Medical Assistant Lead, Cardiology - Hartford - Full Time

Under limited supervision, functions as a working clinical lead and providing oversight in the Department (approximate allocation is 85% clinical practice as a patient care support and 15% administrative leadership).  Oversees daily clinical operations of department ensuring optimal use of all resources at all times to achieve productivity, patient access and patient satisfaction goals; plans, implements and monitors operational and administrative systems to achieve goals. Works directly with patients, parents and doctors and strives for 100% patient satisfaction and positive outcomes in all cases.  Medical Assistant Team Lead is one of the first point of contacts to service the patient prior to seeing the physician. Directs the flow of activities throughout the patient’s visit.  Ability to remain calm under pressure and ability to calm others during stressful situations, especially young children. Medical Assistant Team Lead serves as a positive influence among the team and encourages team members to brainstorm and creatively solve problems. Inspires and leads team members to success.

CLINICAL
• Ensures efficient patient flow.
• Prepares treatment rooms and equipment for patient examinations.
• Provides appropriate procedural support following department specific guidelines.
• Performs initial intake of patient, up to and including:  Interviews patient and family to obtain chief 
complaint/reason for visit, vital signs, and allergy information.  Document patient medications.  Accurately records and/or updates relevant patient information (within scope of practice).
• Performs daily Quality Controls (QC) for all Point of Care (POC) testing.
• Obtain specimens, accurately performs and records patient POC testing per policy.
• Under provider and/or RN direction, performs tracking and retrieval of patient lab/diagnostic testing results to facilitate timely provider review and follow-up.
• Under provider and/or RN direction, performs the administrative functions of the patient prescription 
renewal process in accordance to policy.
• Provides cross coverage for other appropriate clinical roles.
• Works towards improving the patient and family experience exhibiting patient focus one team approach behaviors.  

DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT
• Provide support as needed for departmental medical record audits.
• Cleans and stocks patient care rooms between patients.
• Maintains appropriate inventories of all medical supplies.  Performs clean sweeps everyday of clinical area and restock inventory.   
• Stocks and maintains all patient related forms and educational materials.
• Utilizes equipment appropriately and notifies Practice Manager in a timely fashion of equipment/facility break-down or damage.  Supports the clinic’s quality initiative.  
Collaborates with Provider and Nursing to identify any changes to staffing schedules.   

DOCUMENTATION
• Documentation is legible and falls within the appropriate MA scope/Organizational documentation 
guidelines.
• Accurately documents patient information on appropriate forms.  Demonstrates accuracy in basic data entry and data retrieval of paper/electronic patient records.

ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP: 
• Serves as Team Lead for Medical Assistant Duties at all locations where MA’s from that department are staffed.
• Helps coordinate workflow for medical assistant duties, as well as operational efficiencies.
• Serves as Lead and first point of contact for patient relations issues for all physicians and providers.
• Serves as lead for training and education for medical assistant duties.
• Co-leads DMS board meetings and helps prepare for staff meetings.
• Manages reporting for patient clinic and OR volume for the practice.
• Works directly with Practice Manager for personnel issues.
• Participates in annual performance reviews with Practice Manager for Medical Assistant team.
• Works productively, efficiently, and harmoniously with all medical/surgical Physicians and multidisciplinary teams. 
•  Reports any and all operational issues to Practice Manger and/or Practice Administrator. Works together to resolve issues. 
• Identifies opportunities for efficiency, volume growth, and patient satisfaction initiatives. Work with leadership to develop, implement, and maintain initiatives. 
• Attends management/ leadership meetings in-person and virtually, as requested and needed.
• Coordinates with ancillary personal such as radiology, lab, rehab, patient access. 

OTHER ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:

• Managing patient flow by bringing patient to exam room and completing vitals in a timely manner.
• Maintains proper documentation in Epic and holds other medical assistants accountable for proper documentation
• Triage walk-in patients, emergency patients and determine if the patient needs to be seen the same day and which doctor should see the patient  
• Communicate with front desk if doctor is running late or if urgent is coming in
• Follows proper opening and closing exam room procedures (see handout)
• Trained in department specific tasks that are defined by the Practice Manager and Medical Director
• Performs other duties as may be assigned to promote the health, safety and comfort of CT Children's 
patients and families.

COMPLIANCE: 
• Maintaining the Clean Sweeps to ensure they are completed, and any issues addressed. 
• Ensures compliance with OSHA regulations for infection control, monitors and tracks progress ensuring 90% compliance with hand hygiene.
• Direct oversight of the medical assistants to ensure clinical operational efficiency and patient satisfaction and expectations are met.
 

Education Required: High School Diploma, GED or equivalent; vocational training (defined below) may substitute. 

Vocational training is defined as one of the following: Completion of Medical Assistant training program approved by the American Association for Medical Assistants or American Medical Technologists or similar program provided by the military; completion of Certified Nursing Assistant Program (Connecticut certification preferred); Current BSN nursing student in an accredited program and having completed 2 years of study and “Fundamentals of Nursing” course. 

Experience Required: 3 years working as a medical assistant at Connecticut Children’s, or working as a clinical lead in another practice.

License Required: BLS/CPR for Healthcare Providers from Heart American Heart Assoc or American Red Cross within 1 month hire, and maintained thereafter.

License Preferred: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) granted by the American Association of Medical Assistants or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) granted by the American Medical Technologists.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Quality initiatives related to their department.
• Knowledge of managed care, commercial and federal agencies or basic understanding of general medical terminology as well as CPT and ICD9/10 codes.  
• Technical experience, including proficiency with internet based research or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. 
• Vitals signs including: height, weight and blood pressure

SKILLS:
• Interpersonal skills – maintains confidentiality, HIPAA adherence, remains open to others ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things.  Works collaboratively withy all employees, staff members, patients and outside contacts as needed. 
• Oral Communication – speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations via telephone or in person
• Written Communication – Clear and effective written communications.   Edits work for spelling and grammar.
• Quality control – demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality
• Adaptability – is flexible with work load and adapts to changes in the work environment. Manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events
• Dependability – adheres to CT Children’s Medical Center time and attendance policies and procedures.  Consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance
• Safety and security – actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.

ABILITY TO:
• Will adhere to CT Children’s Medical Center culture and respect for patients and peers.
• Treats patients, parents, doctors and staff with respect and places personal judgments aside
• Takes pride in work
• Provides a positive environment with both patients and staff
• Exhibits patience with children.  Takes extra time with patients.
• Ability to use software applications including but not limited to Medical Billing/or medical office Scheduling Software Applications, Microsoft Office Applications, including Excel and proficient with internet.  
• Knowledge of Medical office administration procedures and ability to operate most standard office equipment (to be defined by the department.)

Work Environment:

Employees in this position will be required to work indoors in a standard office environment and come indirect contact with staff, and the public. Regular exposure to childhood illness.