Medical Assistant

SouthCoast Health•Richmond Hill, GA

20h

About The Position

SouthCoast Health is seeking a full-time Medical Assistant for its Primary Care Office in Richmond Hill. The role assists providers with patient care and with clerical and organizational tasks, including managing patient flow, scheduling appointments, and maintaining charts. The Medical Assistant provides information to patients about clinic services and helps create a positive patient experience. The position prepares patients and exam rooms, obtains and documents vital signs and patient histories, reconciles medications, maintains electronic health records, and coordinates care, referrals, lab work, and provider orders. It also includes medication-related tasks, immunizations and injections, specimen collection and testing, venipunctures, and EKGs as assigned and permitted by policy and demonstrated competency. The employee responds to patient inquiries, maintains a clean and safe work area, participates in training and emergency response activities, and may assist in other provider areas according to departmental staffing needs. The role is primarily in a clinical setting and may involve exposure to infectious materials and occasional workload-related stress. Hepatitis B screening and initial and annual TB screening/testing are required. The position requires standing and walking for extended periods, occasional lifting and carrying of items up to 20 pounds, frequent talking, hearing, eye-hand coordination and keyboarding, and occasional stooping, lifting, grasping, pushing/pulling, and grip-strength tasks. Patient information must be kept strictly confidential and accessed only for job responsibilities. Applicants selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
For employees hired after September 1, 2008: graduate of an accredited Medical Assisting training program, Medical Assistant training in the military (DD214), or EMT-A or paramedic qualification.
For employees hired prior to September 1, 2008: general medical knowledge and medical terminology acquired through formal education; if not a graduate of an accredited Medical Assisting training program, at least one year of medical-assistance experience in a physician's office or other clinical facility.
Pass initial clinical skills competencies and initial and annual medication proficiency examinations with a score of at least 80%.
Maintain current BLS/CPR certification.
Knowledge of the health care field and medical terminology.
Ability to perform assistance tasks appropriately and use a computer.
Communication, tact, and customer-service skills.
Professionalism when dealing with personnel, patients, and patients' families; clear communication; ability to learn and retain patient-care procedures; follow provider and nursing staff directions; demonstrate compassion; and manage multiple tasks flexibly.
Complete required initial Hepatitis B screening and initial and annual TB screening/testing.
Comply with HIPAA and maintain strict confidentiality of patient information.

Nice To Haves

For employees hired prior to September 1, 2008: graduation from an accredited training program with proper certification in medical terminology.
For employees hired after September 1, 2008: one year of medical-assistant experience in a physician's office or other clinical facility is recommended but not required.

Responsibilities

Manage patient flow and coordinate with coworkers to ensure clinical services are provided on the date of service.
Prepare patient charts by reviewing and gathering relevant medical history, medications, lab results, imaging studies, and progress notes; ensure the EHR chart is complete before closing.
Prepare patients for examinations and special procedures; obtain and record vital signs and interview patients about current needs and relevant history.
Reconcile medications at every visit, document findings, update plans of care, and document care coordination, interventions, and quality-improvement measurements.
Manage outstanding EHR tasks, alerts, and pending patient-care actions accurately and promptly.
Communicate with pharmacies about medication issues and refills, and assist with medication prior authorizations as needed.
Schedule lab work and specialist visits, complete billing paperwork, enter lab orders, and complete provider orders promptly.
Verify and update patient data and assist patients with paperwork.
Process referrals, follow through on referral requirements, and maintain an updated referral report.
Maintain clean work areas and prepare, clean, and stock examination rooms while observing safety guidelines.
Answer and promptly respond to patient telephone inquiries.
Administer medications when authorized under policy after completing required proficiency testing; administer immunizations and injections after reviewing relevant records, schedules, risks, side effects, and treatments.
Perform venipunctures, capillary punctures, specimen collection, preparation and testing, other laboratory functions, and provider-ordered EKGs.
Participate in code-team training and initiate appropriate emergency procedures when codes are called, including CPR, airway management, medication administration, and fire evacuation coordination.
Participate in required training, including HIPAA compliance, online learning modules, and classroom training.
Assist in other provider areas as assigned based on departmental staffing needs.
Report to work regularly and consistently.
Protect patient information and access or disclose it only as required to perform job responsibilities.