.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Provides excellent customer service in a sensitive and non-judgmental manner.
• Projects a professional image at all times, including adherence to dress code and standards of communication.
• Participates in the quality improvement process as requested or assigned.
• Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among all staff.
• Maintains confidentiality of all patient and employee information according to HIPAA on a need to know basis.
• Attends all RFHN mandatory meetings and other meetings as requested.
• Promotes courteous and professional behavior in all interactions with the public and the staff.
• Other duties as assigned and requested.