Medical Assistant

Grace Health•Manchester, KY

About The Position

The Medical Assistant prepares patients for physician examinations and assists with examinations, ultrasounds, and procedures. The role supports clinical and laboratory operations, patient education, care coordination, appointment scheduling, and administrative coverage as needed. Medical Assistants are expected to maintain patient confidentiality, follow safety and organizational procedures, contribute to quality improvement, and work collaboratively as part of a team-based approach to patient care. Grace Health is a faith-based, federally qualified health center providing primary healthcare to underserved, underinsured, and uninsured individuals throughout southeastern Kentucky. Its mission is to show the love and share the truth of Jesus Christ through access to compassionate, high-quality primary healthcare for the whole person. The work environment typically has a moderate noise level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Completion of 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, including the ability to communicate clearly, listen, seek clarification, and respond to questions.
Computer skills.
Pleasant personality and cooperative attitude.
Detail-oriented and highly organized.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and follow safety standards, procedures, and legal regulations.
Ability to work cooperatively with providers, administration, and peers; demonstrate flexibility and multitask effectively.
Ability to communicate effectively with vulnerable patient populations and contribute to team-based care.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including occasionally lifting or moving up to 50 pounds, with reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Responsibilities

Greet patients in the waiting room and escort them to examination rooms.
Prepare patients for examinations and take vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse, respirations, height, weight, and pulse oximetry.
Document the chief complaint and medical, surgical, social, and family histories in the electronic medical record, updating information as needed.
Assist physicians with examinations, ultrasounds, and procedures; prepare patients appropriately.
Ensure pertinent pre-clinic laboratory results and other information are available in the 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 exams.
Use Universal Precautions and available safety equipment.
Keep rooms and laboratory areas clean, sanitized, stocked, and equipped with appropriate supplies; manage medical supply inventory and report low supplies.
Clean and sanitize instruments regularly and follow office-closing procedures, including turning off equipment, cleaning rooms and instruments, and restocking 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; administer injections using appropriate techniques, needle sizes, and injection sites; prepare and administer immunizations, allergy injections, and other injections.
Assist with phone triage and patient appointment scheduling as needed.
Maintain applicable licenses and certifications.
Assist with lifting patients using proper body mechanics and lifting techniques.
Cover clerical duties, including filing and telephone operations, when other employees are unavailable as needed.
Obtain patient insurance pre-authorizations for medications, referrals, and procedures.
Educate patients and answer questions using knowledge of medications, disease processes, diets, and related topics.
Communicate and coordinate care with community organizations, health plans, facilities, specialists, and other care team members.
Participate in population health management, Continuous Quality Improvement activities, practice performance reviews, quality improvement efforts, and Grace Health's advocacy program.
Follow organizational policies and procedures; maintain satisfactory attendance, timely documentation, and patient confidentiality; keep the supervisor informed about attendance and assignments; and perform other assigned duties.