Ambulatory Float Pool Medical Assistant Student

Beth Israel Lahey Health•Boston, MA

About The Position

Supports smooth and efficient practice operations and contributes to BIDMC's promise of providing extraordinary care. Communicates courteously and helpfully with patients, employees, and the public in person and by phone. In addition to medical assisting, performs administrative tasks as needed, including greeting, check-in, and scheduling. Assists patients with physical and psychological limitations with ambulation and patient care functions. The Medical Assistant Student receives several weeks of didactic instruction, followed by hands-on training in an ambulatory practice with an assigned preceptor. The preceptor and/or supervisor determines when trainees are ready to take on patient care responsibilities independently, based on periodic competency skill assessments. The role performs medical assisting and point-of-care testing duties, maintains patient care areas and equipment, and supports clinical documentation and administrative workflows. The employee works under supervision and is not authorized to perform licensed personnel duties such as drawing up or administering medications or flushing IVs. The position requires regular day-to-day, face-to-face and hands-on contact with patients. Work is generally consistent, at an average pace with intermittent breaks, and requires judgment to respond to events several times a week. The job is physical in nature, with standing and moving around for most of the shift.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Basic familiarity with computers and the ability to navigate web-based applications at a basic level.
Ability to read and write English to understand basic safety instructions, take direction, communicate with patients, families, and medical center staff, and respond to basic questions.
Ability to comprehend and converse in English to communicate effectively with medical center staff, patients, families, and external customers.
Ability to make decisions based on specific instructions, standard practices, and established procedures, generally with little or no supervision.
Ability to address routine, somewhat repetitive problems by following clear directions and procedures and identifying opportunities for process improvements.
Ability to follow general instructions and procedures; work is monitored by a supervisor or manager.
Working knowledge of standard concepts, practices, procedures, and policies, with the ability to apply them in varied situations.
Ability to collaborate in small teams, offer ideas, identify issues, and respect team members.
Ability to provide professional, respectful, service-oriented customer service to patients, visitors, staff, and external customers, using active listening and problem-solving skills and remaining calm in stressful situations.
Competence to provide patient care to neonatal patients (birth to 6 months), youth (6 months to 16 years), young adults (16 to 30 years), middle-aged adults (30 to 60 years), and elderly patients (60 and over).
Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently.
Ability to stand and/or move around for the majority of the shift, work up to two hours without a break, and frequently walk, bend the neck, and twist the neck.
Must be vaccinated against influenza as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

Perform medical assisting duties, including taking vital signs, height and weight, performing EKGs and phlebotomy, and assisting with routine procedures.
Keep patient care areas clean, organized, stocked, and ready for patient use.
Escort patients to ancillary service areas such as radiology and the laboratory as needed.
Perform appropriate point-of-care testing, including laboratory tests and specimen collection; implement quality-control standards to ensure testing equipment functions properly and accurately.
Provide patients with relevant instructions for specific tests and procedures.
Monitor, order, and/or maintain medical equipment and supplies, ensuring they are clean, sterilized, stocked, and within expiration dates.
Perform an initial review of medication lists in the electronic medical record for final review by licensed practitioners.
Retrieve schedule VI and over-the-counter medications only under the supervision of licensed providers; do not perform licensed personnel duties such as drawing up or administering medications or flushing IVs.
Use the electronic medical record system (OMR) to queue prescription renewals for review by a licensed provider.
As directed by a clinician, enter or scribe orders for tests, services, or appointments in OMR.
Accurately document completed tasks in OMR during visits to support proper billing through the Facility Worksheet.
Prepare schedules, patient charts, and other documents for clinical activities in accordance with Medical Center standards.
Procure and correlate medical correspondence as directed by the department.
Monitor patients and visitors entering, waiting in, and leaving the practice; facilitate timely flow and inform patients and providers of delays.
Act as a liaison between patients and practice staff to support optimal flow and service delivery.
Organize and stock waiting-room materials as directed by the department.
Answer and screen telephone calls as needed.
Perform administrative duties as needed, including greeting, check-in, and scheduling.