Medical Assistant (Bilingual)

Job Summary

Participates with the Health Care Team in delivering quality and customer focused health care to patients in a manner that reflects Kaiser Permanentes mission, vision and values. Provides clinical and administrative support to clinicians and other health care team members to offer a variety of health care services to patients.

Clinical duties involve both direct (in person) and indirect (via phone or on-line) patient care activities requiring both simple to complex clinical knowledge and skills.

As appropriate to the positions scope of authorized duties, the MA is expected to have competent observational, clinical, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills in order to meet patient needs and contribute to a positive care experience and work environment.

Works under the clinical supervision of the clinician for patient care activities, and under the general direction of the designated manager/supervisor.

Essential Responsibilities

This description is for recruitment posting purposes only. It has not received full HR review and approval.

Clinical Tasks: These job tasks provide patient care & are to be performed competently, consistently, accurately & according to established regional/departmental clinical protocols, policies & procedures & standards. They are:

Prepares & organizes patients office visit for known reason/procedure by ensuring that all appropriate tests, clinical information (e.g. diagnostic test results, consultation reports, outside records, etc.) & order entries are ready for clinician review prior to appointment time..

• Collects pertinent subjective (e.g. signs & symptoms, allergies, current medication, tobacco use, etc.) & objective (e.g. vital signs, height, weight, etc.) data related to patients reason for visit (i.e. chief complaint, presenting symptoms or procedure).
• Utilizes standardized tools (e.g. PST, health maintenance alerts) to identify & address health maintenance/care gaps with patient & alerts clinician on those that require his/her attention.
• Recognizes signs & symptoms of common medical illnesses, abnormal versus new/existing & reports to clinician. Alerts clinician on signs & symptoms requiring immediate attention & respond to directions per clinician
• Prepares patient for actual visit/procedure prior to clinicians exam during rooming-in process.
• Assures exam/procedure room contains appropriate supplies, equipment, forms & educational materials are available & ready for use during visit/procedure. Checks equipment are in safe working order & cleans room after use.
• Provides patient with after-visit, follow-up, self-care or procedural instructions and/or educational materials as directed by clinician.

Use KP HealthConnect & other information systems to document all pertinent data & outcomes of patient care according to standardized procedures & policies such as & not limited to the use of SBAR, KP HealthConnect smarttools, etc. Updates demographic or historical clinical data gathered in the electronic medical record.

Clinical Procedures: Performs diagnostic tests, therapies & procedures within scope of authorized duties competently & with maintenance of proficiency according to: a) specific department standards on core clinical tasks (see departments list of core skills); b) application of knowledge & skills appropriate to developmental age of patient;; & c) established policies such as & not limited to patient safety, aseptic & sterile techniques & infection control. Examples of categories of clinical tasks are as follows:

• Screening tests - e.g. vital signs, vision, hearing, developmental, LOPS, pain, etc.
• Diagnostic tests - e.g. urine dips, spirometry/peak flow, bladder scan, finger sticks for glucose, O2 saturation rate, etc.
• Medication administration via oral, topical, otic, rectal, vaginal, IM, SubQ, intradermal, ophthalmic, inhalation & nasal routes
• Wound care - e.g. routine dressing changes, staple/suture removal, cleansing/flushing of wounds
• Application and/or removal of orthopedic appliances & other devices - e.g. splints, slings, orthotics, cast, crutch mgmt, anti-embolic stockings measurement, procedural safety restraints, etc.
• Minor surgical procedures assist - e.g. biopsies, excisions, insertion of devices, D & C, etc.
• Medical procedures assist - e,g. PAP, colonoscopies, sigmoidoscopies, colposcopies, joint aspirations, etc.
• Lab specimens collection & labeling - e.g. nose, throat, wound, application of U-bag, etc.
• Irrigations - e.g. eye, ear
• Instrument/equipment set-up, cleaning & processing (sterile & non-sterile) - e.g. scopes, cryogun, O2 tank, procedural trays, etc.
• Ambulate/transfer of patient using lift equipment.
• This job description is not all encompassing.