Wound Care Medical Assistant

Position Summary

The Wound Care Medical Assistant provides comprehensive clinical support to physicians and advanced practice clinicians in the evaluation, treatment, and management of acute and chronic wounds within a primary care setting. As an integral member of the interdisciplinary care team, this role coordinates patient care before, during, and after wound care procedures while maintaining a safe, efficient, and patient-centered clinical environment. Responsibilities include assisting with wound assessments, dressing changes, compression therapy, patient education, clinical documentation, inventory management, referral coordination, and follow-up care. When wound care patient volume is low, the Medical Assistant also provides clinical support to the primary care clinic to ensure continuity of patient care and efficient clinic operations.

In addition, this position contributes to the growth and success of HealthTexas while upholding the organization''s Mission, Vision, Values, and commitment to delivering quality and compassionate care with outstanding service, every patient, every time.

Culture and Values Expectations

At HealthTexas, we believe that our workplace culture is the cornerstone of our success. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environment where every Associate feels valued, empowered and motivated to reach their full potential. Our culture is the driving force behind our mission "to deliver quality and compassionate care with outstanding service, every patient, every time". As a Wound Care MA at HealthTexas we expect you to embody and promote our Values and defined behavioral expectations.

• Integrity: Do the right thing, the right way, every time.

• Be honest and uphold commitments and responsibilities, earn the trust and respect of the team and those we serve, and maintain privacy and confidentiality.

• Compassion: Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

• Foster an environment of inclusivity and well-being, practice patience and empathy, and assume positive intent.

• Synergy: Collaborate to improve outcomes.

• Invite and explore new opportunities, promote effective communication and teamwork, take pride in yourself, your work and HealthTexas.

• Stewardship: Use resources responsibly and efficiently.

• Implement effective strategies to attain goals, achieve maximum productivity and results, and seek continuous knowledge and improvement.

Job Responsibilities

Primary Care Responsibilities

• Room patients and prepare them for clinician examinations.
• Obtain and accurately document vital signs, height, weight, BMI, medication reconciliation, allergies, and medical history.
• Perform point-of-care testing, specimen collection, EKGs, injections, immunizations, and other clinical procedures within scope of practice.
• Answer patient telephone messages and electronic portal communications according to established protocols.
• Complete referrals, prior authorizations, medication refill requests, and follow-up appointments.
• Maintain accurate documentation within the electronic medical record.
• Assist Clinician with office procedures as needed.
• Maintain exam rooms and ensure compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, infection prevention, and standard precautions.
• Support other clinical areas as needed to maintain efficient patient flow.
• Standardize schedule rotation to include extended hours when not scheduled in Wound Care.
• Associates who are bilingual may be expected to utilize their language skills to translate or interpret for patients, family members, or colleagues in the performance of their duties.

Wound Care Responsibilities

• Provide a standard of excellence as it relates to customer service for patients and other customers.
• Prepare patients for wound evaluations and procedures, including obtaining vital signs, pain scale, reviewing medical history, allergies, medications, and chief complaint.
• Assist clinician with wound assessments, debridement procedures, incision and drainage, biopsies, and other office-based procedures.
• Perform dressing changes according to clinician orders using appropriate sterile and clean techniques.
• Cleanse wounds using approved wound care protocols and prepare treatment areas prior to clinician evaluation.
• Measure and document wound characteristics including length, width, depth, drainage, tissue type, odor, undermining, tunneling, and periwound condition as directed by the clinician.
• Obtain and upload wound photographs in accordance with clinic policy.
• Apply prescribed wound dressings including foam, alginate, hydrofiber, collagen, hydrocolloid, antimicrobial, negative pressure wound therapy device, and other advanced wound care products.
• Apply compression wraps, Unna boots, multilayer compression systems, and assist with off-loading devices as ordered by the clinician.
• Wound packing when directed by the clinician.
• Obtain Wound Care Consents; send wound cultures to outside lab facility for processing.
• Perform dressing changes in CMA visits, and non-invasive vascular evaluation (e.g., dABI) when ordered by clinician.
• Educate patients and caregivers on wound care instructions, dressing changes, infection prevention, pressure injury prevention, nutrition, edema management, diabetic foot care, and follow-up recommendations.
• Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of wound deterioration or infection and promptly communicate concerns to the clinician.
• Ensure all wound care documentation is complete, accurate, and entered into the electronic medical record.
• Maintain adequate inventory of wound care supplies, dressings, topical medications, and procedure equipment; monitor expiration dates and submit supply orders as needed.
• Prepare examination and procedure rooms with all required wound care equipment and maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment.
• Clean, package and autoclave instruments according to sterilization protocols.
• Coordinate wound care consultations, referrals, imaging, vascular studies, home health services, durable medical equipment, and specialty appointments.
• Complete orders and documentation required for wound care products and treatments.
• Process home health orders, wound care supply requests, and related patient paperwork.
• Schedule new and established wound care appointments and ensure required records, imaging, and diagnostic testing have been received prior to appointments.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives related to wound healing outcomes and infection prevention.

