Gap Intern/Medical Assistant, Plastic Surgery

APDerm Management•Chestnut Hill, MA

About The Position

Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, part of the APDerm Network of Practices, is seeking a polished, energetic, and compassionate Gap Intern/Medical Assistant to support patient care in a plastic surgery and dermatology setting. The role offers exposure to general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology; mentorship from practicing dermatologists; medical school interview training; and collaboration with other Gap Interns. The position is intended for candidates planning to transition to medical school or a physician assistant program after approximately 1–3 years of employment. Under the general supervision of the clinician and reporting directly to the Practice Manager, the Gap Intern/Medical Assistant provides direct and indirect care to patients in collaboration with clinicians and ambulatory support staff. Duties include documenting visits in the electronic medical record, preparing patients and rooms, assisting with procedures, providing patient education and follow-up instructions, and supporting clinical operations. The role may require travel and commuting among multiple practice locations to provide coverage. The position may also involve leading clinical trials of topical products and creams, explaining study guidelines to patients, assessing study eligibility, distributing products and paperwork, tracking progress, arranging follow-up appointments, taking before-and-after photographs, and compiling results. The role requires adherence to HIPAA, OSHA, privacy and data-security practices, workplace safety requirements, and APDerm policies and standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills for professional communication with patients, family members, clinicians, and colleagues.
Strong problem-solving abilities and analytical skills.
Excellent computer skills for entering and retrieving clinical information.
Critical thinking and good judgment.
Organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize daily assignments.
Willingness and ability to travel or commute to multiple brand or regional practice locations for clinical coverage.

Responsibilities

Scribe and document office visits on a computer for clinicians.
Provide cross-coverage when needed, including travel to practice locations and coverage for clinician vacations, sick calls, and paid time off.
Assist clinical trainers with training new medical assistants and Gap Interns and retraining current staff, as needed.
Ensure clinicians have necessary information and materials before patient visits.
Communicate and receive information using computers, the Intranet, email, fax, and patient medical records.
Follow HIPAA rules and regulations and maintain patient confidentiality and rights.
Check that equipment is in good working order and adequate supplies are available; monitor inventory and request supplies while considering cost containment.
Obtain and electronically record accurate patient histories, and update problem lists, allergies, pharmacy, medication lists, and skin cancer history as indicated.
Teach patients aftercare for surgical and cosmetic procedures, confirm their understanding, and document it in the chart.
Assist with OSHA daily and monthly checks and maintain the OSHA log; complete suture inventory and check rooms for expired inventory.
Escort patients, record their history and chief complaint, and prepare them for appointments and procedures according to diagnosis, protocols, and clinician direction.
Perform pre-visit procedures such as suture or dressing removal under clinician direction.
Learn and perform ancillary services as needed, including phototherapy, XTRAC, and PDT.
Assist clinicians in educating patients about biologic injection protocols.
Sterilize and package instruments and assist with preparation of cosmetic procedures.
Observe and report abnormal symptoms or behavior to the appropriate clinician.
Organize and prioritize work to keep clinician schedules running smoothly and meet patient needs.
Follow laser safety protocols and use standard precautions when preparing rooms and assisting with procedures or examinations.
Collect and label specimens according to practice protocol; maintain pathology logbooks and ensure pathology reports are documented.
Provide and review patient instructions about procedures and testing.
Perform suture removals and other procedures as directed by the clinician.
Prepare and administer medication mixtures and doses, including buffered lidocaine, Kenalog, sclerotherapy preparations, and Botox for cosmetic and hyperhidrosis uses.
Perform subcutaneous and intramuscular medication injections when competency has been demonstrated and supervisory agreement is in place; seek clinician guidance for treatment adjustments or complications.
Use team leaders or managers as resources and uphold APDerm’s core values of Positivity, Productivity, and Professionalism.
Complete required training by its deadline and support APDerm policies, quality standards, privacy and data protection, workplace safety, and applicable laws and regulations.
Lead clinical trials involving topical products and creams; explain study guidelines, help assess inclusion and exclusion criteria, provide products and paperwork, follow up with participants, record trial progress, schedule visits, take before-and-after photographs, and compile results in presentations or graphical formats.