Medical Assistant (Ma)/Office Assistant

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Clinical Practice –
   1. Assessment:
      1. Assists patients as needed with completion of history and physical form.
      2. Assesses patient vital signs as needed.
         1. New Patients and Research Patients:  height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, respirations, and temperature.
         2. Rechecks:  height, weight, and blood pressure.
         3. As needed, checks pulse oximetry and blood sugar per glucose monitor.
         4. Documents and reconfirms in each visit the patient’s current medications and allergies, smoking status, pain level, family history and other meaningful use indicators.
         5. Utilizes the electronic medical record (EMR) system to accurately chart all patient visit information.
      3. Assesses physical, psychological and educational needs of patients according to guidelines, standards of care and individual needs.
      4. Assesses patient care needs and/or changes in condition throughout treatments and procedures and communicates findings to the provider.
   2. Planning
      1. Assists in coordinating plan of care for patients, including follow up treatments, appointments, transfusions, and facilitates processing of orders.
      2. Assists in coordinating scheduling of chemotherapy and other treatments, facilitates processing of provider orders, and coordinates with pharmacy staff on provider orders.
      3. Assists in preparation and transfer of patients within the facility or for transfer to other facilities.
   3. Implementation
      1. Provides nursing care based on patient needs and plan of care.
      2. Assists the provider as needed in interventions, physical examinations, pap smears, specimen collection and procedures.
      3. Coordinates with laboratory staff and assists as needed with specimen collection, labeling, and transportation of specimens to laboratory.
      4. Administers subcutaneous and intramuscular injections under supervision of provider or registered nurse.
      5. Ensures documentation is complete and accurate and entered into the EMR or pharmacy system or paper chart.  
      6. Utilizes EPIC to document all clinical data.
   4. Patient Education
      1. Provides and reinforces patient and family/significant other teaching, such as providing appropriate cancer brochures, handouts on bowel protocol, answering questions, etc.
      2. Documents patient and family/significant others educational needs and documents intervention and understanding.
      3. Refers to other members of the healthcare team as necessary for assistance to meet patient and family/ significant others’ needs.
   5. Evaluation and Documentation
      1. Documents all observations, intervention, and patient responses to interventions.
      2. Answers phone promptly and in a professional manner. Asks questions and relays information to the provider in a concise and accurate manner. Is polite and appropriate, speaking in a manner that conveys empathy and caring.
      3. Witnesses’ patient or authorized person’s signature on consent forms, as needed.
      4. Takes, records and follows-through on provider orders as needed.
      5. Follows-through on provider messages, “PANIC”-level reports, “STAT” orders, etc.
   6. Other Duties:
      1. Rooms patients and enters visit documentation into the EMR or pharmacy system or into paper charts for providers.
      2. Directs patients, families, significant others to exam and/or procedure rooms and treatment areas as needed.
      3. Cleans exam and infusion rooms, disinfects surfaces, and ensures exam rooms are ready for patients, as needed.
      4. Provides telephone and general medical office support to include patient calls, chart preparation, filing and other duties as needed.
      5. Stocks supplies in nursing areas and patient rooms and arranges with the appropriate individual to replenish stock.
      6. Complies with all applicable safety and health regulations, policies and procedures.  Complies with established personal protective equipment requirements necessary for protection against exposure to blood and body fluids, other potentially infectious material, chemical disinfectants, and other hazardous substances.
      7. Performs all duties in a safe, responsible manner using required safety devices and personal protective equipment and following appropriate safety guidelines, including use of Universal Precautions, proper hand washing technique, and other work practice controls which minimize occupational exposure.
   7. Scheduling Duties
      1. Utilizes the EPIC system to enter/change patient demographics, schedule patient appointments, consultations, laboratory tests, and other patient appointments.
      2. Schedules referral appointments with other physician offices.  Prints and sends appropriate records to physician offices as appropriate for referrals.
      3. Schedules diagnostic tests and other medical tests as ordered by the physician. Provides instructions / directions to patients regarding scheduled tests.
      4. Creates documentation or system entry needed for patient billing and works with the Business Office regarding patient billing procedures and issues.
      5. Utilizes the EPIC system to coordinate with the Pharmacy in regards to patient’s chemotherapy orders and patients awaiting treatment.
   8. Courier Duties
      1. Drives personal vehicle or company car for pick-up and delivery service for CCSI in various weather conditions.  Safely operates and maintains vehicle and considers traffic patterns, regulations, driving conditions and determines alternative routes as necessary to ensure timely courier service.
      2. Picks up, handles and delivers a variety of items, including time-sensitive medications, laboratory specimens, linens, supplies, billing forms, other packages and documents, in a timely and efficient manner.
2. Professional Communication
   1. Maintains confidentiality in matters relating to all aspects of employment, including patient/family/significant other confidentiality.
   2. Interacts with patients/family/significant others with a variety of developmental and sociocultural backgrounds in an appropriate manner.
   3. Provides information to patients and family/significant others that reduces anxiety and conveys an attitude of acceptance, sensitivity and caring.
   4. Maintains professional relationships and conveys relevant information to other members of the health care team.
      1. Internal Contacts:  Physicians, nurse practitioners, RNs, other LPNs, Medical Assistants, laboratory staff, secretaries, scheduling, billing representatives, patient care coordinator etc., and staff at other CCSI facilities.
      2. External Contacts:  Research staff, home health care staff, hospice staff, blood banks, hospitals, same day surgery, x-ray departments, couriers, pharmacies, laboratories, floor nurses, other provider offices, etc.
   5. Communicates and coordinates with other healthcare professionals to obtain and follow through on provider orders, such as blood orders, occupational therapy, physical therapy, medical equipment, etc; Hospice consults; case management, such as pre-certifications for drugs or tests; and, provider referrals.
   6. Relays information appropriately over computers, telephones, facsimiles, pagers, and other communication devices, and follows-through as needed.
   7. Maintains and prioritizes messages, gathers appropriate information needed to respond (such as patient chart, lab results, etc.), communicates appropriate information to providers, and follows-through on provider orders and requests as needed.  In provider’s absence, checks and assesses provider messages regularly and addresses as needed.
   8. Initiates / coordinates with insurance companies to obtain pre-certifications and pre-authorizations for patients’ medications and procedures.
   9. Will be proficient on the electronic medical records system and accurately and completely document patient information utilizing the system.
3. Teamwork
   1. Works collaboratively as a health care team member.
   2. Reports on patient conditions as needed to those who require information, including providers, supervisors, and other professional staff as appropriate while maintaining patient confidentiality.
   3. Assists with tasks necessary for the general operation and organization of the Nursing unit.
   4. Maintains positive attitude with patients, family/significant others and coworkers.
4. Professional Development
   1. Attends staff meetings and mandatory in-services.
   2. Participates in continuing education opportunities and maintains licensure.
   3. Contributes to the quality of patient care and participates in quality improvement initiatives.

