Medical Assistant - Interventional Radiology

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Medical Assistant supports the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s mission through direct patient care, procedural assistance, and operational support in a high-volume Interventional Radiology clinical environment. The role works closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, technologists, and other support staff to support patient-centered care, efficient patient flow, procedural readiness, and continuity of care. The position also provides opportunities to develop expertise in Interventional Radiology and contribute to the institution’s cancer care, research, prevention, and education mission. Responsibilities include collecting and documenting patient information; preparing patients and procedure areas; assisting clinical teams during procedures; maintaining sterile and safe practices; supporting patient scheduling and coordination; managing supplies and inventory; and completing documentation and coding-related tasks. The Medical Assistant is expected to communicate effectively, follow institutional quality and compliance standards, and adapt to departmental operational needs. The required education is a high school diploma or equivalent. One year of medical assistant experience is required, or no experience is required for candidates with the preferred education: graduation from an approved Medical Assistant program or a US Military medical services training program. Preferred certifications include CMA, RMA, CCMA, NCMA, and CPR, upon hire. Benefits include employer-paid medical coverage starting on day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week; optional dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance; PTO and Extended Illness Bank accruals; paid holidays and other leave options; tuition assistance after six months of service; wellness and fitness resources; employee resource groups; a defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System; voluntary retirement plans; and employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
One year of Medical Assistant experience, or no experience if the candidate has the preferred education.
Knowledge of patient care practices, medical documentation, sterile technique, infection control standards, Interventional Radiology workflows, RIS utilization, inventory management, CPT coding, patient safety protocols, communication skills, and multidisciplinary team collaboration.
Ability to satisfy and maintain any requirements necessary to ensure the continued security and integrity of critical infrastructure, if applicable to the position.

Nice To Haves

Graduate of an approved Medical Assistant program or a US Military medical services training program.
CMA certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), upon hire.
RMA certification from the American Society of Medical Technologists (AMT), upon hire.
CCMA certification from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), upon hire.
NCMA certification from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), upon hire.
CPR certification, upon hire.

Responsibilities

Obtain vital signs, limited patient histories, and medication reviews according to Interventional Radiology procedures.
Prepare documents and patient packets for pre-procedure evaluations.
Verify written orders and schedule laboratory testing using appropriate scheduling systems.
Retrieve, review, and identify required laboratory values; communicate variances to appropriate personnel.
Assist Physician Assistant teams with requisition triage according to established protocols.
Collect and document patient information before procedures in collaboration with nursing staff.
Confirm patient appointments and procedural preparation instructions.
Use RIS to track and document patient information accurately.
Maintain clean, stocked patient preparation and examination areas and adjust schedules to meet operational needs.
Review medical records, laboratory values, and clinical documentation to support continuity of care.
Report patient concerns and variances to Interventional Radiology faculty or designated personnel.
Document patient information accurately in the medical record.
Identify basic anatomy relevant to Interventional Radiology procedures and recognize risks and adverse reactions associated with indicated procedures.
Communicate collected patient information to proceduralists before procedures and verify patient allergies according to established protocols.
Enter and update patient demographic information and report variances through PCRF processes.
Complete pre-procedure and intra-procedure documentation with minimal error.
Maintain sterile environments, aseptic technique, infection control standards, and procedural protocols.
Demonstrate competency in ultrasound procedure setup and assistance with minimal supervision.
Assist with fluoroscopic procedures under direct supervision of Registered Radiology Technologists or Special Procedures Technologists.
Support room utilization and efficient patient throughput; assist with room turnover.
Follow universal protocol, site marking, specimen handling, and patient safety requirements.
Report operational and clinical variances through appropriate reporting channels.
Assist nurses, faculty members, and Physician Assistants as required and support multidisciplinary procedural teams during invasive procedures.
Prepare sterile trays, catheter insertion sites, and instruments for sterilization.
Adapt staffing coverage based on departmental operational needs.
Use the institutional E&M Code calculator to determine appropriate CPT coding for pre-procedure evaluations.
Review and enter procedural supplies and CPT codes to support reimbursement and charge capture; apply coding modifiers when appropriate.
Stock procedure rooms with required supplies and linen; rotate inventory, monitor stock levels, and verify expiration dates before opening supplies.
Report supply variances to Interventional Radiology leadership and management and support inventory management across procedural areas.
Maintain knowledge of Interventional Radiology procedural supplies and promote efficient utilization of departmental resources.
Communicate clearly and accurately with patients, faculty, peers, and clinical staff while maintaining professionalism and customer service.
Use institutional communication systems appropriately, including paging functions, and handle telephone communications promptly and professionally.
Comply with institutional, divisional, and departmental quality and compliance standards and adhere to patient safety policies and Joint Commission requirements.
Report equipment malfunctions and service issues to appropriate teams.
Wear appropriate attire and identification in accordance with dress code requirements.
Attend departmental meetings as required and perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical coverage starting day one for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
Optional group dental, vision, life, AD&D, and disability insurance.
PTO and Extended Illness Bank accruals.
Paid holidays and other leave options, including wellness and childcare leave.
Tuition Assistance Program after six months of service.
Wellness and fitness resources and employee resource groups.
Defined-benefit pension through the Teachers Retirement System.
Voluntary retirement plans.
Employer-paid life and reduced salary protection programs.
Educational opportunities and individual and team recognition.