Medical Assistant - Behavioral Health

Grace Health•London, KY

About The Position

The Medical Assistant prepares patients for physician examinations and assists with exams, ultrasounds, procedures, and in-office testing. The role includes gathering and documenting patient information in the electronic medical record, preparing and administering injections and immunizations, performing phlebotomy and laboratory tests, maintaining clinical rooms and supplies, and supporting patient scheduling, triage, and insurance pre-authorizations. The Medical Assistant also provides patient education and works collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical staff to coordinate care, support population health, and improve quality outcomes. Grace Health is a faith-based federally qualified community health center serving underserved, underinsured, and uninsured individuals in southeastern Kentucky. Employees are expected to support the organization’s mission, follow office policies and procedures, protect patient confidentiality, maintain timely documentation and good attendance, communicate effectively, multitask, and work cooperatively with providers, administration, peers, and community partners. The work environment is usually moderately noisy.

Requirements

High school diploma.
Completion of a recognized medical assistant program.
Significant on-the-job experience or certification as a medical assistant.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Computer skills.
Pleasant personality and cooperative attitude.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and work effectively with patients, providers, administration, peers, and care partners.
Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds occasionally.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including regularly talking or hearing; frequently standing, walking, sitting, and handling objects or tools; and occasionally reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, tasting, or smelling.
Ability to perform duties requiring close, distance, and color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjustment of focus.

Responsibilities

Greet patients in the waiting room and escort them to exam rooms.
Prepare patients for examination 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, procedures, and minor surgeries, including suturing, casting, social service exams, gynecologic exams, toenail removal, and cryosurgery.
Ensure pertinent pre-clinic laboratory and other information is available in the patient chart.
Review and update immunization records.
Perform phlebotomy, urinalysis, and other in-office laboratory work; prepare slides for urinalysis, KOH, and wet prep microscopic examinations.
Perform in-office diagnostic testing, including EKG, Diabetic Retinopathy, PFT, and CLIA-waived testing.
Use the laboratory computer to enter tests and retrieve results.
Follow Universal Precautions and use available safety equipment.
Maintain clean, sanitized, and stocked exam rooms and laboratory areas; manage supplies and inventory; clean instruments; and inform appropriate personnel when supplies are low.
Understand 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 patient appointment scheduling as needed.
Follow office-closing procedures, including turning off equipment, cleaning rooms and instruments, and restocking rooms.
Maintain current licenses and certifications, if applicable.
Assist with lifting patients using proper body mechanics and lifting techniques.
Cover clerical duties, including filing and telephone operations, when needed.
Obtain insurance pre-authorization for medications, referrals, and procedures.
Educate patients and answer questions using knowledge of medications, disease processes, diets, and related topics.
Participate in team-based care, care coordination, population management, and communication with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists.
Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities, practice performance reviews, quality improvement efforts, and Grace Health’s advocacy program.
Follow office policies and procedures; maintain attendance, timely documentation, confidentiality, and communication with the supervisor; and perform other assigned duties.