Medical Assistant

Description

**This is a temporary full-time position**

Summary:

Works interdependently with other health care professionals to provide quality health care to the patient. Responsible for assisting physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other staff so they may quickly and efficiently provide health care to patients, ensuring that the patient feels comfortable, confident and satisfied with their visit. Performs laboratory tests on patients in a safe and efficient manner maintaining quality control and adhering to Department of Health and CLIA legal requirements. Performs duties under the supervision of a physician, nurse practitioner, RN or LPN. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

• After the patient signs in at the front desk and a superbill is generated, the Medical Assistant greets the patient and escorts them in for office visits with the physician or nurse practitioner, lab work, injections, chemotherapy and non-chemotherapy treatments. 
• Transports patients safely using appropriate equipment such as wheelchairs.
• Assists patients with ambulation, transfers, and prepares the patients for examinations including un-dressing and dressing during their office visit.
• Obtains patient vital signs, height and weight. Documents the information by entering it into the electronic medical record, and on the continuation sheet. 
• Assists in purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment.
• Ensures that exam rooms and physician offices are stocked with medical supplies, equipment and the appropriate paperwork.
• Observes the patient condition and immediately communicates changes/concerns to the physician, nurse practitioner or registered nurse. 
• Responsible for checking the emergency equipment daily to ensure it remains is in good working condition. 
• Maintains a log of the daily inspection of the emergency equipment.
• Performs EKG when requested by the physician, nurse practitioner or registered nurse.
• Follows emergency procedures including using CPR if necessary.
• Assists the physicians with exams.
• Set-up for bone marrow biopsies, lumbar punctures and any other surgical and non-surgical procedures ordered for the patient.
• Administers subcutaneous and intramuscular injections as requested by the registered nurse under the license of the covering physician in the office for the day. Documents the name and dose of the drug and the administration site. Documents full signature and title. 
• Assists the triage nurse with returning phone calls under direct supervision. May also phone in prescription refills under direct supervision.

Lab Specimen Collection:

• After receiving and reviewing laboratory orders, obtain blood specimens.
• Obtain blood specimens for analysis by finger stick or venipuncture depending on the specific test ordered. Identify the patient by having the patient state their first and last name and date of birth and compare it to the RCCA ID number.
• Review all specimens for acceptability.
• Collect specimens for culture using sterile technique for blood cultures, throat cultures, sputum cultures or superficial wound cultures.
• Instructs patients in the proper collection of twenty-four-hour urines. Verifies that the containers contain the proper preservative and instruct the patient in refrigeration or acid precautions if appropriate.

Lab Quality Control:

• Performs daily Quality Control (QC) on the Hematology Analyzer Instrument including start-up, reagent check and analysis of three levels of Commercial Quality Control material. Maintains documentation of the results and all maintenance procedures in the Hematology QC log book or smart card.
• Calibrate the Hematology Instrument at least once every six months. Maintains documentation of all results. 
• Investigate all out-of-range results and document the corrective action taken.
• Perform an instrument check on the Coagulation Instrument prior to use. Maintain documentation of all results. 
• Perform an instrument check on the Glucose Instrument prior to use. Maintain documentation of all results.
• Perform Urinalysis Quality Control if a Urinalysis is performed. Maintain documentation of all results.
• Assists in purchasing and maintaining supplies and equipment.
• The laboratory must be clean and well lit.
• The temperature and humidity range must be maintained according to standards set forth by the State Department of Health.

Laboratory Testing:

• After assuring satisfactory QC and instrument function, perform CBC on the Hematology Analyzer. Review all results for acceptability, critical results, or clinically significant changes. Report critical values or signif