Job Detail

JOB DESCRIPTION TITLE: Medical Assistant/Orthopaedic Technician It is our goal to provide the finest Orthopaedic care possible. This philosophy requires that all office staff and providers be sensitive and responsive to patients’ needs and preferences. To ensure that we hire and retain the quality of staff needed for implementing our philosophy of service, we have adopted the following job description for this position.

The position requires that the employee be available forty hours per week, and that also the employee be flexible in his/her schedule to provide efficient service for the group. The employee however, will be expected to work no more than five days per week.

Many of the responsibilities require that you have a working knowledge of computers and the ability to learn the proper use of the programs utilized in this office, or those that which may be necessary to meet the needs of the practice. The hours, pay scale, and benefits will be defined as agreed upon.

BASIC FUNCTION: Under the supervision of the Back Office Supervisor, the Orthopaedic Technician shall be responsible for assisting their assigned provider in clinic with all aspects of the patients’ visit.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Work is primarily performed in the Clinic located in Arrowhead Orthopaedics’ offices. The duties of the Orthopaedic Technician are of high volume, and the quality of duties performed is needed to be at a high level. The employee will come into contact on a daily basis with confidential patient files. The Orthopaedic Technician must be able to handle this information with the highest degree of privacy, discretion, and professionalism. The Orthopaedic Technician is required to be available to the physician and patients while in clinic, and is only authorized to leave an ongoing clinic with the direct permission by the Back Office Supervisor. The Orthopaedic Technician is responsible for accomplishing the duties set forth below:

General Activities Medical Assistant (There may be other duties required of this position not listed below):

• Ensure that authorization is complete for the patient visit.
• Ensure that all necessary diagnostic studies and reports are available for the provider to review.
• Ensure proper documentation in our EMR system for patients’ visits. This includes, but is not limited to, using the appropriate template and completing the history portion including medication, past medical and surgical history, weighing all new patients, and taking vitals.
• Document in EMR any changes in patients’ conditions since last visit.
• Bill all charges for services rendered and make sure that there is documentation in EMR justifying the charges.
• Create proper documentation in EMR as needed for any diagnostic testing or therapy or surgical procedures ordered by the provider, and forward the appropriate authorization.
• Act as the liaison between the patient and the provider.
• Return all patient phone calls the same day and document in each patient’s chart any instructions or concerns.
• Work with the provider’s Patient Services Representative and the Back Office Supervisor to ensure that the provider is scheduled appropriately.
• Communicate with front desk staff any delay in the provider’s schedule for the day.
• Keep exam rooms stocked with medical supplies and linen.
• Clean and empty rooms of dirty linen and red bag waste daily.
• Clean dirty instruments and prepare them for sterilization on assigned day each week.
• Perform other responsibilities as may be called on by the Back Office Supervisor.

General Activities Ortho Tech (There may be other duties required of this position not listed below):

• Assists physicians with patient care; properly fits and applies pre-operative braces, crutches, and other soft goods; assists in preparation for and application of casts and orthopedic appliances; changes dressings; removes sutures, casts, and splints.
• Assists physicians with orthopedic procedures, including wound care, aspirations, minor procedures, fracture reductions, etc; instructs patients in cast and traction care and the use of orthopedic appliances.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

RELATIONSHIPS: The Orthopaedic Technician / Medical Assistant should observe and conduct the following relationships:

• The employee shall be responsible directly to the Back Office Supervisor. The employee shall report to the Back Office Supervisor and his/her assignees any progress, reports, requests, concerns, problems, and/or expectations in relation to the responsibilities of the position. Such communication may be verbal or written as deemed necessary by the employee or as directed by the Back Office Supervisor or his/her assignee.
• The employee shall interact with other office and clinical staff in the Practice. Such interactions should be collegial, professional, and contributing to the safety and pleasantness of the work environment at Arrowhead Orthopaedics.
• The employee shall interact with patients, medical groups, adjustors, nurse case managers, hospitals, and Primary Care Physicians and their offices. Such communication should always reflect the total commitment of the office to quality care and customer satisfaction. All communication should be professional and any unresolved conflicts are to be reported to the Back Office Supervisor.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Orthopaedic Technician / Medical Assistant will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor and his/her assignees. Arrowhead Orthopaedics reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.

Skill Requirements:

• The ability to type 40 words per minute.
• Skill in operating a computer and scanner, as well as software programs including Microsoft Outlook.
• Telephone etiquette, superior customer service, and professional communication skills are required.
• Must be flexible and able to multitask in a stressful setting.
• Education: high school diploma or equivalence.
• CPR Certification required.
• Orthotech Certification
• 2+ years of experience in an Orthopaedic Medical Office preferred.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Requires sitting and walking, with daily occasional stooping, reaching, and bending.
• Occasional lifting up to twenty pounds.
• Very rarely lifting up to 100 pounds.
• Hearing must be in the normal range for telephone and personal communication.
• Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate keyboards and other office equipment.