Medical Assistant - Family Practice

Grace Health•Corbin, KY

About The Position

The Medical Assistant prepares patients for physician examinations and assists with exams and procedures in a family practice setting. The role includes welcoming and rooming patients, collecting vital signs and histories, updating electronic medical records and immunization information, and ensuring relevant pre-visit data is available. The Medical Assistant supports clinical procedures, performs phlebotomy and in-office laboratory and diagnostic testing, administers injections and immunizations, and maintains clean, stocked exam rooms and laboratory areas. Additional duties include phone triage, appointment scheduling, insurance pre-authorizations, and clerical coverage when needed. The position is part of a team-based approach to patient care. Team members coordinate with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists; support population health management and care for vulnerable populations; participate in continuous quality improvement and practice-performance review; and take part in Grace Health’s advocacy program. Employees are expected to follow organizational policies, maintain confidentiality and timely documentation, communicate effectively, multitask, cooperate with colleagues, and maintain satisfactory attendance. Grace Health is a faith-based federally qualified health center providing primary healthcare to underserved, underinsured, and uninsured individuals throughout southeastern Kentucky. The work environment has a typically moderate noise level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

Completed a recognized medical assistant program.
High-school diploma and either significant on-the-job experience or certification as a medical assistant.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Computer skills.
Pleasant personality and cooperative attitude.
Detail-oriented and highly organized.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Knowledge of vaccines, injectable medications, and proper injection techniques.
Knowledge of medications, disease processes, and diets to educate patients and answer questions.
Ability to communicate and coordinate effectively with patients, colleagues, and care-team partners.
Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds occasionally, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Responsibilities

Greet patients in the waiting room and escort them to exam rooms.
Prepare patients for examinations and take vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, respirations, height, weight, and pulse oximetry.
Document chief complaints and medical, surgical, social, and family histories in the electronic medical record, and update information as needed.
Prepare patients for examinations and assist physicians with exams, ultrasounds, and procedures.
Ensure pertinent pre-clinic laboratory results and other relevant data are available in the patient chart at the time of the visit.
Review and update immunization records.
Set up and assist with minor surgery, suturing, casting, social service exams, gynecologic exams, toenail removal, and cryosurgery.
Perform phlebotomy, urinalysis, and other in-office laboratory work.
Prepare slides for urinalysis, KOH, and wet-prep microscopic examinations.
Use universal precautions and available safety equipment.
Clean, sanitize, and stock exam rooms and laboratory areas; manage medical-supply inventory and notify appropriate personnel when supplies are low.
Clean and sanitize instruments regularly and follow office-closing procedures, including turning off equipment, cleaning instruments and rooms, and restocking exam rooms.
Perform in-office diagnostic testing, including EKG, diabetic retinopathy, PFT, and CLIA-waived testing.
Use the laboratory computer to enter tests and retrieve results.
Maintain knowledge of vaccines and injectable medications and administer injections using appropriate techniques, needle sizes, and injection sites.
Prepare and administer immunizations, allergy injections, and other injections.
Assist with phone triage and schedule patient appointments as needed.
Maintain current licenses and certifications, if applicable.
Assist with lifting patients using proper body mechanics and lifting techniques.
Provide clerical coverage, including filing and telephone operations, when employees are away or on breaks or lunch as needed.
Obtain patient insurance pre-authorizations for medications, referrals, and procedures.
Educate patients and answer questions using knowledge of medications, disease processes, and diets.
Maintain patient confidentiality and a safe, secure, and healthy work environment in compliance with applicable standards, procedures, and legal regulations.
Keep job knowledge current through educational opportunities and professional publications.
Communicate and coordinate effectively as part of the care team, including coordination with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists.
Address the needs of patients and families proactively as part of population health management and communicate effectively with vulnerable patient populations.
Participate in continuous quality improvement, quality-outcome improvement, practice-performance review, and Grace Health’s advocacy program.
Follow organizational policies and procedures; maintain satisfactory attendance, timely documentation, and communication with the supervisor about attendance and job assignments.
Perform other duties as assigned.