Medical Assistant Lead

Description

Job Summary

The Medical Assistant Lead provides day-to-day leadership, coordination, and support for the Medical Assistant team while continuing to provide direct patient care and clinical support. This role serves as a clinical resource and mentor to Medical Assistants by reinforcing standardized workflows, supporting onboarding and training, promoting adherence to clinical protocols, and helping resolve routine workflow or patient care support issues.

The Medical Assistant Lead partners with providers, the Practice Manager, Medical Assistant Field Trainers, and other clinic leaders to support efficient clinic operations, virtual and in-person care delivery, quality improvement, patient experience, staff development, and consistent implementation of organizational policies, procedures, and best practices.

Essential Functions

Clinical Operations, Workflow Coordination, and Team Support (60%)

• Coordinates daily workflows, patient flow, coverage needs, virtual care support, and care coordination activities for Medical Assistants to promote efficient clinic operations, timely services, patient safety, and a positive patient experience across in-person and virtual care platforms.
• Provides day-to-day guidance, coaching, mentoring, and workflow support to Medical Assistants; leads onboarding and orientation activities while supporting training reinforcement, knowledge sharing, and issue resolution.
• Escalates employee performance, attendance, conduct, staffing, and complex operational concerns to the Practice Manager, as appropriate.
• Serves as a primary clinical and virtual care resource for Medical Assistants by answering questions, supporting problem resolution, and reinforcing standardized workflows, clinical protocols, documentation standards, patient communication practices, and training initiatives.
• Supports quality, compliance, and operational improvement activities by monitoring adherence to infection prevention standards, OSHA, CLIA, HIPAA, documentation, safety, and organizational requirements.
• Assists with audits, identifies workflow barriers, recommends process improvements, and supports the implementation of new workflows, technology, and organizational initiatives.

Direct Patient Care and Clinical Support (40%)

• Performs direct patient care and clinical support duties, including preparing patients for examinations, obtaining vital signs, height and weight measurements, medical histories, medication reconciliation, allergy review, chief complaints, pain assessments, current symptoms, and other provider-requested information.
• Documents patient information accurately in the electronic health record (EHR) and supports timely patient follow-up.
• Performs and/or assists with clinical procedures and delegated tasks within scope of practice, including specimen collection, point-of-care testing, waived laboratory testing, quality control activities, injections, vaccines, oral and injectable medication administration, EKGs, wound care, PAP smears, prescription refills per protocol, and other provider-directed clinical activities.
• Provides patient-centered care, virtual care support, and age-specific education by addressing patient questions within scope of practice, coordinating patient communications, care coordination activities, remote patient support functions, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Escalates clinical concerns to providers when appropriate.
• Maintains examination rooms, clinical supplies, equipment, patient care areas, and clinic readiness standards to support quality care, safety, infection prevention, and positive patient experiences.

Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Completion of a Medical Assistant Training Program required.

Experience

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in an ambulatory or outpatient healthcare environment, such as a physician practice, urgent care, or primary care setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Care coordination experience.
• Previous experience as a Lead Medical Assistant, Senior Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant Trainer, or informal team resource.
• Experience supporting quality improvement initiatives, clinical workflow optimization, audits, or implementation of new clinical processes.
• Experience supporting multiple providers and managing competing priorities.
• Experience supporting virtual care, telephonic outreach, patient follow-up, care gap closure, or remote patient support workflows.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Expert knowledge of medical terminology, clinical procedures, infection prevention practices, and documentation requirements.
• Expert knowledge of EMR/EHR systems and healthcare technology tools.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify issues, exercise sound judgment, and resolve problems effectively.
• Advanced ability to provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, mentoring, and training support.

Licenses and Certifications

Required upon hire:

• Completion of a Medical Assistant Training Program.
• One of the following certifications: 
  • National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) – NCCT
  • Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) – American Medical Technologists (AMT)
  • Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) – American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in a fast-paced ambulatory healthcare environment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and assist patients as required during the course of patient care activities.
• Ability to use standard clinical equipment and technology, including EHR systems and virtual care platforms.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional patient care, safety, and service standards.

This position combines clinical leadership and direct patient care responsibilities to support operational excellence, staff development, quality outcomes, and an exceptional patient experience.