Certified Medical Assistant

Zufall Health Center•Morristown, NJ

About The Position

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) works under the direct supervision of the Site Manager and under the matrix supervision and guidance of the PCMH Care Coordinator and Director of Nursing. As an integral member of the Care Team, the CMA supports patients and their families throughout clinical interactions with their provider and helps ensure optimal health outcomes. The role includes welcoming and assisting patients, gathering and documenting clinical information in the electronic health record, supporting providers during visits, helping patients understand care instructions, and coordinating follow-up. The CMA also performs clinical procedures and point-of-care testing within the scope of certification, training, provider orders, and applicable regulations. Additional duties for CMA I or CMA II may include EKGs and phlebotomy, depending on certification and role level. The CMA maintains patient privacy, keeps clinical rooms and equipment clean and supplied, supports medication and vaccine workflows, assists with forms and referrals, and participates in Care Team meetings, quality initiatives, and annual competencies.

Requirements

Minimum high school diploma or GED.
Current Medical Assistant certification.
Current EKG, Phlebotomy, and BLS certifications.
At least 6 months of experience in a clinical or medical setting, or at least 120 hours of externship experience.

Responsibilities

Welcome patients and families cordially using cultural sensitivity and customer service skills, and escort patients to check out at the end of visits.
Assist providers by obtaining visit reasons, medical and social histories, family history, medications, allergies, vital signs, and other relevant information.
Enter and verify patient information in the electronic medical record, review it at subsequent visits, and document information about other providers, new medications, and recent hospitalizations.
Participate in Care Team meetings and huddles to prepare for patient visits and anticipate patient needs.
Provide translation assistance or arrange access to a language line when indicated by the provider.
Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and organizational policies.
Remain in the examination room during pelvic, breast, genital, and rectal examinations, and remain nearby during other evaluations when asked to leave the room.
Notify the provider when the patient is ready, review clinical information to expedite the visit, and keep exam-room doors closed while patients wait.
Support patient education by translating instructions, reviewing materials, answering questions, confirming patient understanding, and helping arrange follow-up appointments when indicated.
Participate in collaborative initiatives and PDSA activities as directed.
Obtain and accurately enter vital signs and measurements, including height, weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiration rate, pain scale, adult BMI, child BMI percentile, and head circumference, as applicable.
Repeat elevated blood pressure readings at the end of the interview using a manual cuff, as required.
Follow provider-approved standing orders for specified conditions and symptoms.
Collect finger-stick samples for glucose, hemoglobin, and hemoglobin A1C, and collect urine specimens for dip tests, pregnancy tests, or cultures as ordered or permitted by standing orders.
Collect rapid HIV finger-stick samples when trained and ordered by a provider.
Report examination-room test results to the provider, document controls, and enter results in the EHR; complete required competencies for in-house tests.
Work with providers to determine whether visits are billable to the state and whether patients are eligible for referrals to contracted subspecialists.
Clean examination rooms and clinical areas, dispose of specimens properly, wipe down tables, chairs, equipment, counters, and exam tables, and keep drawers stocked and appropriately locked.
Enter medications in the EHR, listing prescription medications before over-the-counter medications and supplements.
Document medications dispensed from center stock, including dispensing date, patient name, medication name, lot number, expiration date, and provider initials; ensure payment for cost-bearing medications before dispensing.
Prepare ordered vaccines in the appropriate syringe and amount for provider verification, and administer them as permitted by certification, training, and provider direction.
Assist with obtaining laboratory information from the fax administrator and attach hard copies to patient documents when needed.
Assist with forms, insurance referrals, work or school notes, and other paperwork.
Notify PCMH when the last box of a supply item is opened, check exam-room supplies daily and storage stock weekly, and prepare lists of needed supplies as needed.
Perform other related duties as assigned by PCMH or the Site Administrator and the Director of Nursing.
Participate in annual competencies, including translation, vital signs and measurements, TB skin tests, waived point-of-care tests, infection prevention and control, sterilization and instrument preparation, OSHA, immunization administration and reconciliation, standing orders, medical waste management, patient preparation, cultural competency, and customer service.
For CMA I with EKG certification: perform ordered EKGs using proper technique, maintain privacy, document patient name, date of birth, and date performed, and make an EKG available when requested after the provider first evaluates a patient reporting chest pain.
For CMA I with phlebotomy certification: perform ordered phlebotomy using standard procedures and aseptic technique; verify two patient identifiers and the order before drawing blood.
For CMA II: perform all listed duties, including the duties for CMA I with EKG and phlebotomy certifications.