Certified Medical Assistant

Certified Medical Assistant

The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) works with providers, nursing, mental health workers, and patient care techs to help support patient care needs on the inpatient adult psych unit. In coordination and as delegated by the nurse, the CMA may complete the following tasks, but not limited to taking patient vital signs, performs dressing changes, passes non-controlled and non-intravenous medications, and supports admission and discharge tasks on the unit. The CMA may also serve in the unit secretary capacity, assisting in the flow and function of the unit, fielding patient requests and providing as needed medications as requested within the CMA practice scope.

Responsibilities :

• Clinical Excellence Focus :
• Promotes the use of evidence-based practice through the appropriate care protocols and procedures.
• As delegated by the nurse, the CMA assesses patient's status through interview, observation and physical assessment of actual problems and outcomes.
• Assists the nurse in the development of an individualized plan of care using a collaborative approach with the patient / family and health care team.
• Implements appropriate interventions identified in the plan of care to achieve expected patient outcomes.
• Systematically evaluates and documents patient's progress toward expected outcomes / goals on an ongoing basis throughout the shift as directed by the nurse.
• Modifies plan of care based on evaluation as directed by the nurse.
• Completes required documentation as appropriate, including patient charting and event reports.
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge and skills in evidence-based practice.
• Shares clinical knowledge through informal teaching and in response to the learning needs of others.
• Performs select clinical duties, including but not beyond :
• Taking vital signs
• Oral, IM, and SUBQ medication administration
• Wound care and dressing changes
• Assisting in the completion of patient admissions and discharge work
• Enemas
• Vaccine administration
• Chart review
• Patient education
• Completes other duties as assigned by the nurse.
• Work Environment & Culture Focus :
• Participates in interdisciplinary care of patient through collaboration with team members and utilizes additional resources when necessary.
• Analyzes clinical situations in a systematic way and acts to obtain resources or correct problems to meet or exceed expected outcomes or patient needs.
• Recognizes need for assistance and utilizes resources in a timely manner.
• Able to assume assignment of non-complex and some complex patient management with some turnover in assignment as directed by nurse.
• Consistently prioritizes work based on changes in patient condition, changes in assignment and unanticipated interruptions.
• Identifies and utilizes team resources to solve identified problems or needs.
• Collaborates with the health care team in the organization of tasks and activities for the patient's care from admission to discharge according to the plan of care and to meet identified expected outcomes.
• Participates, when appropriate, in bedside shift report.
• Collaborates with nurses on patient's behalf when necessary.
• Utilizes communication and teamwork strategies aimed at promoting high team performance and achieving optimal patient outcomes and unit productivity.
• Chooses an appropriate and meaningful communication style when interacting with others; gives and accepts constructive feedback to / from peers.
• Participates in intentional rounds, communicates any next level of care needs.
• Assists patients through verbal de-escalation and participates in team behavioral management events as needed.
• Performance Improvement Focus :
• Actively participates in data collection, analysis, problem solving and gives input on process improvements and patient satisfaction.
• Assures that the care provided is consistent with standards of care, evidence-based practices, national patient safety goals, core measures and other quality initiatives undertaken by the unit / hospital, such as activity, basic hygiene and nutrition.
• Works with interdisciplinary team in identifying opportunities for improvement in patient care and patient / family satisfaction.
• Actively promotes and achieves customer satisfaction (patient, family, departments, providers).
• Participates in the implementation of Performance Improvement initiatives.
• Promptly and efficiently follows up on patient / family requests / needs - anticipates patient / family needs.
• Encourages coworkers in achieving excellent customer satisfaction; utilizes organizational service excellence standards.
• Identifies practice problems on the unit with solutions generated.
• Implements changes in own clinical practice based on literature and unit process improvement outcomes.
• Patient Education Focus :
• Adapts teaching strategies appropriately to meet the patient's / family's age specific needs.
• Adapts teaching strategies based on patient's response, readiness to learn and level of comprehension as directed by nurse.
• Takes cultural, age-specific, gender, and developmental factors into consideration when teaching patients about procedures, illness, hospital experience, etc. under the direction of nurse.
• Ensures patient safety in the hospital environment by following policy / procedures and adhering to National Patient Safety Goals.
• Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
• Utilizes health patient education system and other resources for patients and family members.
• Completes discharge education with patients and / or caregiver.
• Utilizes teach-back method of education.

Qualifications :