Medical Assistant Ambulatory

SUMMARY:

Reports to the Clinical or Practice Manager and/or the appropriate licensed professional: advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), physician, or physician assistant (PA) The Medical Assistant (MA) shall function in accordance with established policies and procedures, screens, collects vitals from patients in an Ambulatory setting. All essential functions performed in this position reflect the age-specific needs of the geriatric, adult, adolescent, and pediatric patient. Fosters patient and family-centered care and nursing services in accordance with Lifespan’s mission, vision, values, with consideration of the life span, including all developmental stages as well as cultural patterns.
Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.

In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include:

Instill Trust and Value Differences
Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Works effectively and respectfully at his/her highest capabilities and training.
Follows the practice, clinic or office workflow protocols to maximize quality and efficiency. Workflows and protocols are routinely updated and based on best practice standards per specialty and/or patient population.
The MA may perform the following tasks and duties:
Performs pre-visit planning by reviewing and updating the patient record prior to the appointment with recent test results, consults, correspondence, etc., and determines needed services based on practice policies and procedures, screening tools and/or checklists. Communicates point-of-care needs, screenings, and other testing reminders to providers via the electronic medical record (EMR).
Prepares patients for examination and treatment in accordance with their clinic specific workflow procedures, by escorting from the waiting area to the exam room. Measures vital signs including, but not limited to, height, weight blood pressure, pulse oximetry, respiration rate, heart rate, temperature, head circumference and all other age-appropriate information. Information is recorded in the patient chart at the time of service.
Obtains patient’s chief complaint, medical and family histories, pain score, and updated medications and documents in electronic medical record. Enters patient responses to all questionnaires and screenings per department procedures and records/reconciles in medical record.
Records allergy information medications, medical, surgical, and family histories in the patient chart. Initiates pharmacy benefits verification.
Checks for prescription refills pending.
Reviews Health Maintenance and Chronic Illness services and performs/orders checklists, policies, and/or standing orders.
Performs procedures such as EKG, pulmonary function tests, spirometry, sweat tests, ear lavage, dressing changes, equipment sterilization, and other procedures ordered and signed by a licensed independent practitioner.
Collects non-invasive specimens such as urine, sputum, semen, and stool for point of care testing or for lab processing. Point of care tests may include hemoglobin A1C, glucose testing, urinalysis, urine HCG testing, rapid strep or influenza tests, any other point of care tests as certified by department.
Assists physician with physical examinations. Performs all procedures using aseptic techniques, following standard procedures.
Applies dental fluoride varnish per provider request.
In accordance with approved hospital policies and regulations, may prepare and administer medications, including intramuscular, intradermal and subcutaneous vaccinations, as directed and ordered by a physician or other licensed provider.
Schedules venipunctures or capillary blood punctures according to priority and type of test, such as timed studies. Utilizes computer generated collection labels and references Pathology Handbook as necessary to ensure collection of specimens is in accordance with established procedures, i.e. specimens are collected in proper containers and meet special collection requirements as appropriate.
Duties are performed according to hospital policy and observance of universal precautions. Verifies and identifies patient following established procedures and proper patient preparation prior to specimen collection, such as fasting and special diet.
Provides precise technical skills in obtaining blood samples from patient according to venipuncture or capillary puncture techniques. Alerts nursing staff, Clinical or Assistant Clinical Manager to any deviations from puncture or adverse patient condition. Labels, wraps (including appropriate documentation) and prepares samples/specimens for transpor