Patient Care Assistant

The Patient Care Assistant supports the department by providing direct patient care (i.e. clinical and administrative duties). Patient Care Assistant will be crossed trained and expected to perform duties outlined in Track 1 and Track 2.

• Track 1 - Responsible for completing a variety of medical/administrative related tasks in support of the medical provider.
• Track 2 - Works with the Medical Care & Dental Care Department Interdisciplinary Team to support the medical provider in the provision of clinical and administrative assistance to patients.

Essential Job Duties

• Maintains effective communication with patients in reference to wait time, patient needs and expectations and patient feedback.
• Escorts patient to the different areas within the medical office (check-in/out, lab, exam room)
• Completes all tasks sent via EHR by the requested timeframe.
• Ensures compliance with health center's policies and procedures as it relates to medical examination of every patient seen.

Administrative Duties - Track 1

• Ensures proper and timely check-in of patients and prepares patients for medical examination.
• Assists with the coordination of patient flow.
• Ensures proper patient identification using a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers as per national patient safety goals requirement.
• Schedules follow-up appointment for patient
• Timely and accurate documentation in patient charts
• Receives/sends documents via fax per provider request:
• Medical Record Release Form
• Makes phone calls and documents in EHR per provider request.
• Records pertinent information on forms

Administrative Duties - Track 2

• Ensures proper and smooth operational flow as it relates to patient visit (i.e. prioritizes patient flow based on medical needs)
• Ensures proper patient identification using a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers as per national patient safety goals requirement.
• Reviews and documents patient's vital signs in the EHR
• Updates and records patient information in the EHR:
• Allergies, reconciles medication list, reviews immunizations, history forms other information as required.
• Prepares and reviews the next day patient schedule & care requirements to maintain patient flow.
• Assists with the completion of forms as needed:
• Women Infant Children (WIC), Pre-operative Surgical, Work Excusal/Return to Work and Proof of Pregnancy
• Ensures proper Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Depression screening for risk of suicide of every new patient

Clinical Duties - Track 1

• Collects and accurately documents patients' vital signs in the EHR (i.e. height, weight, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse oximeter and pain level)
• Reports abnormal findings to the Registered Nurse and/or Medical Provider
• Prepares venipuncture forms.
• Prepares Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) forms as required and informs patient of any costs associated with lab work.
• Prepares and completes lab orders/requisition.
• Ensures proper collection, labeling and processing of all specimens using a minimum of two (2) patient identifiers prior to drawing blood.
• Assists Medical Providers with medical procedures/testing by performing:
• Electrocardiogram (EKG's), vision and hearing test, diabetic, foot/monofilament test, fall risk assessment (65 & over), waived testing, results documentation & log Maintenance (blood glucose, A1C, strep, urine dipstick, urinalysis, pregnancy, Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test (iFOBT), influenza A&B)
• Reviews visit summary with patient upon discharge by provider.
• Ensure proper processing and specimens are securely enclosed for transport to the lab.

Clinical Duties - Track 2

• Prepares rooms for clinical examination and patient procedures as directed.
• Ensures materials/supplies/equipment are fully stocked and available.
• Assists Medical Providers with procedures/testing and ensures proper documentation in medical record:
• Pap smear, colposcopy, biopsy, vaginal cultures, pelvic/breast exam, male exam, incision and drainage, throat cultures, nebulizer treatments and other procedures as indicated by the provider.
• Obtains and reviews medical records of all diagnostic/lab reports.
• Collects, transports, disinfects, and prepares instruments for sterilization process in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Performs high-level disinfection (HLD) and sterilization of instruments, as assigned and as per manufacturer's guidelines.
• Ensures the following are entered in patients' EHR:
• Chief complaint, history of present illness, problem list, health reminders, patient history, social history, family history, medical/surgical history, and assesses for recent hospitalizations.
• Performs PHQ-9 Depression screening.
• Places orders for the following:
• Laboratory testing, standing orders, referrals and updates status of any open referrals, new medication and/or medication refills, vaccines and/or injections.
• Ensures proper ICD-10 coding/charges per diagnosis as per medical providers instructions.
• Enters Uniform Data System (UDS) & Meaningful Use (MU) measures.
• Enters self-management goals and plan of care.
• Provides accurate and timely documentation within the same day of intervention and enters other information as requested by provider.

Quality Assurance/Compliance

Ensures examination rooms are in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Joint Commission (JC) standards

Ensures proper documentation/logging and disposal of medication into the hazardous/black box.

Receives training and undergoes competency assessments based on evidence-based guidelines and manufacturer's instructions for use.

Safety/Cleanliness

Ensures cleanliness of clinic area and examination rooms

Reports any cleaning or safety observations to the Registered Nurse and/or Office Manager.

Maintains agency guidelines relating to safety, outreach and confidentiality.

Ensures proper hand washing according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Maintains and follows infection control standards and Universal Precautions as per policy and procedure.

Provides feedback observations on risk management/safety assessments in work area to Registered Nurse and/or Office Manager.

Understands and appropriately acts upon assigned role in Emergency Code System.

Understands and performs assigned role in Agency Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

Culture of Service: 3 C's

Compassion

Greets internal or external customer (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) with courtesy, making eye contact, responding with a proper tone and nonverbal language

Listens to internal or external customer (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) attentively, reassuring an understanding of the request and providing appropriate options or resolutions

Competency

Provides services required by following established protocols and when needed, procure additional help to answer questions to ensure appropriate services are delivered

Commitment

Takes initiative and anticipates internal or external customer needs by engaging them in the process and following up as needed

Prioritize internal or external customer (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) requests to ensure prompt and effective response is provided

Other
Participates in training sessions and other meetings as required by the agency and/or funding sources.

Participates in agency developmental activities as requested.

Other duties as assigned.