OTHER DUTIES:

Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS:  Graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing.  Current licensure in the State of Illinois for practice as a licensed practical nurse.  Current CPR certification or willingness to become certified.  Must take EPIC training and successfully pass required tests.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:  Knowledge of nursing processes and the ability and willingness to demonstrate and maintain clinical competency (cognitive knowledge and technical skills) as required for the limit of assignment.  Ability and willingness to work with patients’ growth and development needs, particularly to patients diagnosed with cancer (newly diagnosed, receiving treatment and terminal care) or immunosuppressed.  Ability to manage a sometimes demanding and fast-paced work environment related to changing patient needs, including work with patients with acute, chronic, and complex disease processes and those who are dying.  Verbal and written English communication skills for safe and effective patient care and to meet documentation standards.  Must be organized, be able to multi-task and have good interpersonal skills.  Understands and practices patient confidentiality and follows HIPAA and CCSI/POMS policies.  A positive attitude towards health care team members and diverse patient populations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF JOB:  Standing, walking, sitting, carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing, pulling, balancing, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, twisting, reaching, handling, kneeling, and wrist and digital dexterity.  Must be able to move patients by lifting, ambulating, and transfer of patients in wheelchairs, on gurneys and beds.  Speaking, hearing, and visual acuity to perform tests on patients; receive and interpret instructions; hearing to take blood pressure and hear breath, heart, and bowel sounds; chart; and operate equipment.  Able to support persons (possibly 200 pounds or more) in emergency situations.  Able to move quickly from place to place on occasion.  Possible driving.

MENTAL DEMANDS:  Must be able to work under stress and adapt to changing conditions. Must maintain a positive attitude under stressful and difficult situations. Maintains a professional attitude. Follows directions from his/her supervisor and works in a positive manner with management.

WORKING CONDITIONS:  Job duties involve the potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.  Normal patient care environment.