medical assistant

Summary

Reports to the Ambulatory Clinical Manager, Practice Manager, or other designated supervisory personnel. Under the general supervision of the attending Licensed Independent Practitioner and in accordance with established policies, procedures, and protocols, the Medical Assistant supports the delivery of high-quality patient care in an ambulatory setting.

Responsibilities include patient screening, vital signs, clinical intake, point-of-care testing, care coordination, patient education, provider support, and administrative functions. The Medical Assistant provides age-appropriate care to geriatric, adult, adolescent, and pediatric patients while considering developmental needs, cultural patterns, and individual patient and family preferences.

Promotes patient- and family-centered care and supports the mission, vision, and values of Brown University Health.

All employees are expected to model the organization's core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence (CARE) in interactions with patients, families, customers, and colleagues.

Employees are also expected to demonstrate the organization's core Success Factors:

• Instill Trust and Value Differences
• Patient and Community Focus
• Collaborate

Responsibilities

Clinical and Patient Care

• Performs duties within the scope of education, training, and demonstrated competency.
• Follows established practice, clinic, and office workflows to promote quality, safety, efficiency, and positive patient experiences.
• Completes pre-visit planning by reviewing and updating the patient record prior to appointments, including recent test results, consultations, correspondence, health maintenance needs, and other relevant information.
• Identifies needed services based on established protocols and communicates point-of-care reminders to providers through the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Escorts patients from the waiting area to the examination room and prepares patients for examinations and treatment according to clinic-specific workflows.
• Obtains and documents vital signs, height, weight, pain scores, chief complaints, medication reconciliation, medical and surgical histories, family history, allergies, and other required information in the EMR.
• Completes required patient questionnaires and documents patient concerns and complaints accurately.
• Supports efficient patient flow throughout the practice, clinic, or office.
• Reviews health maintenance and chronic illness needs and performs or initiates appropriate services in accordance with protocols and standing orders.
• Performs point-of-care testing, including blood pressure, EKGs, pulse oximetry, hemoglobin A1c, glucose, urinalysis, urine pregnancy testing, rapid strep testing, and other approved diagnostic procedures.
• Assists providers with physical examinations and other clinical procedures.
• Performs procedures using appropriate aseptic technique and established standards.
• Administers vaccines and places PPDs in accordance with applicable practice or clinic protocols.
• Initiates pharmacy benefit verification as required.
• Identifies and communicates abnormal findings, test results, or patient concerns to the appropriate provider or nurse in a timely manner.

Care Coordination and Follow-Up

• Completes appropriate post-visit activities, including ensuring specimens are accurately labeled, documented, and submitted to the laboratory.
• Tracks laboratory orders and results and follows up to ensure results are documented in the EMR.
• Contacts patients regarding laboratory testing, orders, reminders, and other appropriate follow-up needs.
• Updates the EMR with the status of outstanding orders and follow-up activities.
• Reports abnormal laboratory results promptly to the physician or nurse.
• Follows up on referrals for specialty care and other services.
• Tracks consultation reports and ensures appropriate documentation is entered into the EMR.
• Conducts patient outreach and reminders related to referrals and follow-up care.
• Monitors prescription refill requests and routes them appropriately.
• Supports coordination of care and promotes appropriate utilization of healthcare services, including educating patients about when to seek routine, urgent, or emergency care.
• Documents identified barriers to care and communicates concerns to the appropriate members of the care team.

Patient Education and Scheduling

• Provides patients with clear instructions regarding procedures, diagnostic testing, examinations, and required preparation.
• Educates patients regarding care coordination, follow-up recommendations, and appropriate use of emergency services.
• Schedules diagnostic testing, follow-up appointments, and other services as directed.
• Pre-registers patients for future visits.
• Verifies patient demographic and insurance information and obtains prior authorizations when required.
• Supports patient outreach and reminder activities.

Environment, Equipment, and Supplies

• Ensures examination rooms are cleaned, stocked, and appropriately prepared between patients.
• Cleans and maintains medical equipment according to established procedures.
• Monitors medical supplies and equipment and places orders as needed.
• Reports damaged, missing, or malfunctioning equipment to management promptly.
• Monitors expiration dates on medications and supplies and removes and reports expired items in accordance with policy.
• Maintains a safe, clean, and organized clinical environment.

Administrative and Operational Support

• Performs assigned administrative and office duties that support efficient clinic operations.
• Prepares and mails patient reminders, correspondence, and other communications as directed.
• Manages time effectively and uses non-patient-care periods productively to prepare for future patient and operational needs.
• Supports practice workflows and demonstrates flexibility as operational needs change.
• Participates actively as a member of the healthcare team and contributes to a positive, respectful work environment.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

• Maintains quality assurance, patient safety, environmental safety, and infection prevention and control standards in accordance with Brown University Health policies and procedures.
• Protects patient privacy and maintains confidentiality in accordance with organizational policies and applicable regulations.
• Performs all duties in a manner consistent with established clinical standards, policies, procedures, and objectives.
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient- and family-centered care and supports the goals of the patient-centered medical home.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Graduate of a formal Medical Assistant training program of at least nine months or a minimum of three years of Medical Assistant experience in a comparable ambulatory healthcare setting within the past five years.
• Prior experience with electronic medical records and appointment scheduling software preferred.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Knowledge of basic clinical and ambulatory healthcare practices.
• Ability to understand and apply established policies, procedures, protocols, and standing orders.
• Ability to accurately document patient information in an electronic medical record.
• Proficiency with personal computers, scanners, EMR systems, and other applicable software.
• Ability to interact professionally and respectfully with patients, families, providers, supervisors, and colleagues.
• Ability to remain calm, organized, and effective in emergency or high-pressure situations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care across the lifespan, including geriatric, adult, adolescent, and pediatric populations.
• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to developmental, cultural, and individual patient needs.
• Demonstrated commitment to patient-centered care, teamwork, quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

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EEO Statement:

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

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