Medical Assistant

SouthCoast Health•Savannah, GA

About The Position

The Medical Assistant supports providers with patient care and clinic administrative and organizational tasks. The position helps manage patient flow, appointment scheduling, and chart documentation, and provides information to patients about clinic services. The Medical Assistant prepares and updates patient charts in the electronic health record, prepares patients for examinations and procedures, records vital signs and patient history, reconciles medications, documents care, and assists providers with examinations, treatments, tests, and procedures. The role also supports care coordination and follow-up, including referrals, specialist and laboratory appointments, hospital and other facility discharge summaries, medication prior authorizations, prescription matters, and patient reminders for preventive services. Clinical duties may include administering medications after required proficiency testing, giving immunizations and injections, collecting and processing specimens, performing laboratory functions and EKGs, and providing patient education. The employee maintains clean and stocked care areas, responds to patient inquiries, participates in training and emergency response activities, protects patient confidentiality, and performs other duties as assigned. The position 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 tuberculosis screening/testing are required. The role requires extended periods of standing and walking, 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 activities. SouthCoast Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. Applicants selected for employment are subject to pre-employment drug testing.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent.
For employees hired after September 1, 2008: graduation from an accredited Medical Assisting training program, military Medical Assistant training, or EMT-A or paramedic qualification. An exception may be granted to a person without accredited training who has national medical-assisting certification and at least two years of medical-assisting experience, subject to evaluation, Director of Nursing determination, and written approval from two Executive Committee members.
One year of medical-assistant experience in a physician’s office or other clinical facility is recommended but not required.
Pass initial clinical skills competencies and initial and annual medication proficiency exams with a score of at least 80%.
Maintain current BLS/CPR certification.
Knowledge of the healthcare field and medical terminology.
Skills in performing assistance tasks, communication, tact, customer service, and computer use.
Ability to act professionally with personnel, patients, and families; communicate clearly; learn and retain patient-care procedures; complete tasks as directed by providers and nursing staff; show compassion; and manage multiple tasks flexibly.
Complete required initial Hepatitis B screening and initial and annual TB screening/testing.
Ability to perform essential job functions unaided or with reasonable accommodation, as determined case by case.

Responsibilities

Prepare patient charts by reviewing relevant medical history, medications, test results, imaging, and progress notes, and ensure the electronic health record is complete.
Prepare patients for examinations and special procedures; obtain and record vital signs; interview patients about current needs and relevant history; reconcile medications; and document findings and care activities.
Perform clinical duties assigned by a nurse or provider and assist providers with examinations, treatments, tests, and procedures.
Monitor referrals and follow up on patients’ progress and treatment status; maintain referral reports and process referrals through completion.
Generate reports and remind patients and families about needed preventive services, including immunizations, screenings, and laboratory work.
Update patient care plans and document care coordination and interventions, including quality initiative measurements.
Manage outstanding electronic health record tasks, alerts, and pending patient-care actions promptly and accurately.
Respond to patient questions and concerns about care, medication instructions, and prescription call-ins; communicate with pharmacies about medication issues and refills; and assist with medication prior authorizations.
Schedule laboratory work and specialist visits, complete billing paperwork, enter laboratory orders, verify and update patient data, and assist patients with paperwork.
Coordinate care with hospitals, home health services, hospice, and other institutions as ordered; obtain discharge summaries as needed.
Maintain required reports, logs, and records accurately and on time.
Maintain clean work areas and prepare, clean, and stock examination rooms while observing established safety guidelines.
Answer and respond promptly to patient telephone inquiries.
After completing required medication proficiency tests, administer medications according to policy; administer immunizations and injections after reviewing immunization records, schedules, risks, and relevant information.
Perform venipunctures, capillary punctures, specimen collection, preparation and testing, other requested laboratory functions, and provider-ordered EKGs.
Promote wellness by providing educational materials and communicating provider advice and self-care instructions.
Communicate professionally and courteously with providers, patients, and coworkers.
Participate in code-team training and initiate appropriate emergency response procedures when codes are called, including CPR, airway management, medication administration, and fire evacuation coordination.
Participate in scheduled training, including HIPAA compliance, online modules, and classroom training.
Assist in other provider areas and perform other clinical or non-clinical duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Maintain confidentiality regarding the clinic, its patients, and employees, and report to work regularly and consistently.