Medical Assistant

Job Summary

The Medical Assistant helps NorthShore providers with treating patients while utilizing established NorthShore nursing guidelines. This position may have assignments in adult medicine, pediatrics, or women's health. The Medical Assistant is responsible for maintaining the nursing QI/QA measurements in each of these departments to help ensure that patient care aligns with NorthShore's mission - providing quality care to every patient, every time.

Essential Functions

• Greets and escorts patients to and from exams room. Verifies patient's unique identifiers as appropriate and maintains confidentiality and patient privacy.
• Obtains and records patient medical histories, vitals, test results, and other information for medical records, and obtains records from other facilities to ensure provider has accurate and up-to-date information.
• Sets up examination room, prepares equipment and aids provider during examination and treatment of patient. Assists provider in minor surgical procedures.
• Explains procedures and treatments ordered by provider to patient to gain cooperation, understanding, and allay apprehension.
• Completes all laboratory requisitions accurately and completely. Ensures all specimens are labeled correctly and sent to appropriate laboratory in a safe and expedient manner.
• Completes patient in-house laboratory testing requested by the provider, according to CLIA standards and guidelines, and records test results appropriately.
• Maintains complete vaccination records and administers vaccinations ordered by provider and documents the vaccination into the appropriate records.
• Provides and explains discharge instructions and patient education. Allows an opportunity to have any questions or concerns addressed prior to the patient leaving the appointment.
• Utilizes Pathways staff to assist in education, coordination of care, or overall care to meet the needs of patients.
• Answers phones and documents patient concerns or interactions in the EHR appropriately.
• Responds to life saving situations based upon clinical standards, policies, and procedures and provider instruction.
• Maintains a safe environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.
• Maintains stock, inventory and requisitions supplies as needed.
• Sterilizes instruments and ensures that infection control policies are followed.
• Records and maintains accurate clinical information in the patient's EHR chart.
• Sends patient letters to notify patients of normal test results and conducts patient follow up calls, if necessary, for notification of follow-up appointment in a timely manner.
• Completes provider order log, sends patient reminder letters, if necessary, and tracks patient test results.
• Prepares reports and other documentation as required.
• Attends meetings and training sessions as required.
• Executes all other specific assigned tasks, requiring similar or lesser skills and abilities, some of which are continuing while others are occasional in nature.