MEDICAL ASSISTANT - Surgery Clinic - Full Time - Days

Medical Assistant - Surgery Clinic - Full Time Shift: 8:00am - 4:30pm Job Description: PATIENT POPULATION: The patient population served is all patients, including geriatric, adult, adolescent, pediatric, and newborn. This also includes services which affect facility staff, physicians, visitors, vendors and the general public. POSITION SUMMARY: Under the direction of the department leadership, the Medical Assistant provides clinical and administrative support to the General Surgery Clinic. The Medical Assistant is responsible for facilitating efficient patient flow, supporting surgical consultations, coordinating pre-operative and post-operative care, preparing patients for examination and minor procedures, performing approved clinical duties within scope of practice, and assisting with care coordination across ancillary departments. Responsibilities include obtaining and documenting patient histories and vital signs, coordinating diagnostic testing, managing referrals and authorizations, supporting surgical scheduling workflows, providing patient education, and assisting with wound care under provider direction and registering patients. The Medical Assistant ensures compliance with organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and standards of patient care while promoting a positive patient experience and collaborative team environment. Must be able to work normal/scheduled working hours to include Holidays, call-backs, weeknights, weekends, and on-call. Agrees to participate, as directed, in emergencies and community disasters during scheduled and unscheduled hours. As a designated disaster service worker, you are required to assist in times of need pursuant to the California Emergency Services Act. (Gov’t. Code §§ 3100, 3102) Needs to recognize that they have an affirmative duty and responsibility for reporting perceived misconduct, including actual or potential violations of laws, regulations, policies, procedures, or this organization’s standards/code of conduct. The employee shall work well under pressure, meet multiple and sometimes competing deadlines; and the incumbent shall at all times demonstrate cooperative behavior with colleagues and supervisors. EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Experience in a surgical, procedural, orthopedic, gastroenterology, wound care, or specialty clinic setting preferred. Knowledge of surgical terminology, wound care principles, pre-operative preparation, and post-operative follow-up processes is highly desirable. Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the patients served. Must be knowledgeable of medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to Clinics. Must possess the ability to work harmoniously with Clinic staff assisting in the care of patients. Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public. Blood Draw training is highly preferred. Must follow AIDET and accept reassignments and additional duties, when necessary, in a flexible and positive manner. Must maintain the department in compliance with rules and regulations set forth by governing agencies. Proficient in reading and interpreting various documents, including safety guidelines, operational procedures, maintenance instructions, and manuals. Capable of preparing routine reports and correspondence as needed. Ability to speak and write in English, with the ability to write clearly, comprehend verbal and written instructions, and follow directions accurately. Ability to perform mathematical calculations and apply concepts such as fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, and proportions as applicable to the position. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual should have basic computer skills. LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess, as a minimum, certification as a Back Office (Clinical) Medical Assistant. Must have and maintain BLS certification or obtain within orientation process, prior to hands-on patient care. The employee must maintain a valid CA driver's license and current DMV report, the results of which are within acceptable standards, as per SVMC policy as a condition of employment. The employee will also be required as a condition of employment to enroll in the DMV Pull Notice program to allow the Hospital to receive notice of any changes in their driving record. The Employee must maintain at least state required limits of liability insurance/evidence of financial responsibility on my vehicles (such limits may not be adequate, and I should consider higher limits for my own protection). ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Regular, punctual attendance and physical presence at the assigned work location and workstation, ready to perform job duties at the scheduled start time. Obtains and accurately documents patient’s chief complaint and vital signs in accordance with SVMC policy and demonstrates a working knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical terminology. Performs point-of-care testing of patient prior to patient examination by practitioner following established protocol and/or standing orders and after examination by the practitioner and before patient is discharged upon receipt of written orders. Performs approved procedures and collects and properly labels laboratory specimens from patients upon receipt of written orders. through tracking of ordered ancillary testing and specialty care. Prepares exam rooms between patient visits and sets up trays and kits for use by practitioner, consistent with the patient’s chief complaint and/or practitioner request. Provides patient or patient’s parent/guardian/caregiver with all required information sheets/health education materials/resource/consent forms relative to the procedure or current examination, per the practitioner’s order. Ensure proper and timely registration for patients. Obtains insurance information from customers, obtain insurance verification for services. Answers phone, greet customers, route calls to appropriate staff, schedule patient appointments. Calls and sends appointment reminders when requested/required. Schedules appointments as soon as authorization has been obtained and relays messages and information to the care team and/or provider. Completes authorization and referral process when practitioner refers patients to specialty or ancillary care providers. Ensures that work area is maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner, assists other Clinic staff to maintain safety standards for the Clinic, and follows all established guidelines regarding use of equipment and supplies. Helps to ensure adequate and accurate inventory of all office, chart and medical supplies. Responsible for all clerical duties related to computer entry and retrieval of data related to direct patient care. Assists with the paper flow for admissions, transfers, discharges, deaths, AMA, Occurrence Reports, etc. Utilizes appropriate telephone etiquette, answers phone promptly, screens, refers calls in accordance with policy and dispatches messages as requested. Initiates phone calls for nursing staff, physicians, nursing administration, UR, etc. Promptly and professionally responds to all patient requests and refers patient needs to appropriate staff. Alerts manager of undue delays in patient care. Ensures coordination of patient care through tracking of ordered ancillary testing and specialty care. Maintains confidentiality of all patient care information, ensures patient care is provided in privacy and that patients are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity and respect. Ensures that all documentation reflects compliance with established policies and procedures. Maintains a positive working relationship with Physicians, leadership and staff. Assists with coordination of pre-operative and post-operative patient care, including scheduling diagnostic studies, obtaining required clearances, and ensuring completion of surgical preparation requirements. Supports surgical scheduling activities by coordinating procedure dates, communicating with patients regarding preparation instructions, and facilitating completion of required documentation. Reinforces provider-directed patient education related to surgical procedures, pre-operative preparation, post-operative recovery, wound care, activity restrictions, and medication instructions. Performs wound assessments and dressing changes within Medical Assistant scope of practice and provider orders. Reports abnormal findings to the provider promptly. Assist providers during office-based procedures including suture removal, staple removal, incision and drainage procedures, biopsies, aspirations, and other approved clinic procedures. Prepares procedure rooms, supplies, instruments, and sterile fields as appropriate for office-based procedures. Maintains inventory of procedural supplies and informs leadership of shortages. Coordinates receipt and review of outside medical records, imaging studies, pathology reports, and operative reports necessary for surgical consultations and follow-up visits. Tracks pending laboratory results, imaging reports, pathology results, referrals, and provider orders to ensure timely follow-up and continuity of care. Triages patient communications according to established protocols and escalates urgent post-operative concerns, wound complications, or changes in patient condition to the provider. OTHER FUNCTIONS: Assists with training and orientation of new employees in a positive and productive manner, as assigned. Participates, as requested, in development and review of clinic policies, Performance Improvement and Quality Assurance projects, clinic-specific committees, and preparation for facility, program, and/or site surveys. Performs other related duties as assigned by the supervisor or designee, consistent with training and authorized responsibilities. Supports quality, infection prevention, and patient safety initiatives related to surgical patient care and clinic operations. NOTE: Every effort has been made to make this job description as complete as possible. However, it is in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.