Experience

• Must have at least one year of clinical experience working as a Medical Assistant and training in basic medical terminology.
• Must be a CMA III or able to pass the HealthTexas CMA III assessment.
• Minimum of 1 year of wound care experience preferred; candidates with strong procedural experience may be considered.
• Experience assisting with sterile procedures and dressing changes.
• Experience with chronic disease management, diabetic patients, and vascular disease is preferred.

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Graduate of an accredited Medical Assistant program.
• Current Medical Assistant certification or registration (CMA, RMA, CCMA, NCMA, or equivalent).
• Current BLS/CPR certification required.
• Wound Care certification that is nationally recognized preferred but not required (e.g., Certified Wound Care Associate, Wound Care Technician Certification, etc.).
• Must meet HealthTexas CMA III competency requirements or successfully complete the HealthTexas CMA III assessment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Good Associate record, without a current (6 months or less) performance correction notice.
• Excellent attendance
• Overall positive work relationships with co-workers, manager and clinicians.
• Detail-oriented and enjoys serving patients, works well with other healthcare clinicians, motivated, positive and a self-starter.
• Skilled in the use of a computer, fax machine/copier.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Word and Excel.
• Demonstrate knowledge of basic medical terminology.
• Ability to work in a multi-tasking environment and under stressful conditions where constructive criticism from others is encouraged.
• Ability to work well with clinical staff and provide quality patient care, every patient, every time.
• Able to effectively communicate with all others respectfully regardless of sexual, racial, ethnic or economic status.
• Demonstrate knowledge of EMR skills and able to prioritize tasks and organize workflow.
• Thorough understanding of wound healing principles and chronic wound management.
• Knowledge of sterile technique, infection prevention, and universal precautions.
• Familiarity with advanced wound care products, dressings, compression therapy, and negative pressure wound therapy.
• Ability to recognize signs of wound infection, ischemia, and delayed healing and promptly notify the clinician.
• Ability to tolerate unpleasant odors.
• Demonstrates professionalism, compassion, accountability, and excellent customer service.

Work Hours, Travel Requirements

• Clinic hours vary at each location; Associates rotate 8-hour shifts as assigned to meet its business needs and/or the needs of its patients.
• Requires travel to other sites as requested for training, to meet its business needs, and/or the needs of its patients.
• When not in Wound Care you will be included in, standardize schedule rotation and extended hours.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

Medical office/clinic environment; exposure to infectious diseases, bodily fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinic environment.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Must be able to meet the attendance requirements of the position and adhere to the HealthTexas Medical Group attendance policy.
• Must be able to assist the patients in the event of an emergency.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• Requires frequent manual dexterity, sitting, standing (no less than 2 hours at a time), stooping, reaching, kneeling, crouching, bending, walking, lifting up to 50 lbs.
• May assist in lifting patients.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Job responsibilities, location, work hours, etc., may change at any time with or without notice.