Medical Assistant

Job Summary:

Serves as a Medical Assistant in a practice or Urgent Care by primarily assisting providers and acting as a backup for reception. Clinical care provided to patients is within the scope of practice defined for medical assistants and as directed by the provider.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• General Medical Practice: Demonstrate competence and knowledge in clinical tasks, including but not limited to:
• Point of Care Testing (POCT): Perform urinalysis via urine dipstick, urine pregnancy testing, finger stick blood glucose, and rapid strep screening.
• Clinical Procedures: Conduct routine venipuncture, operate centrifuge, perform 12 lead EKGs, set up and assist with pelvic exams, and apply prefabricated and fiberglass splints.
• Vital Signs: Obtain accurate temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and weight for patients of all age groups.
• Injections: Administer injections safely and accurately for all age groups.
• Patient Assessment: Assist providers in assessing patients' physical, psychological, and social dimensions, participating in the implementation of care plans.
• Documentation: Accurately document reasons for visits, vital signs, and other pertinent information in patients’ charts, ensuring all entries are signed and dated.
• Patient Escort: Escort patients to exam rooms and assist as needed.
• Specimen Collection: Follow practice protocols for specimen collection.
• Infection Control: Develop and maintain infection control protocols within the MA’s scope of practice.
• Emergency Response: Notify RN and/or Provider of abnormal vital signs and high-risk patient complaints (e.g., SOB, chest pain, tongue/facial swelling, dizziness, uncontrolled bleeding).
• Patient Interaction: Welcome patients to the practice, introduce yourself by name, and keep them informed of any delays.
• Intake Functions: Perform basic intake functions under the provider’s direction.
• Staff Communication: Effectively communicate with providers and other staff to ensure patients’ needs are met.
• Patient Education: Provide patients with educational material as directed by the provider.
• Communicate with co-workers and managers when assistance is needed.
• Ensure all patient questions are answered and inquire if there is anything else that can be done to assist them.
• Answer incoming calls professionally, identify yourself and the practice, and handle calls appropriately.
• Assist in preparing and maintaining patient charts and other medical records.
• Listen carefully to callers, gather information to direct the call, take messages, or meet the caller’s needs.
• Maintain procedure carts and ensure an adequate supply of stocked items. Monitor, order, and replenish medical supply inventory as needed.
• Stock exam rooms, lab, and medication rooms as necessary.
• Assist in new staff orientation (after six months of hire).
• Perform data entry tasks as needed.
• Report conflicts in schedules or time constraints to the MA Lead.
• Attend and participate in daily huddles.
• Complete annual and critical competencies identified for the assigned department.
• Participate in the self-evaluation process.
• Act as a resource and provide in-service education in areas of expertise.
• Stay informed about changes and advancements in the field.
• Supports and promotes the mission and values of Covenant Health Ministry.
• Ortho Practice - Will work with surgical patients who have had joint replacements and abide by the standards of care set forth by St. Mary's Hip & Knee Replacement Interdisciplinary Team.

Will complete the required amount of education specific to hip and knee replacement as outlined by St. Mary's Hip & Knee Replacement Interdisciplinary Team which follows DNV Hip and Knee Replacement Program requirements.

• Maintains all required competencies and completes annual compliance courses on time.
• Other duties as consistent with this role.

Job Requirements

Job Knowledge and Skills

• Working knowledge of office practice and procedures.
• Handle multiple priorities.
• Computer skills.
• Must have excellent patient relations and interpersonal skills.
• Must read, write, speak, and comprehend the English language.
• Effective use of telephone skills.
• Medical Terminology required.
• The ability to speak, read, write, and understand written instructions in English is required.

Education and Experience

• Certification by a nationally recognized organization which includes a competency exam. Those organizations include the American Association of Medical Assistants, the National Center for Competency Testing and National Health Career Association.
• Graduation from an accredited 2-year Medical Assistant program preferred.
• Basic Life Support certification required.

Covenant Health Mission Statement

We are a Catholic health ministry, providing healing and care for the whole person, in service to all in our communities.

Our Core Values: