Ma Clinical Support

Job Title: Community Medical Assistant

Position Class: Non-Exempt

Supervision Received: Community Impact Officer

Department: Community Impact

Salary Range: $13.50-$18.50

Primary Location: CCHS Mobile Clinic

General Summary:

Cabin Creek Health Systems (CCHS) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Patient Centered Medical Home, with six integrated health centers, and five School Based Health centers, and is continually planning expansions and new program developments. CCHS offers many services including primary care, dentistry, 340B pharmacy programs, behavioral health, robust substance use treatment, pulmonary rehab, and many more.

The Community Medical Assistant would be part of the Community Impact team. The Community Impact programs are designed to meet populations where they are and eliminate as many barriers to healthcare as possible. These programs are, and will continue, to evolve to best meet the needs of the patient, community, and CCHS. The Community Medical Assistant will be responsible for documenting patient demographic information, statistical information, and billing information in the practice management system. Responsible for assisting an assigned medical provider during clinical sessions, executing CCHS standing orders and medical provider orders, providing direct patient care, and testing, and communicating with patients and caregivers by telephone and in writing. The Community Medical Assistant, and other staff communicates with patients regarding preventive care recommendations, chronic care self-management and healthy lifestyle choices. Works closely with providers and support staff in identifying strengths and deficiencies in clinical support operations, planning improvements and problem solving.

Core Duties and Responsibilities, which include the following and other duties as assigned:

• Coordinate staff and patient scheduling with advance planning to maximize patient access and optimize clinical workflow ensuring appropriate patient care.
• Document patient demographic information, statistical information, required patient data collection, and billing information in the practice management system.
• Receive in-coming telephone calls or communications in the electronic health record (i.e. “tasks”) from patients or caregivers regarding care needs or concerns. Coordinate follow-up and manage tasks in electronic health record to ensure patient needs are addressed in a timely manner.
• Create communications in the electronic health record to medical provider or other members of the care team as appropriate, documenting essential elements in a task in the electronic health record. Communicate with the care team members regarding workflow, special needs of patients.
• Review tasks in the electronic health record from medical providers, execute provider orders and communicate with patients or caregivers by telephone or in writing.
• Determine through the patient intake process if patient has any special barriers to care such as financial or transportation. Identify financial barriers or concerns of patients, and coordinate assistance as appropriate.
• Provide patients or caregivers emergent care instructions in the event of emergent complaints, following CCHS emergent care guidelines.
• Greet scheduled patients at beginning of all medical visits to obtain vital signs, update and document the problem list, allergies, obtain copies of any recent hospitalizations, surgeries or interventions and document in medical record, including any required ICD-10 coding in the electronic health record. Performs a medication list reconcilement with documentation of all medications from all providers and reinforces value of a complete record with CCHS primary care providers. Prepare patient as appropriate for the examination and medical visit.
• Discuss preventive and chronic care registry measures with patients, executes standing orders for preventive care and chronic care interventions (e.g. performs foot exam, obtains HbA1c and Lipids, and writes orders for mammogram for provider to sign).
• Assist medical provider during examination, treatment and minor surgeries. Administer immunizations and injections per orders and update in electronic health record.
• Coordinate and perform laboratory specimen collection as appropriate. Perform ECG’s, spirometry or audiometry testing.
• Provide special instructions to patient on follow up care ordered by the medical providers (e.g. proper wound care or management of symptoms) instructions regarding referrals to specialists and testing facilities, or instructions for follow up visits.
• Communicate with medical providers regarding patient needs, and communicate with patients regarding provider orders.
• Maintain appropriate levels of inventory for office supplies, clinical supplies, administered medication, patient support supplies, etc. at employee’s designated work site. Ensure all equipment and instruments are properly maintained and prepared for use.
• Assist in the maintenance of Community Impact equipment including cleaning and general maintenance of a mobile clinic, specific equipment or other.
• Collaborate with CCHS service partners (Kanawha County Health Department, Board of Education, Housing Authority, etc.) to maximize patient access and quality of care.
• Perform all assigned responsibilities for program requirements such as Family Planning, Breast and Cervical Cancer Screen Program, Health Check (well-child exam), POC labs, etc.

Qualifications – Skills and Abilities:

To perform the Clinical Support Assistant position successfully, the employee must demonstrate core competencies in the following areas:

• Basic Medical Assisting skills including performing vital signs, assisting providers during examinations and procedures, administering injections, sterile technique and basic wound care
• Administering nebulizer treatments and walking O2 saturation testing
• Interpreting medical provider orders and instructions
• Basic knowledge of chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and depression
• Proper medical documentation skills including knowledge of ICD coding.
• Navigation of a Windows based electronic health record Knowledge of Practice Management System software and CCHS documentation guidelines.
• Knowledge of CCHS scheduling guidelines
• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations and patient privacy rules
• Good time management skills; assisting in keeping on time with schedules
• Good critical thinking and problem solving skills; good follow-through
• Proper medical documentation skills, including knowledge of ICD coding
• Interpreting medical provider orders and instructions
• Basic Cardiac Life Support skills
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations

Education and Experience:

High School Graduate or GED. Graduate of Recognized Medical Assistant Program or ability to obtain Certification through experience and testing required

Certificates, License, Registration:

National Certification preferred

Physical Demands:

The workday is spent sitting, standing, walking, reaching, bending and lifting. Requires full range of body motion, including assisting in the lifting of patients manually. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, and occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds. Eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range. Working with ill patients and their caregivers may be stressful.

Environmental/Working Conditions:

The Community Medical Assistant’s workday may take place in atypical environments including the outdoors in summer and winter months or in partner space. Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, sharp instruments and needles, cleaning chemicals, medicinal preparations. May require working extended shifts and hours as necessary.